7 Ways to Prepare for Your Dog's Photo Session
How to prepare for your dog’s photo session with J. Andrade Visual Arts in Houston, Texas
1. Choose a location for your dog’s portraits
When choosing a location around Houston, keep your dog’s preferences in mind. If you know your dog will not do well in new locations, try to visit the location a couple of times beforehand to give your pup time to get used to it. Always choose a place where you know they will be at ease. If this is your own backyard or home then I will come to you! We will always double-check if dogs are allowed at any of the locations you have in mind.
2. Always bring a leash
We need to be mindful about off-leash rules. Some public places require you to have your dog on a leash at all times for the safety of others and your own dog. Leashes are also very useful during your pup’s session in order to have them stay in a certain spot. Choose a neutral color leash like brown or black so that it does not stand out more than your dog. If you are not wanting your dog on a leash for their portraits then we will make sure to choose a location that will allow this.
3. Grooming your dog for their portrait session
This is absolutely optional but if your dog gets regular grooming you might want to schedule one a day or two before their session. You want them to look their best!
4. Accessories and outfits for your dogs photo shoot in Houston
One of my favorite accessories for pup sessions are flower collars. This accessory can be new and strange for your pup so we will go with what they will allow. Other fun accessories are cute bandanas, or dog costumes. Think about the surroundings when choosing the colors of your pup’s accessories and outfits. I am happy to make recommendations if you need help with this!
5. Exercise your dog before their session
This is more for the very active breeds, like my own dog, who I know will have too much energy if I don’t walk or run him before we go out. I recommend getting them to release their wiggles about 1-4 hours before their session. You could even get to the location 30-45 minutes earlier so that your pup can get all the sniffing out of the way!
6. Bring dog treats, water, and toys for their photos
Although we might not even need to use this trick, this is a must! If for whatever reason we cannot get the attention of your dog we have two back up plans in our pocket. So make sure to bring your dog’s favorite snack and their favorite toy to reward them for their attention and good sits and lays.
7. Be patient with your pup and have a positive attitude
I promise you that your dog is not the worst behaved dog during their photo session. Your dog is going to lay when we want them to sit, walk when we want them to stay, and so on. Set aside any unrealistic expectations of your dog magically listening to every command. Instead, let your dog be a dog. Use a calm voice and don’t stress them out. I want this to be a good experience for both you and your dog so it’s important we have patience. Trust the process and you will see that we will get some wonderful portraits of your pup!
Bonus tip, bring your dog with you to our initial consultation so they can get familiar with me!
You can get started by filling out the contact form using the button below. Read more about the Dog Portrait experience here.
