Sessions with Furry Family Members
Have you ever thought about bringing your fur babies to a photoshoot? I get asked by many couples if they can bring their dogs along with them, and my answer is always YES!
I recently had the opportunity of capturing an engagement session with Amanda and Anna. They wanted to bring their dog, Penelope, with them as she is a cherished member of the family! In this blog I’m going to be highlighting this session of how to be prepared for your session with your furry family members.
Location
There are many things to take into consideration when bringing your dog! One of the primary things is to be sure to check the location's rules and regulations. Some places don't allow dogs, while some may have specific hours when dogs are allowed. Thankfully most public places allow dogs, but most specifically there are some beaches that don't (I.e. Higgins Beach). With rules and regulations in mind, make sure to always pick up after them!
Oh - also take into consideration if they'd be too tempted to jump in the water. The last thing you need is to be swimming out to bring them back, or being wet or muddy from them (which may not be the vibe you’re going for in your photos!)
Many places in Acadia are quite dangerous for dogs if they are off-leash (or are hard to keep controlled even while on leash). For example, Otter Cliffs - in its name it's just that - cliffs! It would be risky with a dog if they take off excitedly!
Tip for the Session
I recommend taking photos with them for only part of the session, either at the very beginning or at the very end. I recommend this to make sure that the main focus is on the clients (unless you want the main focus to be on your dog).
With Anna and Amanda, we decided to get photos of them together without Penelope first just to make sure we got in all the shots we wanted while the sun was still out - also just in case she decided to run in the water. We were next to the ocean and we didn’t want them to possibly get muddy or wet. This also gave us all time to talk and get to know each other well without having to worry about the dog, and really put the focus on Amanda and Anna, the true stars of the shoot! We were able to take photos down by the water, on the dock, and finally by the rocks where they had parked.
We then let Penelope out and gave her a few minutes to get comfortable with the location. She wanted to run around and sniff everything! Once she calmed down a bit, we were able to grab a *few* photos of the 3 of them together! We even managed to avoid her running into the water (their biggest fear!)
Weather
On a side note, be mindful of the weather. I suggest this as in Amanda and Anna’s session, we had Penelope stay in the car for the beginning of the session since it was rather cool and comfortable temperature-wise. You wouldn’t want to be leaving them in the car while you take photos if it's too hot! And if it is too hot, you’ll possibly want to leave them at home because they'll definitely be uncomfortable outside, especially if we are walking a lot or are on hot surface areas for their paws. This applies to if it's too cold, too.
How To Get Them To Cooperate
Be sure to bring treats for them! I always ask the clients to give me their treats to try to get their attention when I want them to look at the camera. The same goes for any toys they have, too! It’s the one (and most likely ONLY way) to make your vision become reality. So always bring the treats!
