Your dog is more than a friend—it’s a part of your family, so consider including it in your family photos. But there are certain things you should do so that your pooch fits in well and your photographer gets some great shots. Here are five tips for including your dog in your family portrait.
Get It a Haircut
If it has been a long time since your pup had its hair cut, this is a perfect time to take it to a dog grooming provider. The groomer will trim and bathe its coat so that it looks picture-perfect. However, you may have to keep a close eye on your pooch to ensure it stays clean until after the photo shoot.
Go to a Place Your Dog Loves
When looking at locations for the shots, consider going to a place your dog loves. That will put it in an agreeable, relaxed mood, which will be perfect for when you take photos.
Don’t Get Uptight
Dogs can detect people’s moods, so if you start to get nervous or stressed while taking these photos, it will affect your fur baby. Instead, remaining as upbeat as possible during the photo shoot is best, even if the shots don’t turn out as planned.
Take Toys and Treats
Like actors, dogs can sometimes use some motivation when on camera. So taking your pup’s toys and treats to the shoot is a good tip for including your dog in your family portrait. You or the photographer can use these to get your dog to do what you say, including focusing on a certain direction so that your photographer can get a great shot.
Let Your Dog Be a Dog
A final tip is to let your dog be a dog while on camera. If you try to get it to behave too much or stray from its temperament, you might deprive yourself of a memorable photo. By letting it be natural, you’ll likely get an image of your dog that represents it well.
Following these tips will increase your chances of having a memorable photo shoot with your dog. In the end, you’ll have images that will remind you of how it’s truly a member of your family.
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 