Five tips for a successful pet photography photo shoot
Congratulations! Since you’re here it’s likely that you’ve either booked your shoot and are figuring out how best to prepare, or you are considering a shoot and are wondering what’s involved.
Either way, you’ve come to the right place. The following list covers all you need to know so that your pet’s photo shoot is a success!
(If you haven’t booked because you’re worried your dog isn’t trained in the sit/stay department, please read this.)
1. Consultation
Prior to every shoot, I like to have a brief chat to learn a little about your dog(s). It doesn’t have to take too long, but the information from that call is very valuable in helping me to customize the experience especially for you. The more I know about your family—from what you love most about them to how you would like to enjoy the final artwork—the better the results.
2. Send photos of your walls
It’s absolutely fine if you don’t know how you’d like to enjoy your artwork at this stage. However, if you think you’d like to have some pieces to display on your walls I can help you figure out the appropriate sizes and shoot with that in mind. Taking a photo or two with your smartphone works great and will give me an idea of the space.
2. Grooming
If you typically take your dog to the groomer then it’s a good idea to book an appointment for at least a few days prior to the shoot. It generally works out best if the coat has a few days to grow out before the session. Even if you don’t regularly take your dog to the groomer, if they are a breed with a lot of hair, it’s important to make sure hair isn’t covering their eyes.
3. Bath Time
The camera captures a lot of detail so you’ll want to make sure your dog’s coat is nice and clean. So if they haven’t been to the groomer, giving your dog a bath a day or two before the shoot will help their coat to shine on camera.
4. Nail Trim
Long nails can be distracting so I recommend getting them trimmed prior to your dog’s photo shoot. This is something you can do at home, although some people prefer to leave this to a groomer or veterinarian if they are nervous about cutting them too short.
5. Exercise
If you have an energetic dog on your hands, then let’s get them some exercise the day of the shoot. Whatever you can do to get the wiggles out (keeping in mind, of course, that you won’t want them to play off leash anywhere that’s going to necessitate a bath!).
If you have a senior dog or a couch potato pup then just a quick potty break will likely be enough on the exercise front. We don’t want to wear out a dog entirely as we need some energy to capture their unique personality.
You know your dog better than anyone, so use your best judgement to help with any over excitement without wearing them out entirely. You can be sure they will be worn out by the end of the photo shoot!
Now that you have an idea of what’s involved in planning for your dogs photo shoot, you’ll see that it doesn’t require much more than carrying out your regular routine (but with a little scheduling!). If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to be in touch. If you haven’t booked your shoot yet, and are interested in a no obligation consultation, click the button below.