Why Your Dog Doesn't Need Perfect Obedience for Great Images

Why Your Dog Doesn't Need Perfect Obedience for Great Images

One of the most common concerns I hear from potential clients planning a dog photography session has nothing to do with what to wear, where to go, or what products they might choose afterward.

It's usually something along the lines of:

"I'd love to do a session, but my dog won't sit still."

Or...

"My dog doesn't know any commands."

Or my personal favorite...

"My dog is completely out of control."

The funny thing is that nearly every dog owner says this, regardless of whether they're describing a highly trained competition dog or a Labrador whose life mission is to make friends with every person, dog, squirrel, and leaf they encounter.

After photographing hundreds of dogs throughout Massachusetts, I've learned that perfect obedience has very little to do with creating beautiful images.

The good news?

Your dog does not need perfect obedience to create great photographs.

In fact, most of the dogs I photograph aren't perfectly obedient. They're simply being dogs.

And that's exactly how I like it.

It Starts Long Before the Session

One of the reasons I include a consultation before every session is because it gives me the opportunity to learn about your dog before I ever pick up a camera.

The consultation is one of the most important parts of the entire experience because it helps me prepare for your specific dog photography session before we ever meet with a camera.

Every dog is different.

Some dogs are highly food motivated.

Some couldn't care less about treats but will do anything for a favorite toy.

Some respond best to praise and affection.

Others have specific words, sounds, or routines that immediately grab their attention.

The consultation helps me learn what makes your dog tick so I can tailor the session around them.

It also gives us a chance to talk honestly about obedience, personality, and any concerns you might have.

If your dog struggles with staying still, that's okay.

If they're nervous around strangers, that's okay too.

If they have the attention span of a toddler after eating birthday cake, trust me, I've seen that before.

The more I know ahead of time, the smoother and more enjoyable the session becomes for both you and your dog.

The goal isn't to force every dog into the same mold.

The goal is to create a session that works for the dog standing in front of me.

Every Session Starts the Same Way

Whether I'm photographing a confident social butterfly or a nervous dog who prefers to keep their distance, I approach every session in a very similar way.

We start slow.

I don't immediately shove a camera in their face and expect them to perform.

Instead, I give them time to get comfortable.

I'll often set my camera bag on the ground and let them investigate it.

Most dogs will happily sniff around and satisfy their curiosity.

One dog even decided my camera bag looked like an appropriate place to leave a personal message. Let's just say that particular session started with a quick cleanup.

After that, I let them check out the camera itself.

They can sniff it.

Look at it.

Hear the shutter.

For food-motivated dogs, I'll often pair the sound of the shutter with treats.

Click.

Treat.

Click.

Treat.

Very quickly the camera becomes associated with something positive rather than something strange or intimidating.

By the time we start creating images, many dogs have already decided I'm not so bad after all.

Sessions Often Look Like Chaos

This is something I wish every client understood before their session.

A professional dog photography session can sometimes look like complete and utter chaos.  Seriously.

There have been sessions where dogs were running around, sniffing everything, looking everywhere except the camera, and generally acting like dogs.

Meanwhile, the owners are standing nearby convinced that we're not getting a single usable image.

I've had more than a few people apologize repeatedly during a session because they thought their dog was ruining everything.

Many dog owners throughout Massachusetts arrive at their session convinced that their dog is somehow the most distracted dog I've ever photographed.

I promise they're usually not.

Whether we're working in the studio or exploring one of my favorite outdoor locations, most sessions involve a healthy amount of movement, exploration, and unpredictability.

That's normal.

In fact, it's often where the magic happens.

Then clients come back for their viewing appointment and are shocked by what we captured.

The reality is that what you see happening during the session and what I see happening are often very different things.

I'm constantly watching for moments.

A head tilt.

A curious expression.

A goofy grin.

A proud stance.

A connection between you and your dog.

Those moments happen quickly, but they're often all we need.

Breaks Are Part of the Process

A lot of dogs are very similar to young children.

The more you force them to sit still, the less interested they become in cooperating.

That's why I build breaks into many sessions.

Sometimes we'll stop and let them explore.

Sometimes we'll let them run.

Sometimes we'll encourage a game of fetch.

Sometimes we'll simply let them get the zoomies out of their system.

Not only does this help them relax, but it often creates opportunities for wonderful images that showcase their personality.

Some of my favorite photographs have come from those unscripted moments.

The goofy grin after a sprint.

The wild ears flying through the air.

The excitement in their eyes while chasing a toy.

Those moments are every bit as important as the traditional posed portraits.

Your Dog Does Not Need To Be Off Leash

Another concern I hear frequently is that people worry their dog won't be able to participate because they can't safely be off leash.

The good news is that almost none of my sessions require dogs to be off leash.

In fact, many of them remain on leash for the entire session.

One misconception about a professional dog photography session is that every dog needs to be off leash.  They don't.

Leashes are incredibly easy to remove during editing.

I also work with owners throughout the session to position and hold leashes in ways that make the editing process cleaner and more seamless afterward.

I'd much rather have a safe dog than take unnecessary risks for a photograph.

Safety always comes first.

If your dog is happiest and safest on leash, that's exactly where they'll stay.

We're Capturing Your Dog, Not A Generic Dog

This may be the most important point of all.

I'm not trying to create generic photos of a dog.

I'm trying to create images of your dog.

The goofy one.

The stubborn one.

The sensitive one.

The energetic one.

The one who never sits still.

The one who carries a toy everywhere.

The one who insists on leaning against your legs.

The one who has a personality that makes your family laugh every day.

Those are the details that matter.

Those are the details you'll want to remember years from now.

Perfect obedience doesn't create meaningful photographs.

Personality does.

I Understand The Anxiety

There's one session every year that reminds me exactly how my clients feel.

Every year I photograph my own kids and pets for our Christmas card.

And despite photographing hundreds of dogs over the years, it's the one session that stresses me out the most.  Why?

Because they're mine.

Suddenly I have all the same expectations that my clients have.

I want everyone looking in the right direction.

I want the dog sitting perfectly.

I want the kids cooperating.

I want everything to go exactly according to plan.

And just like most families, it rarely does.

That experience is a great reminder that the anxiety my clients feel is completely normal.

The difference is that when I'm photographing your dog, I know how the story ends.

I know that the moments you're worried about usually don't matter.

I know that the dog who won't sit still can still create incredible images.

I know that the dog who seems distracted can still give us beautiful expressions.

I know that the session often feels messier than the final gallery looks.

Because I've seen it happen hundreds of times.

Every Dog Deserves To Be Celebrated

Whether we're creating images in the studio or exploring one of the many beautiful parks and trails throughout Massachusetts, my approach remains the same.

I work at your dog's pace.

I adapt to their personality.

And I focus on creating an experience that's fun and low-stress for everyone involved.

At the end of the day, we're not trying to create perfect images of a perfect dog.

We're creating meaningful images of a dog who means the world to you.

Relax, Have Fun, and Let Them Be Dogs

If you've been putting off a dog photography session because you think your dog isn't obedient enough, take a deep breath.  Relax.

Have fun.

Let them sniff.

Let them explore.

Let them get the zoomies.

Let them be exactly who they are.

Some of my favorite photographs have come from dogs whose owners spent the entire session apologizing for their behavior.

Then they saw the images and realized there was never anything to worry about.

At Lil Monster Photography, the goal isn't to create generic portraits that could be of any dog.

The goal is to create artwork that captures your dog.

Their personality.

Their quirks.

Their expressions.

The little things that make them uniquely yours.

Because great photographs aren't about perfect obedience.

They're about personality, connection, and capturing the dog you love exactly as they are.

If you're considering a dog photography session in Massachusetts and you're worried your dog isn't "good enough," I'd love to chat.

Chances are, your dog is exactly the kind of dog I've been photographing successfully for years.