Hey friend, I get it, your fur baby is a big part of your life and you want them included in your photos! The good news is, I want them in your photos too! I absolutely adore animals, but there are a few things we need to cover when it comes to having them at your session. 

1-Is this realistic? 

Absolutely! If you want your fur baby there, then we will choose our location according to which locations permit animals. Luckily, most of the city and parks allow pets. With that being said, we won’t have your little (or big) babe in all of the photos so I highly recommend you bring a friend to help keep your little love when they are not in the photos. 

2-Bring treats

This is probably the most important tip. Almost all animals are food motivated so the night before I recommend cutting up and bagging their favorite rare treat. For most dogs, sandwich meat and cheese work great!  While squeaky toys are fun, most pets get tired quickly of looking for the same sound without reward. So, food is definitely the way to go!

3-Grooming

A clean pet can make such a big difference. Especially if you have a pet like mine that sheds like crazy! Be sure to take them to the groomers the same week as your session so that they can also look their best for their moment in the spotlight. 

4-Think about your outfits

During your session, you have the option to change outfits, and when including pets, I highly encourage it! While we love our pets I don’t love their hair hanging out on your clothes in the photos they aren’t in. For this, be sure to bring a comfortable yet cute outfit. Preferably, something similar to your pet’s fur color (makes the hair less noticeable) and something you don’t mind getting a little dirty or snagged.

5-Exercise

Specifically speaking of dogs, a tired pup is a calm pup. Please be sure to exercise your pup before the session. This can be done by arriving early to the location and taking a hike or visiting the dog park right before to get all their energy out. 
(Maybe in a change of clothes for yourself)

Bonus tip – If you are including your pet on your wedding day, have someone bring them for 5-10 minutes of portraits and then take them home afterward. 

It’s super important to remember that pets are… well, pets. So we cater to their session time around them. I do my best to keep them happy but in no way do I expect them to listen 100% of the time. Having animals of my own, I understand that they have their own personalities. For that reason, we go with the flow of each individual pet. I promise, no matter what type of animal you own, you will enjoy the session and I will really capture you and your pet’s relationship! 

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