Hopefully you’ve arrived here after you have read the post about what happens when you make an inquiry about your dog portrait session in the Toronto area.

This is the second in a three-part series about creating dog and family portraits that you will cherish forever!

After the inquiry and booking process, we will of course have discussed location, what you are expecting out of your pet portrait session, I’ll have the information I need about your pet and family, and hopefully I will have answered any questions you may have.

Hopefully you will have read over the client guide that I sent you after your inquiry and our telephone consultation. The client guide covers what to wear, how to prepare for your dog portrait session, frequently asked questions, pricing and more.

So now the big day has arrived. This is what happens.

Meeting up for our dog portrait session

We’ll meet at our chosen photography location somewhere around Toronto. I’ll recognize you because by now I’ve probably seen a picture or two of your dog and know his or her breed and colouring.  I’ll spend a few minutes getting to know your pup and allowing him/her time to get to know me. That’s going to involve lots of delicious treats (unless of course there is a reason not to do so) Yup - I’m going to become your dogs best friend!

I’ll always take into account your dog’s own needs. So if you have a dog that is anxious around strangers, I may spend that initial time simply talking to you and not really getting into the dogs space at all, just until your dog gets used to my presence. With my dog training experience I can work with all types of situations.

At the start of the session your pup may be super excited about being in a new place or even at their favourite place, if that is where we have chosen for your session. It takes a while for the dog to settle down.  That’s why it’s a good idea to arrive about 10 minutes before the start of our session to give your dog a little time to settle and become comfortable in his or her surroundings. Not to mention those pees and poops!

Before we start shooting, I’ll mention the best way to hold your dog’s leash so as to make it easier for me to remove it in editing. I’ll discuss what help I need from you, such as giving your dog some cues to sit, lie down or wait. Don’t worry if your dog is not familiar with these cues, I work with any dogs no matter how well trained!

Capturing the shots of you and your dog

Think about the photo session as a lovely walk or outing with your dog.  You just happen to have a photographer with you.  On our way I’ll look out for great spots where the lighting is good and I can bring some interest to the photo. I will be looking out for rocks, logs, benches, interesting buildings, colours, trees and vegetation and other great spots where I can photograph you and your dog. 

We are going to get a variety of photos during the session. I may start with a couple of shots of you with your dog, just to get him/her used to the fact that we are stopping every now and again. Next is usually some time for those action shots. It’s a good idea to get these out of the way at the beginning when your dog is still excited and full of energy. It helps to work off some of that energy so that for the next set of photos it is easier for him or her to remain relatively calm!

I know you want to make sure your pup behaves, but while we do hope that the dog will sit or stand or lie down in a certain place, we will never force your dog to do anything or go anywhere they are not comfortable with!  If they don’t want to sit, we will capture them standing, that is okay too - we will capture them the way they are most comfortable. 

You should never stress about your dog not co-operating! This is about you having a great time too. So relax and go with the flow. Leave the rest up to me. The main goal is to capture your pup’s unique personality and the special bond and relationship that you have together.

You can expect to hear some weird noises! That’s me getting your dogs attention. I also have a bag full of noisemakers to use. If your dog likes toys, we will bring out a ball or dog toy to capture his or her attention. We may offer lots of treats. And of course I will use you to call your pup’s name or act silly, because after all your dog knows you best!

Click for more on dog safety during the session.

Here are some shots of Lauren with her little senior dog, Charlie at their Golden dog portrait session at Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens, Toronto

What is your role during the session?

While we are walking I will explain to you what I would like you to do, which is basically help to handle your pup, hold the leash in a certain way, perhaps when to throw a ball, or to stand behind me and act crazy! Your dog will listen to you and follow your cues best, so you will definitely be taking an active role.

Hopefully you will be in some of the photos too! Capturing the special bond between you and your pup is one of my goals and you will never regret having some photos of the two (or three or four...) of you together. These memories will last a lifetime and provide you with great family photos for your wall art, picture frames or luxurious album.

At the end of the portrait session

After an hour or so I will have taken a great variety of photos and your dog will be pretty tired out! It is hard work for them being asked to stay in a certain place, look at the camera, listen to your cues.  I’ll take a few moments to remind you of my next steps and when to expect your professionally edited proofs. I will usually have some examples of products such as wall art or an album to show you.  Then you can sit back and relax while I work on editing your photos to bring out the best in them and your pup!

Below are a couple of images of Navleen and her sweet mini schnauzer, Coco at their dog portrait session in Brampton, Ontario

Next is Step 3 - reviewing your Preview Slideshow, choosing the Collection that best suits your needs and ordering your photo products.

If you have any questions please go ahead and contact me for a free consultation. There is no pressure to book a session, just all your questions answered.

If you are not yet ready to book your on-location dog and family portrait session in the Toronto area, you are welcome to get a free renaissance style portrait of your dog or cat by signing up here.

Then once you’ve signed up simply drop me a quick email to find out how to get your portrait.