When you think about the things you love about your dog — its personality, quirky habits, endearing looks, and more — it’s natural to want to preserve them all with a professional photo shoot. But to ensure you get the best results, there are a few things you’ll want to do.

Here are 9 ways to prepare for a smooth photo shoot and gorgeous photos.

1. Brush Up on Basic Commands

It’s a good idea to practice some basic commands like sit, stay, shake, and down a few days before the photo shoot to ensure your dog does what you ask it to on the day of the session. If your pup is not big on directions, we can always coax it with treats and toys!

2. Grooming

Grooming is completely optional, however, if you have a dog with a long coat, it’s best to take it to the groomer’s before the shoot so I can capture all of its features.

Here are a few helpful grooming tips that you can use before our shoot:

Bath your dog a day or two before the session, and avoid taking your dog out on a walk with messy terrain in order to keep their fur clean.
Give your dog a good brushing. If your pet is scruffy, trim the hair around the eyes to ensure their eyes are visible in close-up photos.
Give your dog a pawdicure. Long nails can look unkempt, making it more difficult for dogs to move around. Clipping their nails at least a week or two before the photo shoot could be best.
If your dog has matting in its coat, trim the fur a couple of days in advance. This will give them enough time to recover from the stress of the procedure and allow the fur to settle in a way that looks good naturally.

3. Keep Your Dog on a Leash

Those gorgeous, envy-inducing dog photos won’t tell you that most of them were captured while the pup was wearing a leash. To capture beautiful photos, we’ll need to control your dog and keep them still. Aside from dog commands, a dog leash is one of the best ways to do this. Using the lead can allow us to give your dog cues on what we’d like them to do to get the job done easily. Plus, it helps to keep your dog safe, especially if we’re shooting in a public place where there are plenty of distractions.

You may be thinking, won’t it be captured in the photos?

It will be, but that’s what Photoshop is for! Fortunately, leashes can be easily edited out of photos during post-production. When selecting a leash for the photo shoot, choose a solid-colored nylon leash that’s around 6 feet long. These are the easiest to remove digitally.

4. Feed Your Dog a Light Meal

Watch the portion size if you’re feeding your pet before you bring them in for the photo shoot. It’s best to feed it half of the usual amount. You want your dog to feel full enough to have energy for different poses but hungry enough to respond well to bribes (aka treats).

5. Manage Your Dog’s Energy Levels

Dogs are curious creatures, sticking their nose — quite literally — everywhere.

So, if you’ve got a wild child, help them to release their pent-up energy through exercise, walks, or playtime before the photo shoot to avoid blurry images and to help me capture their unique personality and expressions. However, ensure you don’t completely wear your dog out so they still have enough energy for a few action shots.

You may have to take another approach if you have a senior dog. Their energy and activity slow down with age, so it would be wiser to give them a break from physical activity before the session. Giving them opportunities to rest beforehand ensures they have the energy to breeze through the photo session.

6. Stylish Collar FTW

Pay attention to your dog’s neckwear. Unlike leashes, they will remain in the photos. If you notice your pet’s current collar has signs of wear and tear, swap it out for a cute collar in your favorite print with or without a bowtie or bandana. However, ensure it is muted enough to keep the attention directed toward your puppy.

7. Arrive Early

Changes to their everyday surroundings can overwhelm dogs. At times, it can even be traumatic for the four-legged furball. Excessive attention during the photo shoot can also cause stress and make your dog retreat into their shell.

If your dog tends to be shy or fearful, providing mental stimulation can help. Arrive early on the day of the session (or a day before!) to give your pet time to sniff around and get familiar with the new sights, sounds, smells, and people. It will satisfy their curiosity, switching off their fight-or-flight reactions. This will allow your dog to have the opportunity to be playful, relaxed, and happy, which will show in the photos.

8. Pack Your Pet’s Favorite Treats and Toys

Photo shoots take time, but patience isn’t most canines’ strong suit. So, be sure to pack some tasty treats like vegetables, freeze-dried liver, chicken breast, cheese, hot dogs, leftover steak, or something else your dog loves, to ensure your pet’s compliance. However, use them with caution, as there’s a risk your dog could get fixated on the rewards. This could distract them, make them drool, and make the photos appear unnatural.

An alternative is to use your pup’s favorite toys to encourage them to sit still, strike the poses you want, and keep the session running smoothly.

Here are other essentials to have:

Water (and a bowl/dish to drink it from)
Poop bags for picking up waste
A brush for last-minute grooming

If there’s something (or someone) your dog particularly likes, bring them along. It will help capture beautiful shots you just can’t get enough of.

Most Importantly, Have Fun

Dogs pick up cues from their pawrents. So, if you want your shoot to be successful, relax. Once your dog feels that you’re happy and calm, they’ll pick up on it and mirror your state of mind.

Looking for a professional dog photographer in Washington DC? Check out my pet photography services or send me a message at rachelhitchphoto@gmail.com. As a photographer and dog lover, I enjoy capturing the unique bond owners share with their four-legged family members and giving clients quality photos and prints they can remember their pets by.

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How To Prepare for Your Dog’s Photo Shoot