Bringing your baby home for the first time is emotional enough and then when you add in introducing them to your dog for the first time? It’s a whole new kind of love! I remember the moment when I walked through the front door after bringing our daughter home from the hospital and our dog Rosie ran up to her for the first time. From the second she sniffed our daughter’s little toes, I was an immediate ball of emotions. More than likely, your dog was your very first baby so when you’re trying to decide if you should include them in your newborn photos, the answer is always yes from me! Including your pup in your newborn photography session does not have to be stressful. I will absolutely help make sure that adding your dog into the photos is as seamless as possible. Photographing dogs and babies are two of my favorite things to document. So as a Boston newborn photographer and Boston dog photographer, there’s nothing I love more than when you put babies and dogs in the same frame together!

Newborn Photography With Dogs: What You Need to Know

Newborn photography is already one of my favorite kinds of sessions to capture because it’s always so precious and full of meaning. When you add your pup in, it just amplifies the cuteness! Your dog is family too and they absolutely deserve to be in your family photos.

If the idea of newborn photography AND dog photography happening at the same time makes you break into a slight stress sweat, I completely understand. I’ve photographed newborn sessions with dogs who couldn’t sit still, older dogs who were timid, and families with multiple pups. I promise that no matter what your dogs’ temperament is we will be able to sneak them into at least a few of your family photos! 

Where to Have Your Newborn Photography Session With Your Dogs

Your home is always my top recommendation when including dogs in newborn photography. It’s familiar. It smells like you. Your baby is comfortable. Your dog feels safe. And no, your house does NOT need to be spotless. Real life with a newborn isn’t tidy, and that’s not what we’re documenting anyway. We’re capturing the real, honest moments that a new baby brings into your life. I always start the session by letting your dog roam in and out of the frame. This is their home after all! Just by letting them be around us, they will naturally gravitate towards you and end up in the frame naturally. I love the candid moments of you sitting on your nursery chair holding your babe while your pup lays in front of you, most likely just as they do at every middle of the night feed. We’ll bring in treats as needed for more specific posing and if it’s not working with your pup, we won’t force it! The main focus of your newborn photography session is your baby so any images we capture with your pup in it too is a bonus!

How to Make Everyone Comfortable (Babies, Kids, and Dogs Included)

Full bellies and fresh diapers go a long way. The same goes for your pup; a little playtime beforehand helps them get their energy out. Make sure you have lots of treats on hand. I also always recommend having an extra person there to help at your session. Maybe it’s your Mom, a friend, or sibling – having someone who can be an extra set of hands for your baby, for you, and for your dog is so helpful. 

Newborn photography moves at your family’s pace. If your baby needs to eat? We will absolutely pause for a feeding. If your dog is getting really excited on the bed when we’re trying to all pose together, we will pivot and give them a break before we reset. Nothing is rushed during newborn photography sessions! 

Dog + Baby Photos

If your dream is to have a photo of your two babies together, we can absolutely make it happen safely! I am always up for trying to capture a photo of just your baby and dog together. This is typically the last photo of the session and our grand finale! I will always make safety by biggest priority when it comes to having dogs and babies near each other. If it’s best not to have your baby on the bed with your dog, then there are options if you’d prefer not to have them too close together! We can still try to have them in the photo together using the crib or a basket. You know your dog best and I always defer to you on which poses you’d like to try based on your comfort level. 

Best Tips for Newborn Photography

I have a full blog post dedicated to making your newborn photography easy, but here’s an overview of the top tips you need to know especially if you’re planning to include our furry friend!

• Schedule your newborn photography for 7-21 days after the baby is born
• Feed your baby right before I arrive so they’re happy, relaxed, and sleepy
• Plan for a morning session when natural light is the best
• Try your outfits on a few days before the session to make sure everyone is comfortable in their clothes
• Make sure to have lots of treats on hand for your dog
• Try to get your dog a little bit of exercise before your session
• Invite a friend or family member over to help you out during your session

My biggest advice? Go with the flow at your newborn session. The photos you’ll love most are the candid ones where you’re just holding your baby and your dog is naturally curled up nearby. 

Best Tips for Dog Photography: How to Get Your Pup to Cooperate for Photos

I also have a whole blog post about dog photoshoots that goes more into detail, but there are a few key things to know. Treats are your best friend. I always recommend having both low-reward and high-reward ones on hand. A cute bandana or bow tie? Always a yes. Accessorizing your pup to match your outfits is so cute! More than anything, my biggest tip is to let your dog be your dog. I promise I have so much patience when it comes to including a dog in your photos and we will make it work! Even though they aren’t the main focus, it’s worth the little bit of extra effort to get them into the frame too. I make sure not to include them in every photo, but I just know that your most favorite images from your gallery will be the ones that do include your furry best friend! 

Lauren Dobish | Boston Newborn Photographer and Boston Dog Photographer

There is something so special about watching your baby grow up with your dog right there beside them. Those early days when everyone is adjusting and learning from each other deserve to be remembered. If you’re looking for a Boston newborn photographer who understands both babies and dogs (and who truly loves to photograph both), I would be honored to document this season for you. I offer multiple different collections that include a newborn session such as my Bump to Baby Collection, Baby to First Birthday Collection, or my First Year Collective. If you’re having a hard time deciding which milestones you want to capture, this blog post can help you decide. If you live in or around Boston and want to work together, you can inquire about booking with me right here!