Post # 1
Member
358 posts
Helper bee
Hi Bees – We have our engagement shoot coming up next weekend (nervous!) and have been given the ok to bring our dog Lilly. She is a pit bull mix who can be quite energetic, but listens very well, is super friendly, and can be trusted off leash. While we expect her to act like her normal/semi-obedient self…you never know with a dog being around new things (cameras) and new friends (photogs).
Can anyone who has taken pro pics with their dogs give us any tips or advice? What can we expect? Our photographer is wonderful, but has only done one shoot with a dog, and I’m fairly sure it was a much smaller dog than my Lilly. Sorry for the HUGE pic…
Thanks for your help!!
Post # 3
Member
393 posts
Helper bee
A tip from a photog – BRING TREATS! I love doing e-shoots with dogs and I get their attention with treats dangling above my camera. The other tip I give couples is to not worry about what your dog is doing 24-7. I’ve done shoots with couples who are looking down at their dog in almost every shot to make sure the dog is looking at the camera which means they’re not looking at the camera! So look at the camera, follow your photogs instructions, don’t stress, and the photographer will snap the photo as soon as they get the right look from the dog. If you’re stressed it will show in the photos. I love shooting with pets because it immediately gets the couple more relaxed and at home and there’s so much room for spontaneity!
Post # 4
Member
3182 posts
Sugar bee
I’ll be looking at this thread for advice too! We are thinking about bringing our dogs. One thing I am planning on doing though is having someone like my mom meet us with the dogs and then take them back. I figured that is someone who can kind of be in charge of the dogs while we are worried about getting pictures. Also I don’t want them there the whole time because I just want a few shots of them and the rest to me of the two of us.
Post # 5
Member
358 posts
Helper bee
@BeeM – Thank you so much for this helpful advice! Your points seem really obvious, but def highlights things I wouldnt have thought of. I really appreciate your post!
Post # 6
Member
2155 posts
Buzzing bee
I have no tips but I think this is a great idea. I would have loved to bring our Saint Bernard to our photos, but unfortunately he had to be put down right before we had our shoot, so we never got the chance. But I’m glad you get to include him! Dogs are part of the family!
Post # 7
Member
50 posts
Worker bee
We have a pitbull mix too, and she’s crazy hyper as well. I haven’t done my shoot yet but my photog suggested I bring someone to help hold the dog when she’s not in the pics and plenty of treats. (or toys if your dog responds better to those) But your dog sounds much more well behaved than mine so I think you’ll be ok 🙂
Couldn’t help but share…here’s my little mutt (Sorry the pic is so big)
Post # 9
Member
225 posts
Helper bee
We had our dog there and the one piece of advice I would give you is BRING A FRIEND!!!!
A couple we are friends with (that also happen to love dogs) came with us for our engagement shoot. Our photography had said up front that she was more than happy to include our dog but warned that having her there the whole time would be difficult. We had our friends meet us at the park, where we did a bunch of photos with the dog and they then took her over to their house while we finished up the rest of the shoot. It was the best idea and saved us a lot of hassle.
Our dog is typically well behaved but it was a new environment for her and with everything going on, she was a little bit spastic so having our friends there to pet her and calm her down in between shoots and then take her home to play after was soooo helpful.
Post # 10
Member
358 posts
Helper bee
Hi bees – So we had to reschedule our e-shoot and it is definately on next Tuesday. Any last minute tips or advice left out there??
Thanks!
Post # 11
Member
433 posts
Helper bee
We did half of our engagement shoot with our Great Dane. We arranged to pick her up at our house between 2 locations. I loved the few good shots we got with her, but was SO glad we didn’t have her the whole time. It depends a lot on your dog’s behavior/personality, but it was really hard for us to get her in the right positions. (ie. she’d sit, but be facing us, not the camera, or be facing the camera but turn her head all the way to one side to look at a bird in the sky). It took a lot of treats and patience to get the photos we did, and we enjoyed the rest of the shoot without her.
Post # 12
Member
1488 posts
Bumble bee
I second the bring a friend advice! We did family portraits with our dogs and we wanted some of the whole family (including dogs) and some of just Fiance and I. We brought a friend along who the dogs know really well and they were great because they were distracted when they weren’t with us. If you don’t have a friend who can come along, bring a crate if she’s used to one. That way she’s safe and you guys can focus on you two.
Also, make sure you bring some water for the pup, otherwise you may end up with all the pictures looking the same with a long tongue and tired looking pup. Even if it isn’t hot, the stress of new environment can make them pant.
Post # 13
Member
358 posts
Helper bee
Great tips to bring water and treats…I actually had already forgotten about all that stuff. There isnt any way to bring someone to watch her we dont know anyone close, but hopefully we can tie her to a tree or let her roam while we do our own shots. Thanks for all the advice…keep it coming!
Post # 14
Member
3601 posts
Sugar bee
We let our pup-pup stay in the car while we weren’t using him. We also got the shots with him out of the way first.
Post # 15
Member
358 posts
Helper bee
@ helenberrycrunch : thanks for the tip! This was actually our orginal plan, since the car will be nearby anyway. Glad to hear someone else did the same thing!
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