Yes, Even Your Dog Can Have Professional Pet Photos

How do you know if your dog can have professional pet photos?

Maybe you worry that your dog is too:

• Hyperactive

• Reactive

• Untrained

• Blind or deaf

• Timid, Afraid, or Nervous

In this blog, I’m going to share some tips & tricks I’ve learned as a professional pet photographer to help EVERY dog succeed during our dog photo session!

My Dog is Hyperactive

Do most of your dog photos look like a blur?

Having a dog that seems to be always bouncing off the walls can be tough. You’ve probably found that the best photos you’ve managed with your phone are sleeping pictures because everything else you try results in a blur across the screen.

Here’s where working with a professional pet photographer with professional level gear will really make a difference in photographing your dog.

Super fast shutter speeds are capable of almost literally freezing time - we’re talking freezing the flutter of a hummingbird wing fast. There’s a reason camera bodies & lenses matter - and a super fast shutter speed for your hyperactive dog is one of them!

My Dog is Dog or People Reactive

Having a reactive dogs is probably in the top 3 reasons people wait on hiring a professional pet photographer, so you’re not alone.

When your dog struggles with seeing other dogs out on a walk or is unsure about meeting new people; it’s scary to think about having him photographed where other dogs might walk by or he might react to the photographer holding a giant eyeball (camera lens) right in his face.

If your dog is people or dog reactive - or just easily overstimulated - you should definitely hire a professional DOG photographer.

As someone who has worked with reactive dogs (both as a photographer & foster mom) I have taken professional dog training classes to help me set these dogs up for success.

By using a longer focal length I can be 20 or more feet away from your dog throughout the session keeping the pressure low. I understand dog body language and can read what your dog is saying.

A professional pet photographer is also an expert at removing leads - so your dog remains completely safe just a few feet from you at all times and you still receive gorgeous images where you never know there was once a leash.

And lastly, I can help you find a location that’s suitable for whatever your dog needs. We can rent a private venue ensuring we’re the only people and dogs on the property or we can use a studio where we can be safely inside throughout the session.

Wyatt is a dog for whom life can be scary. He’s tiny and cute and fluffy and really flipping adorable, and that means people cross his boundaries a lot. They want to touch and cuddle and smoosh his fluff. But that’s really scary to Wyatt, and he wants to say no, and he can’t. So Wyatt’s mom is his voice and his advocate.

Wyatt’s mom detailed during our planning that Wyatt is nervous of strangers and he battles a lot of anxiety and reactivity. And then before she got Wyatt out of the car she spoke to me again so I would be prepared for Wyatt’s needs. She brought all his favorite treats and his emotional support grandma to help too.

We rented Heartwood Acres, a beautiful private wedding venue in Eatonton, Georgia for his session so we didn’t have to worry about strangers or other dogs during his photo session. I never touched Wyatt during our time together. In fact, I mostly ignored him. A few times he approached me for a sniff and we just let him do his own thing, no pressure. And Wyatt had a great time!

He’s happy and relaxed in his portraits. He ate tasty snacks and quickly learned the click of the shutter worked like clicker training and the treat was on the way right from mom who was just feet away on the other the end of the leash.

Working with a professional dog photographer means working with someone who has the skills and understanding to let your dog be themselves.

My Dog Has No Training or Manners

“But my dog doesn’t even know how to sit!”

I hear this all the time - and guess what? Your dog doesn’t have to know any commands to have a successful professional pet photography session.

Sure, having some basics can help move the session along, but there are beautiful images to be had of your dog just doing their dog thing. Dogs standing, walking, running, climbing, and exploring all make for beautiful natural poses - with NO training required.

I’ve spent years working with shelter & rescue dogs photographing them for their adoption pictures - like Dunkin pictured here. Many of these dogs not only have no training, they are dealing with a new place, new situation, and new people. My experience getting photos of these

My Dog is Blind or Deaf

Whether your dog was born with a disability or has lost his vision or hearing due to advanced age - you can still have beautiful professional pet photos.

As humans, we process the world through our eyes (that’s probably why you're drawn to professional pet photography - you like the way it looks.)

Our dogs however, process the world through their NOSE.

When working with any dog, but especially those that are missing another sensory input, knowing that dogs see the world with their incredible sniffer, is an invaluable tool I’ve learned as a professional pet photographer. On more than one occasion I have arrived home smelling like I use tuna fish scented lotion and liverwurst eau du parfum.

We can direct your dog’s “gaze” by drawing their nose.

Here adorable Philomena and her brother Vito pose on the bridge at Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. Vito has been blind since he was young due to a genetic condition, but his nose is still top notch.

My Dog is Timid, Nervous, or Afraid

I’m an introvert and my wife says she spent the first 6 months of our courtship just trying to get me to talk to her.

Meeting new people in new situations can be hard for us as people - even when it’s something we want to do and when we understand that it’s just butterflies in our stomach and the new thing is actually going to eat us.

Dogs don’t experience that the same way. Shy dogs can’t reason that if they just get brave and say hi they might be rewarded with a new friend (or some tasty morsel).

And your dog probably isn’t thinking about the beautiful pictures you’re going to have together.

So here’s what I do as a professional dog photographer: I focus first on making this a fun & positive experience for your dog.

Maybe that means I spend the first 10 minutes of our session just letting him sniff everything in my camera bag and maybe the next 5 minutes is about clicking the shutter and handing out treats before I ever bring the camera to my eye. Like we did with Bonnie the sheltie pictured above.

Or maybe that means we choose a location we know will be quiet and where you can take a couple practice walks to get used to the area in the weeks leading up to our session.

Or maybe it just means your dog needs more space during the session and I’ll use my long lens and calm inside voice so he’s comfortable.

Or maybe you both attend a few Pet Portrait Events first to warm up to me and the “game” of having their photo made.

We will work together to make your dog successful!

After more than 10 years working with dogs, I can confidently say I can photograph even your dog. Not only do I know that even your dog can have professional pet photos - I guarantee all my work. If I can’ deliver images you absolutely love - I’ll refund 100%.