Yeeey, you booked in with me at Hergott Photography and we are going to meet in one of Sydney's beautiful locations. Now you would like to know how to prepare your dog for a photoshoot.
I know everyone is super excited about their pet photoshoot and you'd like to have a perfect one. There are plenty of things you can do to prepare your dog to look even better than he/she already is for the big day.
Grooming
A Pet photography day is a big day, but you do not want to over prepare.
If you typically don't groom your dog then don't do it for a session either. You'd like to capture your beautiful friend just the way you usually see him/her.
If you do groom her/him please consider the following points:
It's important to see your pet's eyes. If you have a long haired dog, you may want to trim around the eyes area.
I recommend booking a grooming appointment about a week or at least two days before our photography session, so the hair looks a bit more natural.
If you groom your dog at home check out this article
Bathing
There are two types of dogs, one who is super active and lays into all dirt around, and one who prefers to sleep on the couch.
If he/she is active, you may need to wait until the day before the session to bathe him/her to ensure your dog is as clean and shiny as possible.
Collars & Leash & Harness
Outfit is just as important as having clean fur. If you'd like to have matching collars and leads and/or harness to your outfit, prepare it in advance.
If you'd like to have a photo of your dog without a leash but it's not safe to let him free, don't worry at all, it is really simple to remove the leash from the photo in post processing.
I can highly recommend an Australian small business Medina for handmade beautiful collars and accessories. Just perfect not just for a photoshoot.
Exercise
Again you might have a more energetic dog or a slightly lazy one
If you have high-energy dogs, walk them before the session so that they are more relaxed, but be careful don’t make your active dog completely tired! We want to capture your dog’s true personality and expressions!
If your dog is a very lazy or senior dog, who spends more time napping than anything else each day, some quiet time and rest before his photo session will likely be best.
Food
Dogs who had their lunch/ dinner tend to be more relaxed than those who are hungry. However, if your dog is very food motivated, it is best if he/she comes to the session a little bit hungry as he/she is more likely to respond to treats if we need to use them to get her/his attention.
Treats & Toys
Treats are one of the most effective ways to get your dog's attention. All dogs get and like different treats therefore I would like to ask you to bring along the treat your dog responds to the best.
If your dog is toy motivated, bring his favorite toy(s) and any props or accessories you might like to include in the photos.
As I mentioned above everyone likes to give different type of treats. Just a reminder that it is important for you and your dog to be healthy and there are lot of company making healthy treats. For example you can check out this one for inspiration.
Last but not least, make sure you are in a good mood, don't stress about your and your dog's pet photoshoot. Remember this will be just a good time, playing with your furry friend and in the background there will be a paparazzi catching your favorite time together.
If you'd like to capture your furry friend too and you are located in Sydney, Mosman, Neutral bay, Cremorne, North Sydney or surroundings get in touch with me.
Can't wait to be part of this play time :)
Tips & tricks from a Sydney based Equine & Canine photographer. Taking photos of horses and dogs across greater Sydney.