Your dog is real member of your family! In fact, they were probably your first baby! So if you’re sitting here wondering, “Can we actually take Boston family photos with dogs?” My answer is yes. Absolutely YES. I always welcome all my families to bring their fur baby with them to their photoshoot!
As a Boston family photographer, I love it when my clients choose to include their dogs in their photoshoot, and I’m excited to share advice from my years of experience! Some of my favorite sessions are the ones where your dog is right there with you, running around, and stealing the spotlight for their close-up!
In this guide, I will share everything there is to know on how to prepare for Boston family photos with dogs.
Types of Family Sessions in Boston
Your dog is welcome in any type of portrait session! If you’re looking to book a newborn session, maternity session, couples session, or classic family photoshoot, your dog can come!
Plan to Bring an Extra Set of Hands for Boston Family Photos with Dogs
Family sessions already have a lot going on (planning outfits, kids, making sure everyone’s semi-looking in the same direction), so adding your dog into the mix can feel like a lot. This is why I always recommend bringing an extra set of hands. This is my most important tip and necessary for a successful portrait session that includes dogs.
A helper, such as a friend or family member, can focus solely on your pup. If you don’t have anyone available in your network to come help, you can consider a service like For the Love of Paws to help with this. They can wrangle, entertain, or reward your dog while you focus on posing with the rest of the family. Having support will make your session feel more calm, more relaxed, and as least stressful as possible.
Pro tip: keep lots of treats handy! We want to make sure your pup has a variety of low-value and high-value treats so when they get tired of one kind of treat we will still have lots of options as motivators for them.
Choosing the Right Location for Your Pup
Deciding on the right location for family photos with dogs in Boston is very important. You want to make sure whichever location you choose is well-suited for your pup. Knowing which environment where your dog will do best is key! A relaxed pup makes for way better photos (trust me on this).
Here are a few examples of my favorites in Boston:
Boston Public Garden
The Public Garden is an iconic Boston location that is full of colorful flowers, weeping willows, a pond, and beautiful backdrops in every direction that combine nature and city. Sunrise or morning sessions are ideal here because the garden is empty and the soft light makes for dreamy photos. If your dog likes to chase squirrels, swim, is easily distracted by people or other dogs, or is more fearful around lots of noise, etc then this is not the best location for your pup.
Charles River Esplanade
The Charles River Esplanade offers beautiful paths, bridges, and stunning waterfront views that are perfect for playful photos with your pup. You can capture your dog chasing a ball along the river or family cuddles with the skyline in the background. Early morning is best to avoid crowds or golden hour is best to capture that beautiful golden hour light reflecting off the water.
Charlestown Navy Yard
Charlestown offers a quieter, coastal vibe that works beautifully for family photos with dogs. The Charlestown Navy Yard has beautiful waterfront views including the beautiful Boston skyline as a backdrop.
When choosing your location, you want to consider a few things: how busy the location can be, if there are any potential distractors for your pup (ie: squirrels, bicycles, other dogs, etc), and of course the most desirable backdrop for you. The right location will help your dog feel comfortable while giving you timeless and joyful family photos!
Remember Your Dog is Not the Main Focus
Even though I consider your dog a very important member of your photoshoot, they are not the main focus. I will include your dog in a lot of poses, but they will not be in every single photo. Depending on how your dog is doing, we’ll pop them in and out of photos throughout your session so that you’ll have a beautiful mix of images in your final gallery.
My approach:
- Starting with photos of just the family to make everyone comfortable
- Gradually bringing in your pup for playful or candid moments
- Taking cues from your pup on how their attention span is
- Giving your dog breaks as needed
My tips:
- Do not stress if your dog isn’t sitting and staying – I have endless patience
- Your dog is allowed to wander or sniff around – this can make for the best candid shots
- Bring lots of treats of all different kinds
- Do not worry if your dog is not well-trained. I have lots of tricks to help get the best images of them
Think of your pup as the fun guest star. They’re not in every single photo, but when they are, they absolutely steal the show. I can promise you the photos that include your dog will be your favorite!
Accessorize Your Pup for Boston Family Photos with Dogs
Accessories can make your dog extra photogenic! I love a dog in a bandana or a bow tie. The most important thing to consider when accessorizing your dog is to make sure they are comfortable! A few ideas:
- Bandanas matching your family’s color palette
- Seasonal scarves, bows, or flower crowns
- Rope collars and leashes to match your outfits
- Holiday-themed props if your session is around a special occasion
Keep it simple and let your dog move freely! Just remember that an uncomfortable accessory can make them anxious or fidgety.
Let Your Pup Be Your Pup
Some dogs are natural models and others have their own agenda. That is completely okay!
You do not need a perfectly behaved dog to capture beautiful photos. Almost all of the dogs I’ve ever photographed have been on-leash. Even though the final images do not showcase a leash, I promise it was there! I utilize lots of tricks to hide the leash or edit it out whenever possible. I photograph dogs that don’t know how to sit and stay all the time! Don’t let this deter you from including your dog in your photoshoot.
I’ve photographed so many dogs over the years and every single one has its own little personality. Some of my favorite images are the tongue-out, mid-zoomies moments. That’s where their personality actually shines!I genuinely love getting to know them, capturing their little quirks, and hopefully seeing them again year after year!
Patience Pays Off
Dogs and kids do not always follow directions perfectly. It takes lots of patience to capture natural, joyful photos. A relaxed atmosphere equals relaxed photos. Your calm energy will help your pup and your family feel comfortable in front of the camera.
Exercise Before the Session
A quick walk or a game of fetch before your session helps your dog burn off energy and be more cooperative. Plan to arrive early to your session so your dog can get familiar with this location whether it’s new to them or not. Even 15-20 minutes of activity beforehand can make a big difference for a smooth photoshoot with your dog. A tired dog is a dog more willing to pose!
Don’t Feed Your Dog Right Before
Keep your dog motivated for treats and therefore, photos by avoiding a full meal right before your session. We want your dog to be excited for treats so make sure to bring a variety with you that we’ll use throughout your dog photoshoot in Boston.
Ready to Schedule Your Boston Family Photos with Your Dog?
Including your dog in your family photos is one of the best ways to make sure you’re capturing this season of life. Although this will add some extra coordination, I promise I will guide you through your whole session and make it as stress-free as possible. Don’t worry, I have endless patience when it comes to your pup! From the minute you hire me, I’ll help make sure we’re capturing joyful timeless images of your loved ones, dogs included!
As a Boston photographer, I truly love capturing families along with their dogs! Taking your Boston family photos with dogs is one of my favorite types of portrait sessions. With a little planning and patience, your pup will shine and your photos will capture the real magic of your family.
If you’re ready to book a session, I would love to hear from you. You can inquire about a session here!
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