Do you have a dog photoshoot coming up and are wondering how to best prepare? Over the years I have curated my best tips for a successful session with your furry best friend. A dog photoshoot is one of my favorite types of sessions and such a great way to capture portraits of your dogs, creating memories that will last forever! As a Boston dog photographer, I have a ton of experience photographing dogs and I am here to bring you all the tips you need to know to prepare for yours.
What is a Dog Photoshoot and Why Should I Book One?
A dog photoshoot is a photo session designed specifically to capture images of your dog(s). Of course, you and your family members can be in the photos too! These photoshoots are a great way to capture your pup’s personality as well as the special bond you two share! Dog photoshoots bring me so much joy and it is my goal to capture beautiful portraits of your dog(s) that you’ll cherish forever.
After your session, these images will make gorgeous prints for your home to really showcase your furry friend with all the attention they deserve! You can view all of the heirloom products I offer here. You’ll also be able to order professional prints from your final gallery as well.
What to Bring to your Dog Photoshoot
I’m so excited to share my best tips with you! Here are the must-have items to bring to your photo session:
Treats
I like to have my clients bring a variety of types of treats, ranging from low value to high value. Some good examples of low value treats are the treats you give your dog daily and some examples of high value treats are cheese and peanut butter, or whatever makes your pup the happiest! If you’re on the hunt for some new kinds of treats, here are some of my favorites companies:
- Polkadog Bakery (Use code LDP15 for 15% off treats)
- 2 Dogs Treats (Use code LDPDogPack for 15% off)
- Boston Barkery (Use code LDP for 15% off)
Toys
Bring your pup’s favorite toy or ball, especially if they’re toy motivated. This can help us capture some great photos of your dog in action and really show off their personality!
Water
Water is a must-bring for dog photoshoots. Our top priority is for your dog to stay hydrated and comfortable. Especially if your shoot is in the summer time, make sure to bring water with you to your session.
A towel
Especially if your dog is known to drool, it’s always good to have a towel on hand, just in case!
A lint roller
If your dog sheds, a lint roller is a must bring! If you plan on being in any photos with your pup, you’ll thank me for this!
My Top Tips for a Smooth Photoshoot With Dogs
As a Boston dog photographer, I know that these extra tips will save you a lot of stress during your dog photoshoot:
- Don’t feed your dog before the session so that they’re extra treat-motivated. Using treats is the best way to get good poses and good behavior, so anything to make them more motivated is a plus. If you have a sunrise session or golden hour session, definitely do not feed them breakfast or lunch.
- It’s always helpful to have an extra set of hands, especially if you’re bringing more than one pup! I always recommend bringing one person per dog so if you have multiple dogs, consider bringing multiple people. This will help minimize stress (for you and your dog) while allowing me to capture beautiful portraits of you with your dog(s). If you don’t have a family member or friend you can bring, I highly recommend one of my best friends in the industry, For the Love of Paws. She is amazing, and she offers all of my clients an exclusive discount, so be sure to reach out!
- Get your dog looking their best! A bath or having them groomed beforehand is a great idea to really show off all their best features. If you have a shaggy dog (especially doodle dogs), make sure to trim the hair around their eyes prior to the photoshoot!
- Arrive at your photoshoot location early to account for parking, walking, and bathroom breaks. It’s also helpful to arrive early so your dog has the chance to explore the area.
- Dogs will be dogs, so don’t worry if they’re hyper or playful! The whole point is to authentically capture your dog’s personality, so don’t worry at all if they’re not sitting perfectly still the whole time. That’s what makes it fun! I have lots of tricks we’ll use to try and hide the leash and I will also photoshop leashes in any photos that I can.
Dog Photoshoot Ideas
Okay, now you’re prepared for your dog photoshoot, but what will it look like? Here are some of my favorite dog photo session ideas as a Boston dog photographer:
- Bring a basket for your puppy
Because seriously, what’s cuter than a puppy in a basket?! Your furry friend won’t be this tiny forever, so showcasing their size (in an adorable way) is a must, and a basket is a great way to do so.
- Accessorize
A dog in a bowtie? The cutest! Accessories and outfit changes for your pup are always welcome! Think: a matching leash and collar set, bows, bandanas, flower crowns… the opportunities are endless! Some of my favorite places to find dog photoshoot accessories like bows, collars, and leashes are The Foggy Dog (use code DOBISH10 for 10% off) and Found My Animal (use code LDPDogs for 15% off). For a flower crown, reach out to your closest florist!
- Consider birthday photoshoots
What better way to celebrate a pup’s birthday than with some celebratory photos? I truly love capturing dog birthday photos! If you’re looking for a beautiful dog cake to celebrate your pup, reach out to my favorite dog baker at Dog Eat Cake! One of her cakes is pictured below at Rosie’s birthday Valentine’s Day shoot!
- Have a seasonal or holiday dog photoshoot
Some of my favorite dog photo sessions are snow photoshoots and holiday-themed photoshoots. They’re just too cute, and a great way to be festive!
Lauren Dobish | Boston Dog Photographer
I hope these tips helped you plan your perfect dog photo session! Dog photoshoots truly bring me so much joy because who doesn’t love cute pictures of dogs! If you want to see examples of dog sessions I’ve photographed before, you can find all the dogs I’ve ever photographed here. If you’re looking for a Boston dog photographer who will make sure to capture beautiful portraits of your dog(s), I’m your girl. I promise I have so much patience when it comes to dogs! If you’ve been on the fence, now is the time to reach out. You can inquire about a dog photoshoot here! I’m SO excited to capture your pups and hope you’ll join the #LDPdogpack!
Client Love from Previous Dog Photoshoots
“Lauren is the best!! She is so sweet and friendly and made us feel totally at ease during our shoot, which really comes across in the photos. She captured our crazy 6 month old puppy perfectly — it’s been exactly a month since our shoot and I still can’t stop looking at our gallery. I’m obsessed!! Lauren sent along some funny outtakes as well which was very much appreciated. Can’t recommend her enough!!” – Ali
“Lauren takes such beautiful photos. She has a good eye for capturing the right shot and the patience to boot! She photographed my dog Remy for a holiday shoot and was so patient and kind and sweet to work with. I only wished I knew about her when I was getting married, I would have loved to use her for my own wedding!” – Sheny
“Starting from my initial inquiry with Lauren, she was incredibly friendly, communicative, and genuinely kind!! We had such a wonderful experience with Lauren and the entire session was filled with laughter and fun! Lauren’s warmth and friendliness made us feel so comfortable and she provided the perfect amount of guidance and direction for some of the shots. She also did such an amazing job capturing candid moments that came out so beautifully! Additionally, she was so gentle and patient with our dog, Yoshi, who was definitely a bit overstimulated during parts of the photoshoot. She captured some really sweet moments of my husband and I with Yoshi as well as some great solo shots of him!! Lauren’s skill, attention to detail, and eye for aesthetics truly shine in every shot, and we really felt she went above and beyond for us. The photos she took for us are absolutely stunning, and we couldn’t be happier! We wholeheartedly recommend Lauren to anyone looking for a photographer who’s as talented as she is kind and easy to work with. Thank you Lauren for these beautiful memories we will cherish forever!!” – Sara
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