1. Must be People friendly
You want to make sure your dog is good with people. If your dog isn’t friendly with people a professional photography session might not be the best option for your fur baby. It can cause anxiety for your dog and could put you and your photographer in a dangerous situation. You can always work on training your dog with a professional dog trainer for help with socialization.
2. Bathed and groomed
Unless you are looking for a particular look for your dog, I would suggest having a bath the night/day before your dog’s session. Especially if your dog has long hair, I would brush your pet out the day before the session. If they require a professional groom or trim, I would take them for a fresh cut and style within 2 days of their photography session.
3. Bring on the treats
If your dog works really well for kibble bites, bring them along. There will be more going on during a professional dog photography session, therefore, you will want to have the really awesome treats with you for the day. I would suggest bringing chewy treats over treats which crumble easily. The treats should help them to stay more focused.
4. Low calorie breakfast
If you are having a morning session, I would give your pup a small snack in the morning before the session. If they are too full, they will not be food motivated which means they will be less likely to listen during the photo session.
5. Lots of sleep
Your fur baby should be well rested! Depending on your dog's temperament a photography session can seem like a long day to them. We don’t want them to get stressed. They have moods just like humans and they can be in a good mood or a bad mood!
6. Get rid of the jitters
If you have a highly active dog, you will want to walk or play with your dog before the session. This will help to get some of the jitters out and allow them to focus. You don’t want them completely tired, just a little bit of the energy released.
7. Bring a safe place for them
You know your dog best. Some dogs might not like a lot of stimulation. Bringing something for your dog to chill out in for a break is a great idea for an off-site photography session. It allows them to relax for a bit and feel like they have the smell of home with them. If we are on-location, please have a safe place for them. It can get overwhelming having a professional photographer with lighting and a huge camera pointing right at them.
If you have any questions about dog photography sessions, please reach out at 321-765-9473.