Your Dog Photography Questions Answered

Absolutely not! Some of my favorite portraits are of dogs roaming, sniffing, exploring or just standing up. I’m well-prepared with numerous unusual sounds and tasty snacks, perfect for that quick moment needed to capture an expected unexpected image.

Yes, Absolutely! Most of the dogs that I work with are on leash. Leashes not only keep your puppy safe, but they’re also important for following local laws when doing photo sessions in urban environments. Thanks to Photoshop's magic, leashes will be removed from most final images.

Well, even AI and Photoshop have their limitations. Super-bulky harnesses hide too much of the dog’s chest that it’s challenging to accurately rebuild those pixels in post-production without introducing too much "artificiality". Gentle leaders can leave unsightly shadows or pull on the dog’s skin, so those are also a challenge to digitally remove. If your dog normally wears one of these for walks, I recommend using it while walking to our location, but also bringing a flat collar to use for the actual shoot. If you need to stick with the harness or gentle leader but would like them to be edited out from final images, there is an additional retouching fee. However, digital removals for leashes, regular flat collars and martingale collars are always included.

The world can be a scary place for all of us sometimes. If your dog is nervous or reactive, we can choose a location that suits his temperament. I have a few out-of-the-way locations that receive very little dog or foot traffic, or we can rent a private location for a small fee, ensuring that we won’t see a soul.  

My camera shutter speed goes all the way up to 1/8000 of a second—in other words, plenty fast enough to capture even the most active dog! Our sessions never require your dog to sit, stay and behave for hours (or even minutes). One of the benefits of hiring a pet-specific photographer is that we know how to work with “hyper” models and still deliver gorgeous images, jam-packed with personality.

Of course! In fact, that's the perfect story-telling! I love documenting the wonderful connection between you and your dog. While we can certainly capture a traditional portrait of you both smiling at the camera, my clients love the candid images of the moments you share. If you’re especially camera shy, I can still create some lovely, creative images that tell the story of your relationship.  Please just trust me and remember that you do not need to purchase or display any images that you don’t adore.

The most magical light for photography happens during the “golden hour,” which is why I schedule most sessions during the last two hours of daylight. However, certain locations—such as urban areas that bustle with activity during the evening—are better suited for morning sessions, when we can still take advantage of the lovely low-angle light.

That's a big decision, but I’m here to help with plenty of recommendations. During our session-planning call we’ll discuss the setting you’re after, any special needs your dog might have (mobility challenges, anxiety, etc.) and scheduling constraints on your part (e.g. mornings only). With all that in mind, we’ll settle on the perfect location for your custom session.

If the weather is less than ideal, we can definitely reschedule. Your reservation retainer simply transfers over to our new session date—easy peasy!

Everyone who lives in your household (furry or not) is welcome to participate in our session. In the interest of minimizing distractions, however, I do ask that only those who will be in the photos come along. If you’re interested in holding a session with your dog’s best bud or your extended family, I’d be happy to put together a custom quote.

My professional world is a dog-only zone, where my expertise and service are reserved exclusively for dogs, without any other pets on my client list.