Your Questions Answered – Dog Photography FAQ

How Many Photos Do You Take During the Session?

It causes a little bit of confusion sometimes if the number of photos indicated on the various photo packages is the number of photos I take altogether during the session, or if those are the finished photos that will be delivered to you. Rest assured, it is the latter, we normally take hundreds of photos per shoot. These are then narrowed down into a collection of a few dozen of the best pictures that you can pick your favorites from. Depending on which package you chose, your top five, ten or fifteen photos will be retouched and sent to you as high-resolution images.

Can I Get the Raw Files?

The raw, unedited photos are available to choose from, but never to download. The reason for this is that those pictures are only half done, lacking the signature colors that you see in my photos. Occasionally they are also intentionally over- or underexposed in order to preserve more detail in certain areas of the pictures and make the retouching process easier. For these reasons, I believe the raw files are not an accurate representation of the work I do, not to mention not the quality that you paid for. A huge chunk of this photography process is handling the images with care, perfecting the details and curating a gallery in which all pictures live up to the same professional standard. However, that is not to say additional photos cannot be purchased. If you end up loving more images then were originally included in your package, you can always opt to buy more – and these pictures will go through the same meticulous process and perfected before delivered to you.

What if the Weather is Bad?

The biggest drawback with shooting in nature is that we have no control over the weather. Sometimes if it is raining cats and dogs there is no other option but to reschedule the session. In case I am only briefly visiting a place, or traveling through, this could get tricky, but so far, we have always been able to come up with a solution, so there is no need to worry! That being said, the situation is rarely as dire as we might think. Clouds in the sky or some light drizzle is nothing to fear, in fact they usually make for some of the most interesting pictures with a unique atmosphere. So, I encourage you to embrace these weather conditions as well, you would be surprised how well they can look on camera!

How Many Dogs Can I Include?

There is no limit to the number of dogs you can include, and you do not have to pay any additional fees for multiple dogs. However, all dogs must come from the same household. In case you would like to do a joint shoot with the dogs of friends or family members who do not live with you, please reach out to me to discuss details and customize your session.

How Many People Can Come?

Similarly, you can bring along as many people to be in the photos or assist as you would like. But I would advise you not to have too many helpers at the session, especially if it is a family photoshoot, as the more people there are, the harder things become to coordinate, and we may just end up stressing the dogs or ourselves out with the overload of people to pay attention to. Generally, if it is just you (and perhaps your partner) with one or two dogs, you do not need any additional helpers, we can sort that out ourselves. If you have three or more dogs that is when you should probably consider asking a friend to aid the shoot.

Have You Ever Had a Shoot With No Good Photos?

Never! There have been quite a few tricky ones that make for funny stories though. But no matter what, in the end we always managed to get some great shots. With some dogs it takes more time and patience than with others, but I truly believe that any dog can do this!

What Should I Bring?

There aren’t many things you need for a photography session, just the regular items you would probably bring on a walk as well. Nevertheless, make sure you pack your pup’s favorite treats and toys that you can motivate them with. As for a leash, if they can be let off leash, bring whatever you prefer, however if you would like to keep your dog on leash for the shoot try to bring one that is long and as thin as possible. (That just makes it easier to hide the lead in the photos or edit it out.) Additionally, unless you specifically want a harness in your pictures, it is better to have your dog wear a collar instead. Some water and a bowl are also advisory for longer sessions or shoots in the summer.

If you have any further questions, or feel ready to book your photoshoot, please do not hesitate to reach out! You can contact me here.