How to Include Dogs in Your Family Photos
Let’s be real — those four legged family members also deserve to be in this year’s photo! Here are five tips to make it a seamless process.
One of the questions I get the most as a family photographer is “can we bring our dog?”… and the answer is ALWAYS yes. I love doggies and consider them an important part of the family. They are more than welcome to join the party and you can find a list of tips below that will make their inclusion so so easy!
Afterall, the time we get with our pet babies is just too short. They deserve to be documented.
Tip 1: Mentally prepare yourself
Spoiler alert: your dog is going to get distracted (especially if we’re photographing in a public space!) And that is a-okay. There will be new smells, sights, strangers willing to hand over all the good-boy-pats, etc. Working with your fur family members is a lot like toddlers; we have to give them the time + space to burn off some energy before the real magic unfolds.
Tip 2: Join them on their level
It’s natural to fall into the go-to pose of standing next to your dog — this is a great starter look but I find that getting on their level is helpful in various ways! When you enter the same plane as your doggo they 1) feel closer to you and are more likely to interact with you instead of their surroundings, 2) can be a little better controlled by placing your arm around them or loving on their face a bit, 3) creates a visually interesting image that shows the love you have for all members of the family!
Tip 3: Embrace the poses they give us
Dogs keep us on our toes and sometimes that makes for the absolute best photos. Lean into whatever energy they’re giving us that day and the results are sure not to disappoint!
Tip 4: Bring all the toys and treats
This one is a big key in a successful shoot with the pups. Attention can be honed in with the simple wave of something desirable whether that’s their favorite toy or tastiest treat! This tip leads us right into the final (and most important) tip…
Tip 5: Enlist some extra hands
Having someone present that your dog knows and is familiar with is invaluable! (Seriously we cannot put a price on this!) So enlist those extra hands to come hang out during our session; bribe them with a nice dessert afterwards. It’s a win win for everyone. They’ll be able to help reign in the dog’s attention as well as be a caregiver if we decide to grab some shots sans dog during our time together.
Bonus Tip: If all this feels a tad overwhelming, consider an at home session
By stripping away a new environment, we are a step ahead of the game. Your dog is going to behave more naturally at home than if we were to introduce them to somewhere new. So many wonderful genuine moments are waiting to be captured within your own home, so give at home sessions a thought!