Let’s Get You and Your Dog Ready!
Learn how to prepare for your session, what to expect during the actual photoshoot, and everything you need to bring on the day of!
Before Your Session
Otto: I hate to admit this, but a clean dog makes all the difference!
DOG APPEARANCE
Thoroughly brushing your dog’s coat to be free of matting, tangles, dust, and dirt is highly recommended. If your dog requires professional grooming, organize 1-3 weeks beforehand to reduce the appearance of clipping marks and lines. And let’s not forget the eyes, we love seeing the sparkle in your dog’s eyes!
TRAINING
Good news: training is not required for a successful photoshoot! However, if you’d like to work on some simple commands prior to our session, we recommend “sit,” “down,” and “stay.”
DOG WARDROBE
Make sure your dog wears a clean collar and remove visually distracting tags for county licenses, rabies vaccines, and microchip registrations. If your dog’s name tag is worn out, please remove that as well. Be mindful of how you want your dog to look in the photographs. I personally prefer a more natural look (naked pups are the best!) but if you want to dress your dog up with their favorite accessory, we can do that too!
OWNER WARDROBE
If you wish to appear in some of the images with your dog, your outfit is important too! Be true to your style and wear something you feel great in. Steer away from big logos, bright colors like hot pink/magenta/green. Creams and grays are better than bright whites and deep blacks in general.
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Feel free to add a splash of color or color coordinate with other family members! Lightly patterned or textured dress looks relaxed and classic; layers like scarves, vests, and jackets add visual interest. Clean–and fun optional– shoes are a must! When in doubt, a classic pair of jeans is the way to go.
DOG’S ENERGY & APPETITE
For high energy dogs, consider taking them for a walk or have a play session before the photoshoot. For older or low energy level dogs, make sure they are well rested.
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Keep your dog a little hungry as we often use treats to bond with your dog and reward desirable behavior. If your dog is very food motivated, great! If not, we can also use toys and other methods, so no worries if your dog is not particularly interested in food.
During Your Session
ARRIVAL
Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to reduce travel stress and give your dogs time to familiarize themselves with their surrounding.
INTRODUCTIONS
The session will run more smoothly if your dog is comfortable, relaxed, and sees me as a trusted, fun-loving friend! Your dog’s personality will determine how I initially approach them–some dogs I may interact with a lot, while others I may even completely ignore for a little while. And this doesn’t mean I don’t love your dog! I just want to make sure he doesn’t get too amped up or scared by a complete stranger!
RUNNING THE SESSION
Our sessions are casual and flexible. I may have a tentative plan in my head but I usually make decisions about where to shoot depending on the dog’s energy level, quality of light, what’s available at the location, and how we’re doing on time.
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To ensure the session is fun and relaxing for you and your dog, I won’t be shooting all the time. I allow plenty of time for moving between different shooting spots, chatting, playing, resting, and water breaks.
OFF-LEASH OR ON-LEASH
I can work with your dog both on- or off-leash, either way is perfectly fine. If your dog is unreliable off-leash or laws stipulate dogs to be on-leash, most final images will have the leash edited out.
YOUR JOB
Please be ready to help pose and handle your dog, I will provide clear instructions for you! Sometimes it can be easier for me to work with your dog one-on-one so please do not be offended if I ask you to take a back seat for a while.
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Remember to relax and enjoy our time together! Don’t be concerned if your dog doesn’t want to sit or if she is more interested in the exciting sights and smells around us. I will use my dog training experience to bring out the best in our furry model while working with the behaviors they are offering. Even if it feels like they aren’t listening or we have to set up the shot numerous times, it’s totally fine. It’s actually expected! I promise we’re creating incredible images!
MOTHER NATURE
We will try our best to hold our session at the agreed upon date and time, however, sometimes Mother Nature has other plans! If the weather is not cooperating then we’ll reschedule for another time. Do leave a little bit of room in your schedule around our session time so that we can be flexible on timing if there is impending weather changes.
Your Packing List
What to Bring
A clean collar and leash
Your dog’s favorite treats (tiny pieces, please!)
Your dog’s favorite toys
Water for you and your dog
Sensible shoes/clothes if there’s walking or rough ground involved
A towel for swimmers or slobbery mouths
ONE bag to hold everything you bring
Lots of patience and a good sense of humor!
What Not to Bring
Please don’t bring additional dogs and/or additional people not being photographed, unless you have multiple dogs and need assistance. We know it’s fun to spectate and invite friends and family, but extra stimulation around our model can be distracting.