We recently did a series of pet portraits at the UT Gardens in Knoxville, TN. As animal lovers, we are always happy to try to include pets in our sessions and believe they are important members of our families. These were so much fun! It was fun to see all the different personalities emerge and see our clients’ relationships with their pets.
Here are some tips that we have put together if you plan to include your pet into your next portrait session:
-Ask your photographer in advance.
-Make sure that pets are allowed at the venue in which you are having your session. Some venues have pet policies. Let the photographer know if your dog doesn’t do well around crowds, other animals, busy/noisy locations, etc. These important details will matter when choosing the location.
-Set realistic expectations. If your dog is really energetic, don’t expect it to come in and sit perfectly still. If your dog doesn’t follow commands well, don’t expect it to during the session. If your dog is curious to new places and smells, expect it to be checking everything out.
-Be prepared. Bring treats, squeakers, attention getters, and extra bags for cleanup. It might be a good idea to take your dog for a long walk before coming. A tired dog is calmer dog.
-It might be helpful to bring an extra person that isn’t going to be in the photos to help. Including a pet can create extra “wrangling” of the animal or even small children. It might help to have someone on hand to help get attention or to help handle the pet when not in photos.
-Remember that working with pets and children can often be unpredictable. Just focus on connection and having a good time. Don’t expect or demand perfection. Sometimes the best photos happen when everyone can just relax and enjoy each other.
It seems like almost all of our pet requests are for dogs, but if you have a different kind of pet, that’s ok, too! Just reach out to us and let’s talk about it! We had a surprise visit of chickens and a goat at these sessions. It was hilarious and cute!
Rebekah Walden and Megan Parker are Knoxville-based baby, children, and family photographers. We work with families from all over East TN and have a portrait studio centrally located in the Powell area. We look forward to meeting your and your pet and getting some beautiful pet portraits for you!
