What Happens After Your Dog's Photography Session?

What Happens After Your Dog's Photography Session?

Your dog's photography session is finished. We've explored the studio or wandered through the woods, your dog has probably enjoyed more treats than usual, and we've captured plenty of wonderful moments along the way.

So, what happens next?

There's actually quite a bit that goes on between the time I put my camera away and the moment you're enjoying your dog's photographs in your home.

The good news is that you don't have to figure it all out yourself. From choosing your favorite images to designing artwork and getting it onto your walls, I'll help you through the entire process.

No, You Won't Have to Look Through 1,000 Photographs

During a typical photography session, I'll often take more than 1,000 photographs.

Before you start wondering how many hours you'll need to set aside to look through all of those, don't worry. I'm not going to make you sit through 1,000 pictures of your dog!

After the session, I carefully go through everything, selecting the strongest photographs and looking for as much variety as possible. Different expressions, poses, backgrounds, and those little moments that show off your dog's personality.

Sometimes narrowing things down is difficult even for me.

For most sessions, I'll prepare approximately 20–30 finished photographs for your viewing appointment. For a Best of Both Worlds session, where we've photographed your dog in two very different environments, that number is typically closer to 50.

I've found that showing too many images can actually make choosing favorites more difficult. I want you to have a wonderful selection, not feel overwhelmed by hundreds of nearly identical photographs.

By the time we sit down together, the difficult job of sorting through everything has already been done.

The Viewing and Ordering Appointment

This is one of my favorite parts of the entire experience.

It's when you finally get to see the photographs we've created together, and we start figuring out what you'd like to do with them.

We can meet at my studio, where I have a variety of finished artwork on display, or arrange a Zoom appointment if that's more convenient. Depending on the session and scheduling, some studio clients can even have their viewing and ordering appointment the same day.

At the studio, you'll have the opportunity to see, touch, and compare actual artwork samples. Different sizes, frames, mats, and finishes can look very different in person, and it's much easier to appreciate those differences when you have the finished pieces right in front of you.

And if you're considering artwork for your walls, we can take things a step further.

I can create digital mockups showing your dog's photographs arranged on the actual walls of your home. Rather than trying to imagine what a particular size or grouping might look like above your couch, you can see a representation of it in your own space.

It makes choosing artwork a whole lot easier.

Choosing Your Favorites (The Hard Part!)

Even with a carefully curated selection, narrowing down your favorites isn't always easy.

You might love one photograph because your dog looks particularly handsome. Another captures that goofy expression you know so well. And then there's the one where they're looking at you in a way that makes your heart melt.

How are you supposed to choose?

Fortunately, I've developed a process that helps make those decisions a little easier.

We'll work through your favorites together and consider which photographs would make great wall artwork, which ones might work beautifully together in an album, and which you'd prefer to keep as part of a digital collection.

You don't have to arrive knowing exactly what you want, and you certainly don't need to make those decisions without guidance.

The goal is to find the right home for the photographs you love.

Creating Artwork That's Right for Your Home

One of the things I love about creating custom artwork is that there isn't a single right way to do it.

Some clients want one beautiful statement piece for their living room. Others prefer a collection of photographs arranged together. Albums are another wonderful option, especially when you want to enjoy a variety of expressions, locations, and moments from the session.

At your viewing appointment, we can explore different artwork options, compare finishes, and discuss sizes, frames, mats, and layouts.

And because the artwork is being created specifically for you, there are plenty of opportunities to customize it.

Your photographs should feel at home in your space, not like something you picked off a shelf.

Nothing Gets Ordered Until You Approve It

Once you've selected your photographs and artwork, there's still one important step before anything goes into production.

Your approval.

Within a few days of the ordering appointment, I'll typically complete the final edits and send everything along for you to review.

For wall artwork, I provide proofs and mockups so you can make sure the cropping, layout, and overall presentation look exactly the way you want.

If you've ordered an album, I'll design the layout and send you a proof to review. Want to change the order of a few photographs or make an adjustment to a page? That's all part of the process.

This is custom artwork, and I want you to be happy with every detail.

Nothing is finalized until you've given me the green light.