How to Prepare for your Dog Photo Shoot

In this post I hope to outline key areas that need considering when preparing for your photo shoot to ensure everything goes smoothly and your images are perfect. Some areas may seem obvious but they are often forgotten or left too soon before the shoot to remedy in time.

Preparing your Pup for their Dog Photo Shoot

Essential:

1. Bath/brush your dog (especially if they have a light coloured or long coat!)

2. Clean you dog's collar/harness

3. Clip your dog's nails if they're looking a bit long

4. Wipe the corner of your dog's eyes to clear away any dirt

5. Take them on a lead to the shoot location so they are familiar with their surroundings

Optional:

1. Visit the dog groomer's for a trim

Preparing Yourself

If you're not planning on joining your dog in their photos, please move onto the next section.

Essential:

1. Wash & dry your hair (greasy hair is very obvious through a lens)

2. Wash your outfit/s and ensure there aren't any stray threads/stubborn stains

3. Ensure your hair is in a comfortable style (hair which is down can become irritable if wind picks up - a stylish updo or plait may be a better option as stray hairs can be distracting)

Optional:

1. Wear more natural makeup (if possible, only use minimal products to cover blemishes. If you're more comfortable with full coverage that's absolutely fine)

Clothing

1. Keep it simple - stay away from large logos and writing on shirts as can take focus away from you and your dog

2. Reflect your personality - setting the tone of each photo is largely down to your outfit, so think about your personal style and present yourself as you wish to be seen

3. Mix it up - there's plenty of time for an outfit change so you can choose a variety of different styles (e.g. start off with jeans and a t-shirt, then move onto a suit/dress)

4. Choose something you're happy in - if you're not used to wearing a dress, don't force yourself to wear one as you may feel or look uncomfortable

5. Try smart/casual - don't just rock up wearing muddy dog-walking clothes, but also remember that whatever you do wear may get covered in dog hairs

6. Nothing too tight - some poses require fluent movement so stay away from pencil skirts and ultra-skinny jeans

7. Fit in with your environment - if the shoot is based within a car park surrounded by telegraph poles, a flowing white dress may look out of place; but similarly shooting on a beach wouldn't suit baggy jumpers and joggers

8. Colour co-ordinate - don't clash within your outfit or the colour of your dog (e.g. a red labrador wouldn't go well with bright orange clothing, and avoid pastels when posing with a white dog)

Location

1. If your dog is uncomfortable away from home, avoid taking them elsewhere as they may be difficult to handle and we want them to look at ease with their surroundings

2. Tall trees mean only the bottom section of the trunk is in shot, which can look very dull, and takes the attention away from you and your dog/s

3. It's helpful for me if you have some ideas of where to shoot, however if you're unsure about suitable locations, don't panic - there's always somewhere and we'll find it!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Collar or harness? Although a simple collar is smarter and easier to Photoshop out of photos, safety is most important. Therefore if your dog is usually walked in a harness please use this for consistency. We can always swap the harness for the collar part-way through the shoot once they have settled.

2. Do I bring treats? If your dog is very easily distracted, or perhaps slightly difficult to handle, then by all means stuff your pockets; however with sensible dogs it is better to have the option of them looking towards the camera instead of constantly towards you.

3. Can I make suggestions? If you have some ideas for shots you want me to take, please let me know! I welcome your input as nothing is too much trouble and, after all, they're your photos (you can also completely take the lead if you feel comfortable to do so)

Remember that you don't have to do anything you're not happy with, so just relax and enjoy yourself!

Thanks for reading! Hopefully this has been helpful - get in touch if you have any questions that haven't been covered. I look forward to photographing you!

Maddie