Dog Photography Inquiry Guide
Is this right for you?
Let’s address the elephant in the room -
My dog would never sit still for photos!
Let me let you in on a little secret…
I’ve got TRICKS…. and PHOTOSHOP
98% of dogs wear a leash throughout their photo session!
What you don’t see in the images on my website are the leashes that most of these dogs were wearing when the image was taken! I have several tricks up my sleeve to get the shots that you love, from magically removing leashes in post-production to getting a dog’s attention with irresistible duck calls. We can even create action shots of dogs that can’t be off-leash with a special long line.
I promise you that I successfully photograph untrained and hyper dogs ALL of the time.
In fact, I guarantee you’ll love your images or I’ll refund 100% of the reservation fee AND make a $100 donation to an animal charity in your dog’s name!
“My dog doesn’t know SIT!”
And other Frequently Asked Questions
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NOT a problem!
Many of my favorite portraits have dogs standing or walking or even running and jumping & I have a DEEP pocket of unique sounds and tasty treats to keep their attention on me.
I’ve worked with 1000’s of shelter dogs who have no idea what sit even means.
I promise, your dog will have beautiful portraits, no training required.
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Want to know a secret?
98% of the dogs you see on my website were wearing a leash!
Or inside a secure fence! And sometimes both!
With the magic of photoshop, I can create the off leash artwork you want while keeping your pet safe.
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YES! And even better, you’ll get both — digital files AND art. Because you DESERVE both!
You don’t smile every time you walk pass that drawer of CDs, but you absolutely do when you walk pass your dog’s photo on the wall. Flipping the pages of your album you can feel his soft furry body while you snuggled in the grass. Your hands remember how warm his fur was after an afternoon in the sunshine. This is what physical artwork can do that digital just cannot.
Don’t get me wrong, I love digital files too. I want the home screen on my phone to be my dog and I want to share her adorable photos all over social media.
That’s why collections include high resolution digital files.
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Yep!
I’m stilling looking to beat my current PR of 11 dogs for one family, so bring on the multi dog families!
Your reservation fee covers ALL the animals in your immediate family (including cats, horses, hedgehogs, & more) and I’d be delighted to meet them all!
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I have one simple rule — I photograph people so long as they bring a pet too!
I encourage you to get in the photos with your dog. Even if you don’t love being photographed, most of my clients find they love images hat show their relationship. And these are the photos that become only more valuable with time.
I also photograph high school seniors, families, and children with their dogs and /or horses.
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First, I am so sorry. Our dog’s lives are tragically short.
I make every effort to photograph end of life sessions as soon as possible and will do everything in my power to see you quickly. Please letme know when inquiring if you need an urgent session.
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I completely understand, the world can be a scary place for all of us sometimes.
If your dog is nervous or reactive we can choose a location that suits them.
I know some locations that are out of the way and receive very little dog or foot traffic or we can always rent a private location which would ensure that we see no one!
I can also use longer lens which means I can give your dog more space - staying 10 to 20 feet away and still delivering beautiful final portraits.
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My camera shutter speed goes all the way up to 1/8000 of a second – plenty of speed to capture the most active dog!
Our sessions never require your dog to sit, stay and behave for hours (or even minutes) on end.
One of the benefits of hiring a pet specific photographer is that we know how to manage our hyper clients and still deliver gorgeous images.
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If the weather is less than ideal we can certainly reschedule!
Your reservation retainer is simply transferred over to our new date.
I reserve rain dates on my calendar to make sure I can get you rescheduled quickly.
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We will discuss session locations during out planning consultation. Don’t worry! I have a
LOT of location options and I can help you determine the perfect one for the look that you
are wanting to create and where you dog will be the most comfortable. You can also take a
look at my Location Guide here to get some ideas.
For the dog people — the ones who adore their dogs unconditionally and appreciates ALL their quirks and imperfections.
I’m Courtney
Dog mom, professional pet photographer, animal rescuer, & official crazy dog lady of the family.
You’ll recognize me when we meet because even though I promise I’m wearing clean clothes – there’s going to be dog hair on them.
Welcome to a place where dog hair on the furniture is not just accepted - it’s expected, and chewed-up toys are just part of the decor.
If you :
Count dog hair as a condiment…
Always filter Airbnb for pet friendly listings…
And consider hay in your bra a badge of honor...
This is dog & equine photography designed for you.
Here we specialize in creating large scale fine art portraits and custom photo albums for your home.
Let’s upgrade your home decor from dog hair to dog ART!
How It Works
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Consider this permission to gush about your dog or horse as much as you’d like—I truly want to hear it all! Their quirks, their favorite treats, the way they look at you when it’s time for a walk. This isn’t just a photoshoot; it’s a chance to celebrate the incredible bond you share.
During our consultation (typically over the phone or Zoom), we’ll customize every detail of your session:
📍 Where the session will take place
👥 Who will be involved (two-legged & four-legged family members welcome!)
⏰ When the perfect time is for lighting, weather, and your pet’s energy levels
🎨 How you envision displaying your imagesBeginning with the end in mind. This step is crucial because every session is designed to create art that fits seamlessly into your home and lifestyle—not just to live on a screen.
Of course, you don’t need to make any final decisions at this stage, but having an idea of how you’d like to enjoy your images will influence the way we photograph your pet.
For example:
📖 90% of pet parents choose an album—allowing us to include personality-filled moments, little details, classic portraits, and even a few fun bloopers in the final design.If you’re unsure how you’d like to display your images—don’t worry, you’re in great company. That’s exactly what I’m here for! I’ll show you options you may not have even imagined and help design the perfect custom experience for you.
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Now, the real fun begins—it’s time to play! 🎉
The session isn’t about perfect poses or perfectly behaved pets. It’s about capturing their personality, whether that means zoomies, head tilts, canine curiosity, or standing majestically in the breeze.
What to Expect:
🐾 We work at pet pace – Breaks, wiggles, and spontaneous sniff sessions are all part of the process.
📍 We’ll explore & adapt – Whether it’s a scenic field, a quiet trail, or a familiar spot, we’ll find the best locations and lighting as we go.
📸 A little (or a LOT) of chaos is completely normal!If your dog won’t sit still, if your horse keeps turning their head, if we have to reset a shot a few dozen times—it’s totally fine. Actually, it’s expected! Some of the best images come in those unplanned, in-between moments.
My Promise to You:
✔️ If your dog doesn’t want to sit? We capture them standing, playing, or interacting naturally.
✔️ If your horse is feeling antsy? We work with movement to create stunning, dynamic images.
✔️ If it feels a little messy? Trust the process—I promise we are creating incredible portraits that you’ll treasure forever.Take a deep breath and enjoy this experience. This is a time for laughter, connection, and celebrating the bond you share with your pet.
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About two weeks after your session, you’ll receive a custom video reveal of all your images. This is hands-down the most exciting part of the process, and I highly recommend making it a celebratory occasion.
🍽 Order your favorite take-out
🍷 Pour a glass of your drink of choice
🎬 Get comfy and press play!During the reveal, you’ll see:
📖 A beautifully designed album layout featuring a mix of classic portraits, personality-filled moments, and even a few bloopers.
🖼 Custom wall art designs—I’ll show your portraits to scale on walls, so you can visualize exactly how they’ll look in your home.Once we finalize your order, your selected images move into production, where they are expertly crafted into stunning, custom artwork.
📌 Timeline for Delivery:
Most artwork arrives in about 6 weeks.
Specialty items, like hand-brushed canvases, may take up to 12 weeks.
Trust me—the wait is worth it.
When your finished pieces arrive, they’ll be ready to display right out of the box. Your pet’s portraits will no longer just live on a screen—they’ll become part of your home, a daily reminder of the love and joy they bring.
🌟 Digital images will be delivered via an online gallery for easy downloading and sharing.
What do I wear?
Getting dressed every morning can be hard enough when you aren’t planning to be in front of a camera, wrangle your dog, and look your best doing it all at the same time.
So I totally get why choosing what to wear for your dog’s photo session can trigger even the most fashion-forward among us to fling everything we own to the floor and declare that “we have absolutely nothing to wear!”
Now, before you start panic buying on Amazon — let’s talk about what works best for photos.
I’ve written a full What to Wear Guide for you here.
Here Are Some Quick Tips:
Choose clothes that make you feel confident and comfortable
Consider the location & season
Add textures, layers, & movement whenever possible
Create a color story
Don’t forget your feet
Signature Collections
COLLECTION ONE
10x10 album with 40 images
40 corresponding high resolution digital files
$1500 Wall Art Credit
Upgrade to include ALL digital files + $390
$5700
SAVE $6800
MOST
POPULAR
COLLECTION TWO
8x8 album with 20 images
20 corresponding high resolution digital files
$1000 Wall Art Credit
Upgrade to include ALL digital files + $990
$3500
SAVE $2500
COLLECTION THREE
8 5X7 Mounted Photographic Prints
8 corresponding high resolution digital files
$1800
SAVE $200
Albums
An album is a timeless way to preserve your images and tell your dog’s story.
Printed directly on thick silk photographic paper and bound together without a seam, albums are a favorite way many clients choose to enjoy their images.
Starting at $2000
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When you choose an album I’ll help guide you to selecting a cover color. And we’ll decide on an image cameo cover or something embossed on the cover.
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Kodak Silk Paper is a vibrant color negative photo paper with a gorgeous silk surface finish. It has a slight sheen, but doesn’t produce bright glares that distract from the image.
Silk photo paper produces natural skin tones and warm highlights that compliment the colors of dog coats. .
Standard Archival Value of 100 years in home display, 200 years in dark storage.
Hand Brushed Canvas Wall Art
100% made by artisan canvas experts – each piece is stripped and bonded to natural fiber linen canvas and stretched on handbuilt solid wood stretchers. Hand brushed canvas art has the color and vibrancy of a photographic print.
Each piece is hand painted with acrylic brushstrokes to bring the portrait life and then lacquered for ultimate durability. This is art designed to live with you.
These museum quality, handmade canvases are unlike any other canvases you have seen or felt before. Made in the USA by experts with generations of experience.
Starting at $4800
Framed Wall Art
Gorgeous artwork finished with professional framing and guaranteed for life.
Framing finishes your art piece and adds polish. Especially when creating a gallery wall display complimentary frames tie the artwork together visually.
Frames are selected to compliment the image you choose & the style of your home.
Available in fine art paper, metal, or canvas.
Starting at $990
High Resolution Digital Files
Please note: a complimentary social media file is provided of any image ordered in product form, but those files do not include a print release.
Matching High Resolution Digital Files ARE INCLUDED in Signature Collections.
High resolution digital images are designed for the DIY’er. These files are optimized for all your printing needs – print your own wall art, holiday cards, notecards, design a coffee table book – the sky’s the limit.
Starting at $250/image
Why hire a pro?
You could keep taking your dog’s photo with your phone…
and keep getting blurry blobs attached to leashes & not so flattering selfies.
Or you could call your friend who photographs weddings…
but has no idea how to work with dogs, and frankly doesn’t appreciate the charm of a slobbery kiss from a giant tongue.
And you can order your own artwork from those places online…
and spend hours researching before giving up and just posting to Instagram where they’ll be lost in the feed in hours.
But there is a better way to have your dog photographed.
Imagine instead:
An experience crafted by an expert
10+ years of dog behavior training & experience
A selection gallery of 35+ images
Heirloom quality custom album options
Professionally designed wall art for your home
$1,000 credit towards any collection
A stress free photo shoot experience
And digital files to archive and share on social media
What do I do with my pictures?
And other Frequently Asked Questions
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YES! And even better, you’ll get both — digital files AND art. Because you DESERVE both!
You don’t smile every time you walk pass that drawer of CDs, but you absolutely do when you walk pass your dog’s photo on the wall. Flipping the pages of your album you can feel his soft furry body while you snuggled in the grass. Your hands remember how warm his fur was after an afternoon in the sunshine. This is what physical artwork can do that digital just cannot.
Don’t get me wrong, I love digital files too. I want the home screen on my phone to be my dog and I want to share her adorable photos all over social media.
That’s why collections include high resolution digital files.
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80% of my clients choose to display their favorite images in an album to capture the entire story of our session together.
There are also usually 3-5 portraits that are stand out favorites. Those are the images that make great art for your walls.
Many clients pick a statement wall art piece for one wall and then add a small gallery wall of images as well.