Worried that your dog will not behave for a photo session?
/It’s a common question - What happens if my dog will not behave for a photo session and I’ll get terrible photos?
Well rest assured, no matter how “badly behaved” your dog is, there is no need to worry!
No dog is perfect and that’s okay!
If your dog doesn’t know how to sit and stay - that’s okay!
If your dog gets over-excited - that’s okay!
if your dog gets anxious - that’s okay!
These are not reasons to stop you getting wonderful photos and everlasting memories of your furry friend.
Let’s look at some of the common reasons your dog might have trouble paying attention and posing for the camera.
Excitement! Sometimes a dog finds it difficult to sit still and focus because they’re simply too excited about being in a new place or even a familiar place that they love.
Anxiety. Being in a strange place, with a strange person who makes strange sounds can sometimes cause a bit of anxiety, especially if your dog is the nervous type!
Puppyhood! Puppies can get very excited and may have not yet learned even the most basic commands.
All of that is okay! It's not unusual for a dog to have trouble with one or all of those reasons.
As a professional pet photographer based in Toronto, I have experience in dealing with all kinds of dogs and I can tell you that you have nothing to worry about.
Here’s how we deal with dogs to ensure you get the best possible photos from your photoshoot.
Pre-shoot Preparation
Before your dog’s photo shoot I will send you a guide with useful tips to help prepare for your photo shoot.
One of these is to take your dog for a walk before your session to help them burn off energy and work through some of the excitement they may feel.
Keep your dog on leash
In 99% of sessions, dogs are kept on leash. Not only for safety reasons, but to help them stay in one place for long enough to get that perfect shot! So they will not run off after a squirrel or chase another dog that comes by.
You would never know that though, unless you see some before/after shots like the ones below. Thanks to the magic of photoshop I edit out the leashes from your dog portraits! The leash helps us control the dog and get you those amazing pet photos you have seen framed in people’s homes, on social media, and on photography websites.
Keep it fun with Positive reinforcement
I use lots of positive reinforcement to make sure your dog is having a great time - that could be treats, toys and little play sessions to release some energy if we’ve asked them to stay still for a time. That helps them get ready for the next spot where we want them to stay still for a little bit longer!
Do you still think your dog will be the most badly behaved dog in the world at his photo session? Not so!
Watch the dog’s behaviour and follow his cues
At the session your dog is way too anxious to calm down and offer up some poses? I will take enough time before we even start the shoot to get them to know me, and introduce them to the camera. No pressure to hurry up and get it done!
We see that your dog is way too hyper to stay still? We’ll spend some time letting them run on a long leash to burn off some of that energy. And we’ll use that time to do the action shots which involve a lot of running up and down which also releases energy.
So no matter how well behaved your dog is, I can promise you that I will capture beautiful photographs that you will love and cherish for many years to come. Sit back, relax and let me worry about getting those amazing photos.
Here is more information on what to expect at your dog photography session. Hopefully once you have read these posts you will feel more relaxed about having your own dog photoshoot!
I’m here to answer any other questions you may have about a pet photography session in the Toronto and surrounding areas. Simply click the button below to get hold of me!
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As part of a blog circle, I collaborate with amazing pet photographers from around the world in weekly posts on set themes. This week we discussed frequently asked questions about pet photography sessions. Click the link below to see another photographers answer to the frequently asked question about digital photos as part of a session.
About A Dog Photography in central MN talks about a FAQ people have when inquiring about a session!
