Preparing for your outdoor dog photo shoot: my 6 top tips!

Pet, children and family photographer in Northamptonshire

You have decided to book an outdoor pet photo shoot. How exciting! But now you’re left thinking, how can I best prepare so everything goes smoothly on the day?

First of all, it’s going to be amazing. You have hired a professional dog photographer to capture your pets spirit and little quirks.

There are however, a few simple things you can do to ensure it goes as smoothly as it can on the day. Here at Elis Brown Photography, I always prepare my clients with these 5 top tips:

Ensure you have had a pre-consultation phone call with your photographer
Communication is key when it comes to planning a fantastic dog photo shoot. At Elis Brown Photography, a pre-consultation phone call is the absolute foundation to a stunning gallery of images that you will love. This is an informal chat beforehand to answer any questions you may have and get to know you and your dog a little more. It’s super important to also share any ideas or requests at this point so the photographer can bring your vision to life.

Make sure your dog looks picture perfect!
It’s super important that on the day your dog is looking their best! Make sure you have booked your dog in for a groom as close to the photo shoot as possible. My number one tip is to ensure that if you have a fluffy dog, make sure the fur is not covering their eyes. The eyes are always the main focus of any pet photograph, and we want them to shine! If your dog is fairly low maintenance, please make sure to bath her/him the night before and give them a good brush. Then, cross your fingers and pray they won’t get dirty again!

Have prepared what to bring to your photo shoot
Don’t forget the basics! Ensure you pack water (for you and your pet), poop bags, a brush if needed and wipes or a hand towel in case they get dirty. I normally recommend bringing a thin slip lead along to your session as this can help when I come to remove leashes/collars in Photoshop. Also, go a little crazy! Does your dog have a smart bow tie or bandanna which would look picture perfect? Bring it along to your session so we can capture them looking super smart and adorable.

Know your dog
Just like people, every pet is one of a kind. Think about what motivates your dog most. Equally, think about what could potentially distract your dog! A good example of this is treats. For some dogs, treats are a perfect way to help keep a dogs attention for a short while. Whilst for others, it can actually over stimulate them as they will be so super excited to just get that treat! The same goes for toys. Like I say, know your pet and what is going to work for them on the day.

Manage your dogs energy levels before the photo shoot  
You know your pet better than anyone. Beforehand, you are going to want to think about how to best manage your dogs energy levels so they are as calm as they can be on the day. If you have a dog who has a lot of energy, it is probably best to walk them before their photo shoot. For early morning shoots, take them for an extra walk the evening before. Ideally on the day we want them to have burnt off a little bit of energy beforehand, without them being totally exhausted. We still want them to look focused, alert and full of life so they can explore and have fun whilst I capture their personality. In contrast to this, if you have a senior dog, it’s probably best to let them relax on the day of their pet photo shoot.

Don’t stress and have fun!
Probably the most important tip of all, don’t stress! Dogs are very in tune with our emotions. If we are feeling anxious and stressed, our dogs will pick up on that. Don’t worry about how your dog may or may not behave. Don’t worry about whether they are going to be able to keep still or not. Just enjoy the relaxed walk around a beautiful woodland area and leave the rest to me. Just remember to have fun!

Here at Elis Brown Photography, my passion is capturing high-end images of people’s four-legged friends and providing pet owners with beautiful photographs of their furry companions. 

So, if you're considering investing in professional photography get in touch today to find out more about our services.