My Dog Doesn’t Behave Perfectly - Can We Still Do a Photoshoot?
As a St. Louis dog photographer, this is the number one concern I hear before sessions. Trust me when I say that your dog is absolutely worthy of a photoshoot (and frankly, I happen to adore doggy kisses, have no problem at all with jumpy dogs, and have already worked with and captured photos of a dog with less obedience skills than yours)!
One important note is that I have performed an enormous amount of volunteer work for local shelters, providing them with high-quality and professional dog and cat photoshoots which help these beautiful animals get adopted. With this experience comes a massive diversity in the animals that I’m exposed to… and that includes all varieties of temperaments and personalities! Not only this, but these animal shelter photo sessions are always more intense of a situation than any client photoshoot would be. A client session is comfortable, private, and customized. A shelter can often be busy, have a strict and small window of time, and take place in cramped or spare areas which aren’t designed for studio photography. This is what builds extreme capability in me as your dog’s photographer.
The above image is one of our shelter friends! What a good boy!
What If My Dog Won’t Sit Still?
Sounds fun! In fact, action shots, treat-catching, and a high-energy personality makes for some of the best and most memorable dog portraits possible (keep in mind… training does NOT equate to personality. Your dog is a unique individual regardless of their level of training)! Movement is normal and not a behavior to be stressed over. Want proof? See my portfolio gallery HERE
Frankly, there’s a reason why I decided to invest in the highest-end studio photography equipment in the business (over $8,000 between three of my studio lights alone). These strobes are renowned for their ability to freeze fast motion while also firing in rapid bursts! Not only is it okay for your dog to have energy, but my setup specifically ensures that the most special moments will be captured.
Let’s not forget about outdoor dog photography. Here, you can let your pet express their adventurous nature… in nature! Your pup may be fast, but they’re no match for my camera’s ability to freeze motion even using ambient lighting alone. I love outdoor action and the portraits possible with your dog’s personality are truly special!
Finally, we can use that energetic drive to our advantage. There’s no problem at all with letting your dog be the star of the show during these bursts of movement or as we walk from location to location, then following it with a more relaxed segment of posing for pictures. You may be surprised how quickly a high-drive dog can find themselves ready to calm and recharge after letting some energy out. If you happen to have a high-drive dog yet desire exclusively calm poses, feel free to exercise them lightly before your session time! Want more tips and info like this? Find it all HERE
My Dog Is Shy, Reactive, Senior, or Anxious - Can We Still Do This?
This behavior is quite the opposite of our previous section discussing a dog with high levels of energy. Rest assured, a dog who has trouble moving, needs to gain trust before cooperating, or is generally anxious can still be posed and have portrait photos worthy of framing and displaying on your wall!
I approach these situations with caution and tenderness, letting the dog guide the session at a pace that they’re comfortable with. First, I am skilled in reading a dog’s body language and understanding how they perceive the world… and have studied this topic specifically (my favorite resource being the wonderful book entitled “Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know”). If a dog displays signs of discomfort or hesitation, I’ll pick up on that quickly and act accordingly.
Also, I am absolutely willing and happy to arrive several minutes early to the photoshoot in order to simply spend time in proximity to your dog. This can be as simple as sitting on the ground/floor some distance away and not even initially looking towards them until they come to me and investigate… or talking gently with you so that your companion learns that I mean no harm. There are many ways to let your dog adjust to my presence before a single picture is taken!
Even in the most extreme of circumstances, reactive and shy dogs can still have their pictures taken without sacrificing quality! One thing that gives me extreme leverage is my ownership of high-end lenses which allow me to move away from the subject (your dog) while still capturing powerful images at a distance. This technique has even worked indoors with hesitant dogs who preferred that I stay in the next room while zooming in and taking pictures as if I was sitting directly in front of them! During these circumstances, it’s helpful to have the dog’s pet parents help guide them as I give instruction from my position. Thankfully, this is also never an issue, and these dogs typically love having mom and/or dad on the scene for additional comfort.
Senior dogs with limited mobility are some of my all-time favorite subjects to photograph. I’ve taken pictures of multiple dogs which are 15+ years old, blind, and disabled in different ways. Most typically, these dogs benefit from being guided to or placed where the photo is to be taken, then we proceed with caution and care. I can add material to the studio backdrop floor which gives them more traction or sometimes we just let them lay on their beds after placing the bed within the studio setup. For outdoor photos, there’s hardly anything more beautiful than seeing your senior or disabled pup enjoying their presence in nature.
What If My Dog Jumps or Gets Distracted?
A jumpy dog? Come here, pup! Of course, that doesn’t frighten or disturb me at all. That said, it’s worth keeping in mind that at public locations, it’s generally expected that your dog will be on a leash (which can be edited out of the photo). There are exceptions, but if you happen to personally be concerned with your dog jumping on me then this usually does the trick! This is actually another great example of how great it is to have you by their side and having fun with them as they go about their session, further comforted (and potentially calmed) by your presence.
Oh, and distractions! This is another fun quirk which is not only expected but can be used to our advantage! First of all, one way to view certain “distractions” is actually as “motivators!” If your dog happens to be distracted by treats or odd sounds, then they are going to be wonderful photography subjects! I frequently use noise-making tools, mouth sounds, and high-value (dog-friendly) treats to get your dog to look directly into the camera. Not only this, but if I have a vision in mind for a particular photo which involves your dog looking in a particular direction which isn’t towards me, I very well may use a distraction such as tossing a small rock in order to guide their attention towards where is best for the shot! There are all sorts of fun tricks to use and each dog is unique. Even when it comes to uncontrollable distractions such as nearby squirrels or alike, these spontaneous and animated photos have very high potential in letting your dog’s curiosity shine!
Final Thoughts from a St. Louis Pet Photographer
If you’ve been putting off booking because you’re worried your dog isn’t “perfect,” I promise that you don’t have anything to worry about and can contact me with confidence! My goal isn’t just to capture what your dog looks like. I want to capture who they are. Whether your dog is reactive, nervous, shy, jumpy, reserved, low-energy, or anything alike, I have a particular skillset and accumulation of experience which makes this possible. Always remember… your dog is worthy of this.