Photographing Young Puppies Who Can’t Go On Location Yet
Milo the Havanese & Why Studio Sessions Are Perfect for Puppy Paws
Milo’s session started with his brother Leo.
Leo is a fluffy black Havanese with a bow tie and a big personality.
His mom booked a Signature Session to celebrate him in his 5th year, and we met outdoors at one of my favorite locations to photograph dogs – Indian Creek Park in Rutledge, GA.
Just before we finished our session, she casually mentioned,
“I just found out Leo is getting a little brother.”
You could hear the excitement in her voice. She didn’t just want photos of the two of them someday. She wanted portraits of him while he was still tiny-tiny – the fluffy, wobbly, fall-asleep-mid-play kind of tiny.
There was just one problem:
Milo, the new puppy, wouldn’t be fully vaccinated yet.
Which meant it wasn’t safe for him to be out and about in an unfamiliar public location.
No dog parks.
No downtown sidewalks.
No fields where we couldn’t control who (or what) had been there before.
But that didn’t mean we had to wait on photos.
Meet Milo: Small Puppy, Big Studio Energy
Instead of postponing, we made a different plan.
Just after Milo came home, we met again – this time at a beautiful studio in Athens, Georgia. Milo could stay safely indoors the entire time, and I could still create the kind of artwork his mom wanted for their home.
From the moment he arrived, Milo walked in like he owned the place.
We started on a cozy cream sofa layered with a sunny yellow blanket.
Milo clambered up the armrest, all fluff and determination, looking so proud of himself.
Leo hopped up beside him, the annoyed older brother, tongue out and clearly less than amused by this new little roommate.
Milol loves Leo.
He wants him to play. He pounced. He stretched full-length across the couch like he’d been filming furniture commercials his whole life, while Leo perched at the top of the sofa, just out of reach from those annoying little puppy paws.
Later, we switched scenes and photographed him against a deep green paneled wall with a warm wood bench. Same puppy, completely different look. Lots of variety, even in the studio.
One minute he’s perched on a chair, barely tall enough to peek over the edge.
The next he’s mid-pounce, paw raised over a red ball, all focus and puppy mischief.
And of course, we made sure to get portraits of the brothers together
Leo looking suave and trying to pretend this new little interloper doesn’t exist (even if I did get a few images of them playing together).
Why Young Puppies Can’t Always Go On Location (And That’s Okay)
If you’ve just brought home a new puppy, your vet has probably mentioned it already:
Until they’ve finished their full series of vaccines, it’s usually best to avoid places where lots of unknown dogs go – like dog parks, pet stores, and busy public spaces.
That doesn’t mean your puppy has to live in a bubble.
It just means we want to be smart about where their tiny paws explore.
That’s where studio sessions become a great option.
A studio environment lets us:
Stay safely indoors
No mystery puddles, no shared water bowls, no heavily trafficked dog areas.Control the temperature
Perfect for tiny puppies who get cold or hot or tired easily.Minimize distractions
Fewer smells and sounds mean your puppy can relax, sniff around, and then focus on play and connection.Create multiple looks in one place
We can go from “cozy living room” to “modern portrait wall” in a matter of minutes – just by shifting furniture, pillows, and backdrops.
For Milo, this meant we could honor that teeny-tiny stage and keep him safe, instead of waiting months for outdoor photos.
What a Studio Puppy Session Actually Looks Like
People sometimes hear “studio” and picture stiff poses and lots of “sit-stay-don’t-move.”
That’s… not how it works here. Especially with puppies.
Here’s what we did with Milo (and what I typically do for young puppies who can’t go on location yet):
1. Let Them Explore First
When Milo arrived, we didn’t immediately plop him in front of the camera. He got a chance to sniff the sofa, check out the rug, investigate the blanket, and climb anything his little legs could manage.
This helps:
Shake off the car ride.
Get those first zoomies out.
Help your pup feel like this is their space, not some strange, scary place.
2. Work in Short Bursts
Puppy attention spans are hilariously short.
So instead of one long stretch of “performing,” we photograph in short bursts:
A couple of minutes of play or posing,
Let them make up their own poses,
Followed by a break for cuddles, treats, or a quick nap,
Then back to another setup.
That’s how we got Milo’s “tongue out on the arm of the sofa” moment – he offered the behavior, and I snapped the photo (always at the ready!)
3. Mix Posed & Playful
Yes, we get the “everyone looking at the camera” portraits (Leo nailed those).
But a huge part of these sessions is photographing the smaller, quieter moments:
Milo leaning against the couch arm with his paws crossed.
Leo watching Milo from the back of the sofa.
The way Milo’s little paw flops when he takes off after a ball.
Those are the moments that really feel like him.
4. Include the Siblings
If your puppy has an older dog at home, they absolutely get co-star credit.
Leo and Milo together on the bench against the green wall?
That’s the portrait that’s going to make everyone smile when they walk past it for years.
When Should You Schedule a Puppy Session?
If you’re hoping for photos during that very early stage, here’s a good rule of thumb:
As soon as you know your puppy is coming home, reach out and get on my calendar.
We’ll look at your puppy’s vaccine timeline and plan a session accordingly.
For many families, we’ll do it in two parts:
Puppy studio session while they’re tiny and staying mostly indoors
Outdoor session later in the year once they’re fully vaccinated and ready for a big adventure
What This Means for Your Artwork
The goal isn’t just a cute photo for social media.
The goal is:
A portrait of your puppy on your wall that makes you say,
“That’s exactly how small he was when we brought him home.”An album that shows the way they flopped on the sofa, chased their first toy, and looked up at their big brother like he’s their hero.
In Milo and Leo’s case, their artwork will always tell two stories at once:
Leo, the well-dressed, bow-tie-wearing big brother outdoors at Indian Creek Park.
Milo, the fluffy little studio gremlin ruling the sofa in Athens.
Two different locations, two chapters of their story about their life together.
Thinking About Photos for Your Own Puppy?
If you’re adding a new puppy to your family and wondering, “Do we have to wait until they’re older?” the answer is:
Not at all.
We can:
Keep your puppy safe and indoors,
Choose a beautiful studio space that fits your style,
And create artwork that tells the beginning of their story in your home.
Later, when they’re ready for the big world, we can plan a location session to show how much they’ve grown.
If you’ve got a future Milo on the way (or one currently chewing on your shoelaces), I’d love to start planning their first portraits.
Reach out and let’s talk about creating artwork of your puppy’s earliest days—before those paws and ears suddenly double in size overnight.
