A little goes a long way! Find tips on how to get you & your dog ready for their photoshoot.

Brought to you by Maren English with Stirrups and Styles Photography

The Basics

My #1 top tip for all dog owners is to go over some of the basic commands to help their dog's photoshoot go as quickly and as smoothy as possible!

A lot of my poses are based on what your dog can do and understand. Having basic sit, stay, come, and lay down commands are going to give a great variety of poses for me to capture.

CLICK 👉: HOW TO TEACH YOUR DOGS THE BASICS

Brush, Trim, and Bathe

This is a pretty obvious tip, but for long haired breeds, making sure to brush your dog's undercoat will make them look great for their portraits. If bathing and drying your dog before their shoot is a possibility, I couldn't recommend it enough. This can be harder for long haired breeds, but for short haired it's easier to have them bathed and dried the day of their shoot.

If your dog is willing, getting their nails clipped will help them look even more "put together." Wipe their eyes, and inside of their ears the day of their shoot as well.

Treats, and Toys

The day of your shoot bring your dogs favorite treats, and toys to help keep them engaged, willing, and so you can reward good behavior!

Rottweiler dog standing on a rock in front of a creek

Location

If a chosen location is unfamiliar, and if it's possible, take your dog there a couple days before their photoshoot and get them acquainted. Let them smell, and play! If you don't feel comfortable taking your dog off your property, no problem! As a photographer, I have to be creative and work with what I have! Everybody deserves great photos of their dog!

Communication is key

Communicate with your photographer! Let me know if you or your dog need specific things.

Pit bull laying down looking up at camera

Plan for breaks

During your shoot there will be time for breaks if you or your dog need them. A photoshoot can sometime be over stimulating for a dog and having time to step away and let them reset is a great idea!

Prep Yourself!

Pack your dog's favorite toy, or treats!
Bring patience and a calm energy; dogs often mirror your mood.
Expect breaks if your dog gets tired or overwhelmed.
Go over basic commands like sit, stay, and look at me before the shoot.
Practice focus exercises with treats or toys to get their attention on cue.
Keep It Simple: Please leave extra "clothes" and accessories at home. I ask that you bring your dog with as few items as possible. Ideally just a collar and leash. If there’s something you really want included, feel free to bring it, but keeping it simple makes my job much easier during post-production.

When I arrive for your session

I'll most likely be in my branded t-shirt, a messy bun, and my camera in hand! Expect me to be there anywhere from 10-15 minutes before our scheduled time to take a quick walk around to see the lighting options, and get an idea of the flow of the photoshoot. Once I've got an idea of how I want to structure the photoshoot, we begin! Expect me to look a little cra-cra as I move around and see which lighting looks best. I'll be giving instructions to you, and most likely either laying on the ground or hiding in the bushes to get the dreamy photos you booked me for!

I do schedule my session in time slots, but if you're nervous, or your dog is nervous I never try to push the time and make you feel rushed.

Bring a Helper

Having a helper isn't mandatory but I do recommend inviting someone who makes you comfortable, and would be willing to jump in and help fix a stray hair, straighten a collar, or hold extra things.

Lighting and Poor Weather

Early morning, evening golden hour, and slightly overcast are the best conditions for photoshoots.

I will most likely schedule your photoshoot for morning, or evening golden hour, as this is when the lighting is the best for photos. But if there is rain predicted in the forecast, I watch it like a hawk, and I try to be as flexible as I can to make sure there is a date we can reschedule to if needed. If there is a slot of time earlier in the day where there is less of a chance of rain I might suggest moving to an earlier time to make sure we can keep the same date. If we do have to reschedule I try to find a date that is as close to the original date as possible. I've worked with snow, rain, and poor lighting. If you're willing to be flexible, there is almost always a solution!

Everybody stay CALM!

This is suppose to be an engaging and fun time for your dog. This is no time to be stressed! I love working with dogs and this is a great time to let your dog play and have FUN! I work with what I have in front of me and we will walk away with great shots that show off who your dog is! I can't wait!

"Does my dog have to be off leash?"

Probably the most asked question is: "Does my dog have to be off leash for their photoshoot?" The answer is, "no!"

If you don’t feel safe with your dog being off leash then that is absolutely no problem! Leashes and collars are removed in post production using photoshop(see below examples). If you want to have your dog off leash and in a controlled environment like a fenced in yard or paddock, then that is a great way to capture genuine reactions and personality!! But we can still get fantastic pictures of your dog with a leash and collar.

I do ask and recommend that you bring your dog with as little “clothes” as possible. This means that it will truly make my job a lot easier if your dog is not wearing a harness, or multiple collars, unless there is something specific or special that you want to be included in their pictures.