How to Prepare for a Luxury Dog Photoshoot
A luxury dog photoshoot is a unique opportunity to capture your furry friend’s personality, elegance, and charm in a series of timeless images. Proper preparation ensures your pet feels comfortable and the photos come out beautifully. This blog will help you find out how to get ready for your session.
Preparation is key!
One step at a time!
Whilst you may only choose to do a few of these steps below, it is important to note that the ones you do choose, can have such a big impact on the day! By that, I mean coming prepared means we can have a smoothly run session! You and your dog will feel more at ease having gone through just a few steps! I hope this helps and if you ever have any questions please do reach out! I can give you further information, training tips or even help you select items for your dogs big day!
01.
Schedule Grooming in Advance
- Timing is Key: Plan a grooming session 2-5 days before the photoshoot. This allows your dog’s fur to settle and look natural. You don't have to go to a grooming salon, if you are happy to groom your pet at home please do! I recommend having a clean coat so bath them if you can!
- Focus on Details: Ensure their nails are trimmed, their fur is brushed, and their eyes are clean and bright. A well-groomed dog exudes elegance in every photo.
02.
Choose the Perfect Accessories
- Natural: I prefer a natural look to my photos and therefore I would normally ask that your dog wears a thin collar. This makes editing it out later a lot easier. However if you want to include collars and accessories in your photos then see below.
- Collars and Leashes: Bring elegant, neutral, or thematic collars and leashes that complement your dog’s fur and the desired aesthetic.
- Additional Accessories: Consider bow ties, bandanas, or flower crowns for a touch of luxury. Ensure accessories are comfortable for your dog.
03.
Select a Coordinated Wardrobe
- For You and Your Dog: If you plan to join your dog in the photos, choose outfits that coordinate without overshadowing your pup. Neutral tones or complementary colours work best. No big logos where possible as this is distracting to the eye. The focus should be on you and your dog.
- Textures and Patterns: Avoid overly busy patterns or logos; instead, opt for classic and timeless looks.
04.
Prepare Treats and Toys
- Motivation is Key: Bring your dog’s favourite treats to reward good behaviour and maintain focus during the session. To help keep your dog engaged I recommend bringing a variety of flavours. You can also bring their breakfast/dinner to feed as treats throughout. Raw or kibble, whatever your dog is fed!
- Familiar Items: Include toys or objects your dog loves. These can help them relax and focus. They can also add personal touches to the photos if you wanted them included. If your dog is ball motivated then bring a ball!
05.
Familiarise Your Dog with the Camera and Posing
- Practice at Home: If your dog isn’t accustomed to cameras, take some photos of them beforehand. Use positive reinforcement to associate the camera/phone with fun and rewards.
- Sound Sensitivity: My camera shutter can be heard when taking photos, let your dog hear similar sounds ahead of time. You can always google camera sounds if your dog is sensitive to sound.
- Posing: The main things I would train are; Stand, Sit, Sit & Stay, Down & Head Down, Standing on objects. Use what you have available, (Tree trunks, logs, edges, stones etc are things we may encounter and use to stand on). If your dog can do a few of these then you have just aced your session. Anything else is a bonus!
06.
Plan for the Day
- Exercise Beforehand: A walk or play session helps burn off excess energy and ensures your dog is calmer and more focused on location.
- Arrive Early: (Optional) Give your dog time to explore the location and acclimate to the environment. You could even visit the location prior to your photoshoot date if preferred.
- Time: Whilst we do discuss the length of time your photoshoot will take. Please take into account if you are late, or if your dog is anxious and takes time to relax etc. We can extend the session time where needed or cut short if your dog is stressed and too unhappy to continue.
07.
Communicate with Your Photographer
- Discuss Preferences: Share details about your dog’s personality, likes, and dislikes with me, the photographer. For safety reasons, I would need to know if your dog is reactive or nervous etc prior to the photoshoot. I do provide a form to fill out upon booking, but you can always message me to discuss further! This helps me plan our interactions, keep my distance if required. It also helps me plan location choices and posing options.
- Special Requests: If you have specific shots in mind, communicate these to ensure they’re included.
08.
Stay Relaxed and Have Fun
- Positive Energy: Dogs can sense your mood, so stay calm and cheerful. Your relaxed demeanor will help your dog feel the same.
- Be Patient: Some dogs need time to adjust, and that’s okay. We will also try poses multiple times, repetition is key to learning. Trust me, your photographer to capture stunning moments, even if they’re candid.
- HAVE FUN: No pressure is applied what so ever to you or your dog. We will use what is available to us and what you and your dog are comfortable with. Enjoy your session, we are here to make a memory you can treasure forever!
TESTIMONIAL
Natalie was amazing with my dog, she went above and beyond and knew every shot that would look good & the results are incredible and definitely speak for themselves. So over the moon with them. If your thinking about it, I would recommend 100%. Thanks again Natalie.
Additional Tips For Success
Hydration: Bring water and a portable bowl to keep your dog hydrated, especially for outdoor shoots and very important in the summer. Don't forget to bring something for yourself too if needed!
Breaks & Patience: Luxury shoots can take time—allow for short breaks to keep your dog comfortable and engaged.
Lead: A thin, neutral-coloured slip lead can help control movement without being too visually distracting. Alternatively I will have a slip lead or grot collar you can borrow for the session.
Weather Considerations: Check the weather forecast and prepare accordingly. Please bear in mind I can rearrange photoshoots due to unsuitable weather. (Temperature too high, heavy rain, freezing temperatures etc.)
For hot days, schedule the shoot early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat. We will look for shaded areas to shoot in and keep these sessions short. For cooler days, bring a cozy blanket or jacket for your dog if they wear one when it's cold! Keeping them comfortable is so. important!
Make sure you are also prepared! Appropriate clothing and shoe wear is very important for the choice of location you have chosen.
Please don't turn up to a hike in flip flops, your safety is as important as your dogs!
Colour Palette Planning: Subtly coordinate your dog’s accessories with the tones of your home interior spaces for a sophisticated, cohesive look.
Extras: Pack extra high value treats to use as rewards and grabbing your dogs attention when required. You can bring dog wipes and even a brush for last-minute touch-ups. Squeaky toy/ball for ease of getting attention. Whatever you feel you may need, bring it! Being over-prepared ensures smooth sailing on the day of the shoot.
Pack everything you need the day before your shoot so you aren't rushing around and I hope you have an amazing experience on your luxury Dog photoshoot!
-Natalie Taylor
