How to Prepare for Your Pet Photo Session 

You’ve been thinking about it for a while, and you’re finally ready for your lifestyle pet photo session. It’s okay to be excited and/or nervous; either way, we’re going to walk you through the process and make it as enjoyable as possible. Whether your dog is big, small, fluffy, or not, we’re excited to document all of the things you love about them! 

Plan for Success

It never hurts to think ahead! In the weeks leading up to your session date, it’s time to start thinking about the vibes and backdrop you’re envisioning. Do we want to go to their favorite park, snuggle at home, or even a little bit of both? Do you want a new, pretty collar/leash that matches your outfit? Are your dog’s eyes visible/do they need a haircut or styling appointment? Is there anything we can do to plan for to make the pet photo session more comfortable for your dog? Custom tailoring the needs of the session to you and your dog to make it less stressful and enjoyable as possible. It also gives you time to order any accessories you may want, like cute bandanas (check out our Philadelphia Dog Guide to see some of our personal favorite pet accessory shops!) 

Almost all of the dogs you see on my blog and website have their leashes photoshopped out – so don’t worry about your dog being off-leash; we can definitely work around it! If your pup requires a harness, we can try to accommodate it, but we can’t always photoshop the harness out, especially if they have a special pattern on their fur in the areas that are covered by the harness. 

It’s also never too soon to think about what you want to do with your photos once the session is complete. Do you want framed prints, wall art, or even a beautiful archival album filled with photos of your favorite furry friend? If you’re thinking of the framed prints or wall art route, walk around your house and see where you think would be a good fit for your new photos. That way, when we meet to look over your photos together, we can collaborate and discuss which photo works best where. (Bonus points if you measure walls and existing wall art before we have your meeting!)

Day Before/Day Of Prep 

In the days leading up to your lifestyle pet photo session, it’s time to familiarize them with what to expect! It’s always a great idea to practice commands with them – sit, stay, lie, and of course, any other special tricks your pup may be hiding! We always want to make sure to get out any excess energy before the session if we can. If your pup hasn’t been to our session location before, arriving early to let them sniff around and get any zoomies out is always helpful! Dogs tend to cooperate more if they feel comfortable in the environment they’re in and have fully explored it to their heart’s desire. I also recommend that my clients not feed them for at least two hours before the session, so that they’re more likely to care about any treats we may need to use as an incentive. 

What To Bring 

You don’t need to bring much to your pet photo session, but a few (what may seem like random) things can make it go more smoothly! For example, a lint roller can be a game-changer if your dog sheds a lot, and a familiar noise from their favorite toy might be just the thing to get their attention if they’re feeling a little overwhelmed. Of course, the daily essentials are always great to have on hand, such as poop bags, water/water bowl, and treats. When it comes to preparing your treats, it’s best to have multiple value-level treats, so something they like, a treat they love, and the snack they would do absolutely anything for. While it’s great to have the treats prepped, keep them out of sight until they’re needed during the session. We want the treats only to be used as an extra incentive when needed, but we don’t want them to rely solely on them. Believe it or not, most of our sessions are done without treats until the very end! It can also be helpful, especially if you have more than one pet, to bring someone they’re familiar with and trust to be an extra set of hands on the day of your session. 

If you scrolled all the way down hoping for a section on how to prepare your cat for their pet session, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you can’t prepare a cat. 😅

Check out my other Pet Features, like How to Photograph Your Black Dog, to read more tips about what a lifestyle pet photo session is like!