Not every dog bounds into a photo session with tail wags and kisses. Some are a little shy, cautious, or even downright nervous when the camera comes out. If that sounds like your pup, it doesn’t mean you can’t get beautiful, personality-filled photos.
The good news? With the right techniques (and a photographer who understands dog behavior), even the most hesitant pups can shine in front of the camera.
My own dog, Blue, is a total sweetheart with his inner circle. But strangers? Not his favorite (and he’ll tell you about it). So trust me when I say—I know what it’s like to worry about how a shy or fearful dog will handle new people and situations.
Here’s how I help shy & fearful dogs feel at ease:
I ignore them when we meet.
There is no eeeek OMG you’re the squishiest fluffiest pupper EVER!!!!! I simple say hello to you and completely ignore your dog. I don’t try to pet, I don’t try to touch and I don’t make any eye contact. We chat and then act like we’re simply going on a stroll together.
Allow them to set the pace of the session.
Your shy & fearful dog gets to set the pace of the session. We can stroll leisurely stopping to ask for a behavior. If they don’t want to look, sit or pose the way we want them to, we won’t force or push it. Side profiles are lovely, standing and laying are elegant. Each behavior we want will be an ask, and will be well rewarded when the behavior is given.
Use a long lens to avoid the intimidating ‘staring eyeball’ effect
Wide angle lenses, wider the 50 mm, tend to look like giant eyeballs to dogs.
And when the photographer at hand moves closer with the giant eyeball, shy and fearful dogs see it as a threat (staring is dogs is inappropriate behavior and only comes from aggressive dogs) and the dog might pant, lick their lips and look away (all stress signals).
For shy and fearful dogs, I employ a long lens that keeps me quite far from your dog and turns my “eyeball” into less of a threat.
If we do transition into a wide angle, this is when a BAZILLION treats are employed. Look at the scary staring eyeball and get loads of treats? Your dog will drool for that! (And we can do some classic conditioning to make a wide angle image a success.)
Watch for Stress Signals
Shy or fearful dogs have subtle ways of telling us when they’re uncomfortable. You might notice panting, lip licking, yawning, looking away, or even a tucked tail. These are normal stress signals, and they’re my cue to slow down, give your pup more space, or shift the session in a gentler direction. By respecting your dog’s body language, we keep the experience positive and pressure-free.
Give them ample space
If your dog is uncomfortable with new people being in their space, I’ll pop on my long lens and take a bazillion steps away. My camera & I are no longer strangers who are too close for comfort, but a curiosity to be observed from a distance away.
** If your dog tends to react with a nip before feeling comfortable, I’ll respect their threshold distance—whether that’s 8 feet or 20 feet. We’ll only work within their comfort zone.
Choose quieter locations for your session
We’ll focus on picking a quiet location that less people visit. These locations might seem out of the way, but they will give us loads of calm area with low risk of encountering many people or other dogs. Which means your dog gets to shine!
How you can help your shy or fearful dog have an awesome session:
Break out the BEST treats (or toys)
Bring the stinkiest, yummiest treats and hand them out for every behavior that is positive. If your dog prefers treats over toys, bring out their favorite toy they will work for. Same as with treats, reward every behavior with the toy and bouts of energetic play.
Stroll before your session
Simply a stroll will let your dog sniff and explore without any requests for certain behaviors. The movement of walking could help them relax and expend anxious energy. Each dog is different, you may only need a short 5 minute stroll or you’ll need to stroll for longer.
Be calm and have fun!
Project calmness and your dog will pick up on it and worry less about the session. The more fun the session is the more fun your dog will have, making the session a playful outing in the park vs a stressful walk somewhere scary. Laugh, reward and play!
If you’ve been nervous about booking a session because your pup is shy, I’d love to show you how relaxed and fun it can be. Reach out here ( ) to start planning a session that fits your dog’s comfort level. Or book your session directly!
