Q&As

My dog doesn’t know sit or stay. Is that a problem? Not at all! Some of my favorite portraits are of dogs standing up or on the move! And rest assured, I have plenty of strange sounds (self made and otherwise!) plus tasty treats to grab their attention — even if it’s just for that split second while I capture each image.

My dog can’t be off leash. Can I still do a session? Yes! Absolutely! Believe it or not, 95% of the dogs that I photograph are on leash. Leashes not only keep your best pal safe, but they’re also important for following local laws when photographing in urban environments. Thanks to the wizardry of Photoshop, leashes will be removed from most final images. I even have extra long leashes for ‘action shots’ where your dog can’t be off leash.

What about harnesses or gentle leaders, can those be edited out? Well, Photoshop does have its limitations. Super-bulky harnesses hide so much of the dog’s chest that it’s very challenging to accurately rebuild those pixels in post-production. Gentle leaders can leave unsightly shadows or pull on the dog’s skin, so those are also a challenge to digitally remove. If your dog normally wears one of these for walks, I recommend using it while walking to our location, but also bring a flat collar to use for the actual shoot. If you need to stick with the harness or gentle leader but would like it edited from final images, there is an additional retouching fee. However, digital removals for leashes, regular flat collars and martingale collars are always included.

My dog is super reactive to other dogs/people/bicycles. How can we do a session? I completely understand; the world can be a scary place for all of us sometimes. If your dog is nervous or reactive, we can choose a location that suits his temperament. My very quiet, private studio has pet-safe indoor and outdoor space where the most you might see is a passing squirrel!

My dog is a never-ending ball of energy! How do you manage high-energy dogs? My camera shutter speed goes all the way up to 1/8000 of a second — in other words, plenty fast enough to capture even the most active dog! My sessions never require your dog to sit, stay and behave for hours (or even minutes) on end. One of the benefits of hiring a pet-specific photographer is that we know how to work with “hyper” models and still deliver gorgeous images, jam-packed with personality.

Can I be in the images, too? Of course! I love documenting the wonderful connection between you and your dog. While we can certainly capture a traditional portrait of you both smiling at the camera, my clients especially love the candid images of the moments you share. If you’re especially camera shy, I can still create some lovely images that tell the story of your relationship. Please just trust me, and remember that you don’t need to purchase any images that you don’t love.

What time will our photo session be? The most magical light for photography happens during the “golden hour,” which is why I schedule most sessions during the last two hours of daylight. However, certain locations — such as urban areas that bustle with activity during the evening — are better suited for morning sessions, when we can still take advantage of the lovely low-angle light.

How do I choose a location? It’s a big decision, but I’m here to help with plenty of recommendations. During our session-planning call we’ll discuss the look you’re after, any special needs your dog might have (mobility challenges, anxiety, etc.) and scheduling constraints on your part (e.g. mornings or weekends only). With all that in mind, we’ll settle on the perfect date and location for your custom session.

What if it’s raining? If the weather is less than ideal, we can definitely reschedule. I keep a close eye on the weather leading up to our session and will always check in with you 24 hours beforehand to confirm or reschedule our schedule.

Who can come to the session? In the interest of minimizing distractions, I do ask that only those who will be in the photos come along or limit it to just one helper/spouse/friend/calming influence. If you’re interested in holding a session with your dog’s best bud or your extended family, I’d be happy to put together a custom quote.

Do you photograph pets other than dogs? From puppies to pussycats, ponies to pigs, I photograph them all! While the majority of my clients are dogs and their parents, I do photograph plenty of cats and other creatures too!