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4 Tips for Bringing Your Dog to Your Photoshoot

Beau the dog "smiles" happily snuggled up in his owner's arms. His bandana reads "My humans are getting married"

As a former zookeeper/animal rescue worker turned photographer, I absolutely LOVE it when couples opt to include their pup in their session! Few things can put you more at ease in front of the camera than bringing your furry best friend along for some cute pictures and some moral support. Here are a few tips and tricks to make sure everything goes smoothly when you do a photoshoot with your dog!

1) Bring someone to hold your pup

-A little overwhelmed with the thought of holding your dog AND posing for photos? Bring a friend or family member to your session with you. It’s great to have someone to hold your pup for you during the times he or she is not in photos. Ideally, we will only have your dog included in the first part of our session, so it’s even better if you can get a friend or family member to take your pup back home for you while we continue on with our photos!

2) Bring treats and toys

-Do you always have trouble getting your pup to “smile” for the camera? Try bringing his or her favorite treat or favorite (preferably squeaky) toy! Nothing can get most dog’s attention quicker than the smell of a treat or the squeak of a favorite toy. I’m well versed at holding both the camera and the treat/toy to attract your pet’s attention, so all you have to do is smile for the camera and let me do the rest!

3) Exercise your dog beforehand

-Is your dog a bundle of energy? Don’t worry, mine are too! A little bit of exercise before a photo session goes a long way for helping your dog sit still while we snap a few pictures. Try going for a walk, run, or play some fetch about an hour before our session time and your pup will most likely be ready for his close up!

4) Brush your dog

-A quick pass of a brush through your dog’s coat goes a long way when it comes to looking nice for photos! This is especially true for long-haired dogs (as a dog mom of two, I know you know what I mean!) If you take your dog to the groomer, it might be a great idea to try and schedule your pup’s grooming to be as close as possible to your session date!

That’s it! I hope these tips help you plan your photoshoot with your dog. And if you’re looking for a photographer for your session who will be equally as excited to meet you and your fiancé as I will be your dog, look no further!

Thanks for reading!

-Katie

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I'm so glad you're here! You've made it to the part of my online home where I share my life, show off all the lovely couples I get to photograph, and share tips and tricks that you can use when planning your wedding. Enjoy beautiful images, free education, and peeks into the highlights of my life as a travel-lover, pet parent, and NC Wedding photographer!

Hi, I'm Katie!

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