What to Expect from a Dog Photography Session (Perfect Dogs Not Required)
Not Your Typical Dog Photoshoot
If you’re picturing your dog posed politely, gazing at the camera with a happy relaxed look on their face then think… nope that couldn’t be MY dog, you’re in the right place.
Honestly, your dog doesn’t have to “behave” to get incredible photos. Heck, they don’t even need to sit, lay or do anything other than be themselves.
Which means:
- Not sitting is the perfect pose
- Zoomies are welcome
- Sniff & play breaks are encouraged
- Chaos is part of the EPIC magic
So if sit holds simply for a moment – PERFECT!
Squirms, barks, twirls and bouncy – also PERFECT!
Weary, shy, and telling the world to bugger off? So PERFECT.
Entirely and wonderfully PERFECTLY your dog. And I will embrace all of it to preserve the memory of your dog as they are now.
After you book your session the planning begins!
We will start with talking about your dog
Time to spill the secrets! I’ll reach out to gather all the info I need to make your dog the star of their session & tailor your experience for them.
We’ll chat about:
- Your dog’s quirks & adorable weirdness
- Words or sounds that make their ears perk up
- Tricks, commands, & their favorite moves
- What kind of magic you want to see in the photos
Think of it as a little “paw-prep” chat — so when session day comes, I’ve got the secret sauce ready to make your pup shine.
The Welcome Packet lands in your inbox!
Read about posing, what to wear, location inspiration as well as an introduction to all of the products to turn your dog’s images into artwork.
We will work together to pick the perfect location for your dog’s session.
Oh where to go? Minnesota is quite diverse and brimming with lakes and park, as well as old urban areas full of charm.
First you’ll need to pick the vibe: natural (parks, woods, prairies etc) or urban (murals, texture, alleys etc).
From there Minnesota is our dog bone – we can head to the North Shore for waterfalls (SWOON!), pebbly shoreline and a big long sandy beach. Or we can jaunt to Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in the quest for lupines and wildflowers. There are 64 state parks, 9 state recreation areas and hundreds of county parks in Minnesota. We have a few options! Plus count all the lakes & bodies of water and we could have sessions every year of your dog’s lifetime and never run out of places to adventure.
We will also take into account your dog’s personality and tailor the location to them.
Shy, reserved and reactive dogs benefit from quieter locations, while confident dogs can take on the world with more ease.
EEEEEEEEK! The day of your session!
Meet & greet.
I’ll say hello to everyone, promptly forget names except your dog’s and we’ll get started. Typically this means ample sniffing & strolling a bit.
I’m open to every type of dog greeting by the way – kisses, leans & butt scratches, or a “lady I have things to sniff, ttyl” indifference.
And for those reactive dogs, I’ll greet them in the way that makes them feel the most comfortable. No eye contact? I’ll chat with you instead & ignore your dog. 20 ft personal space bubble? I’ll keep my distance. (We will talk about the best way to approach your dog before your session.)
Let’s begin!
Together we stroll, my eyes scanning for the way tickles leaves & grass. We pause, I direct where I want your dog to be placed, direction their gaze should be and get into position. Listen for the myriad of attention calls: kitten, baby puppy, kisses, raspberries, Blue’s Clues (bup-pauw), bee buzz and more! I’ll also sprinkle in some of your dog’s catch words (ride, walk, treat, cookie etc) to really capture your dog’s attention. And as a backup I’ll whip out a squeaker.
We stroll and repeat. The pose request, the attention getting, the amusement as your dog tries to snatch bugs, offroads into the brush on the side of the trail or whines because being close to water and not being allowed to swim is worth a major fuss. The pace is set by your dog, as is the duration. If we make it to sunset, great. If we get 45 mins in and your dog is def looking back towards the car, we’ll wrap up for the day.
After your session
About two weeks later, we’ll meet for a gallery viewing (online or in person). You’ll see your pup’s photos for the first time – cue squeals, laughter, maybe a happy tear or two. Pick your favorites (it will be hard to do!), we’ll figure out the sizes & artwork you want to turn your dog’s images into.
After you have picked your images, they’ll head to get their final edits. This will include removing leashes, spare human parts and eye boogers. Now polished they will be sent to the pro printer to be transformed into an EPIC piece of artwork featuring your dog. Digital images will be delivered via Dropbox.
(PS – ALL artwork includes the matching digital image!)
And just like that, you’ve got MEGA awesome art of your best friend — ready to hang, gift, or treasure forever! EEEEEK!
There are many ways you can turn you dog’s images into EPIC one of a kind artwork – including various styles of wall art, print sets and decorative pieces for shelves and desks.
Real Talk (yes I've seen it all!)
Bouncy dogs, shy dogs, nervous dogs, unfocused dogs, they all are welcome and CAN have a photography session that captures who they are.
Sessions are tailored to your dog. Confident, friendly & bouncy dogs work well in all enviroments, while shy, reserved and nervous dogs are better for quieter spaces. Don’t worry, quieter spaces are equally as EPIC as popular or busy spaces.
No your dog doesn’t have to be an obedience champion with laser focus. They just need to be themselves.
That’s totally ok! You’re in a new environment, full of new sounds and smells and your dog is MEGA excited! Bouncy, zoomie behavior is going to happen. All I need is a teenie tiny moment of stillness to capture EPIC portraits of your dog.
We will take our time. I’ll keep my energy calm and let your dog relax and set the pace of the session.
I do! We’ll talk about what we can do to make the session the most successful for your dog before the session. If that means no touching, very slow introductions, I need to be as far away as possible – PERFECT! Your reactive dog CAN have a session & look epic doing it!
YES! Please keep them on leash so we can keep them safe and wrangle them in the area we need them to be.
You can! Just understand that the more dogs we add, the more patience we will need to have. If one dog is in la la land, and the other obsessed with the treat back we’ll work with them separately then magically put them together for an epic portrait. This goes for any dogs over the quantity of one.
Anywhere in Minnesota! We’ve got a plethora of park options to tap into and epic urban areas too! If you have a favorite park we can look into that as a backdrop too!
As for your backyard… maybe. If you have a GINORMOUS yard with ample bushes, trees and epic landscaping then it is fairly likely we can use your backyard. If you’re in town with a small yard, let’s look into some options. The biggest exception: dogs with mobility issues. We can stay close to home for slow moving and elderly dogs if we need to.
Bring poo bags! Also bring HIGH VALUE treats (the best of the best, smelly & soft, crunchy only when they are small). Bring a toy if it is an attention getter or you’d like to include it in action images. And bring a water bowl and water.
Golden hour! Sessions start 1.5 hours prior to sunset. Or they start at sunrise and go 1.5 into the morning!
I’ll be in touch the day of your session, watching the weather like a dog watching a snack. If the weather looks like it is going to shit (storms, rain, blizzards, subzero temps) then we will reschedule for another day.
It will take 3-4 weeks to get your dog’s images from digital to artwork and in your hands!
Real Dogs, Real Personality
On leash = off leash superstars!
MAGIC! Keep your dog on leash. With some magic editing your dog will look like an off leash superstar!
What makes it worthwhile
This isn’t just a photoshoot—it’s a way to hold onto who your dog is right now.
The goofy expressions.
The way they look at you.
The little quirks you never want to forget.
Your session includes:
- A personalized, dog-led experience designed around their personality
- A relaxed, outdoor session where they can explore and be themselves
- A guided image selection process (so you’re not overwhelmed)
- Heirloom artwork and digital images designed to last a lifetime
Because these aren’t just photos—
they’re the moments you’ll come back to, again and again.
Dogs don’t stay the same forever.
This season of their life — the way they look at you, the way they move, their quirks — is already changing.
You don’t need a “perfect” dog.
You just need this version of them.
Prefer to talk first?
Email: • Call or text: 320-309-2893
Serving dog lovers across Minnesota, including Duluth, North Shore, Twin Cities, and beyond.
Adventure, personality-driven dog photography for dogs big and small.