The Biggest Lies About Dog Photography

As pet photography is gaining wide-spread recognition, more and more misconceptions emerge about what this experience entails and what the expectations are. We often make assumptions based on what we see on social media, that may very well not be true. So let me unveil for you some secrets about dog photography.

“All The Dogs in The Photos Are Well-Trained”

If you see a picture of a dog sitting calmly somewhere it’s easy to think that that pup must have a perfect sit and stay, something which your dog may not be willing to do, especially in a new and exciting situation. So that must mean your dog can’t have a photo session, right? Well, in reality, the vast majority of the dogs I photograph are just normal pets. They just love their owners, chase a ball, know a couple of commands, but ultimately like to forget them whenever the stakes are actually high. And that’s perfectly fine. Even some of the best trained dogs have a hard time concentrating in new environments, so that is in no way an expectation a photographer has. It is my job to work with whatever your dog is willing to give us that day. If it’s the most perfect sit and stay, great, I’m happy and you should be proud! But if it’s random bursts of energy, looking anywhere but the camera, conveniently not hearing your recall, that is very normal and okay. We can absolutely work with that too. That’s what I have a really fast camera for; trust me I’ll be able to capture that split second when your dog looks like a well-behaved angel!

“Your Dog Has to be Off Leash”

Could not be further from the truth. Many of the dogs I work with are on leash for either a part of, or for the entire duration of their session. Your dog’s safety is the number one priority, so if you think their recall is not stable enough yet, or they’re reactive or just unfriendly with other dogs, you should keep them on a leash. It won’t impact your images at all, I can just edit the leash right out!

“People Can’t be in The Photos”

Owners are more than welcome to be in the pictures! That’s actually my biggest mission: to capture the unique bond that a dog and a human can share. And you’re going to want those precious memories with your best friend; I know that those images are going to be the most cherished ones from your session. Additionally, you can even have a whole family photoshoot with your kids or your parents, or any of your loved ones. Afterall, your dog is family.

“Dog Photographers Don’t Know How to Pose People”

As a pet photographer, there’s a number of things you have to be good at. Understanding and working with animals in of course the most important one. You have to be able to make this experience fun for them, to see their boundaries, to get them to cooperate. However, we don’t forget about the owners either. It’s equally important that they have a good time too, and the ultimate goal is to create the images they dreamed of. So, if you want to capture the love you have for your dog, it can be quite intimidating if you don’t know how to pose or if you’re camera-shy. Luckily, it’s not true that dog photographers don’t know how to photograph people. I come prepared with loads of ideas for cute and easy photo ideas that anyone can do, even if you’re not the biggest fan of being in front of the camera.

“You Can’t Include All Your Dogs in One Session”

If you’re the owner of multiple pups, you may have read on some photographers’ websites that there is a limit to how many dogs you can include in one photoshoot, often two or three. It is certainly no easy task to do a session with four or more dogs, but it’s also by no means impossible, and I’m always up for a challenge! You just have to make sure you can handle them all at once, maybe even bring someone to help you out a bit. The shoot may take a little longer but by the end of the day we will manage to create some gorgeous memories of each of them.

As a final note, I just want to say that a dedicated pet photographer is prepared to work with just about any type of dog and is always looking to accommodate you and follow any request you may have as best as they can. So, don’t let any special needs or fears hold you back from creating something truly lasting of your canine companion! If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out!