So you've decided to have professional portraits made of your pet, yeah! You will never regret the decision. We recently lost our dog Dingo at the age of fourteen and a half. We've been married for twenty years and had Dingo for fourteen of them, to say that there is a hole in our hearts is an understatement.

When we got Dingo's cancer diagnosis last year, the first call was to the oncologist and the second was to a local Dallas photographer friend of mine to capture some updated family photos of us with the new addition of our Border Collie puppy, Rooney. Loosing Dingo was a blow, but looking at the gorgeous images that Sylvia Elzafon took of our family has brought us comfort since his passing. I still regret that we have no beautiful portraits of our handsome Penny, the namesake for Penny Whistle Photography, only snapshots...never again.

As part of the consultation in advance of your session, one of the things we'll talk about is the session location. As a dog trainer, this is an important part of the conversation for me as my number one concern is always the animal. Yes I want you to love your images, but it's just as important to me that your dog, or cat, or horse, be relaxed and also enjoy the experience. Here are three things to consider when setting the location of your animal's portrait session.

(click on any image to view full screen)

1) What Will Make Your Dog, Cat, Horse Most Comfortable?

When working with animals, their comfort is one of my greatest concerns. Some cats are shy and don't do well in new surroundings like a photo studio. I own a reactive dog (my little yellow dog, Ginger) so our family photo sessions are always held in our own, or a friend's, backyard where we're guaranteed not to see other dogs. Maybe your elderly dog isn't very mobile and walking through a park is too much to ask. There are endless factors that go into the selection of the location for your pet's photo shoot. My photo sessions are no-stress zones where everyone is relaxed, having fun and there's cookies (for the dogs)!

I often photograph cats in their own home (and need to wait 30 minutes or so for them to emerge from their hiding place). Location always comes up in the pre-session consultation for Silver Sessions for elderly and terminally ill pets as mobility and general health are of concern. Luckily horse barns are usually located in some pretty scenery if you're not a fan of the loading and trailering process. The studio is always a nice, quiet and safe space to be in and you'd be surprised at how much variety we can create in a studio session.

Don't love your backyard? Or is it small? No worry, I use a variety of shooting techniques and different lenses to bring out the best of what we have to work with so your pet can be comfortable while capturing gorgeous images of them and you!

This cat looks completely relaxed hanging out in her own kitchen

2) Will You Be In Some Of The Pictures With Your Pet?

Firstly, you should be photographed with your pet. You will cherish those images. Years from now you will not think about what you wore, or that your roots needed coloring, or you wished you had a tan. You'll think "God, I'm so glad that Tracy talked me into being in some of the pictures". There are lots of ways we can incorporate you into the images; it might be your hand caressing your dogs ear, or them at your feet (one of my favorite images), or your cat laying in your lap - the point is, it doesn't have to be you and your dog smiling for the camera. I always take a few of those for friends and family, but I adore making images where I just let people loose on their pets. "Love on them, squeeze them, do all the things you normally do when no one is watching".

If I've won the battle of you not wanting to be in the images with your pet, then we need to decide on the location. For me, the success of a family and pet portrait is getting everyone close together. I personally like to avoid putting adults on the ground because, well, we often don't look so good on the ground. If you're middle-aged and a little lumpy like me, then the ground is not your friend. I have a cache of locations with low walls, stairs and rocks for sitting to make the humans look good, yet keeping everyone up close and personal at the same time.

Everyone is close together and comfortable

3) How Do You Plan On Enjoying Your Photographs?

So your dog is a rock star, happy to go anywhere you are, doesn't mind other dogs and can turn a blind eye to the errant squirrel (lucky you!), the world is our oyster! So let's talk about how you plan on enjoying your images. If you want something for the wall, maybe you don't want an urban location as is pictured below (this location was chosen specially for the edgy look, the owner knowing they wanted a jaw-dropping large piece for their modern living room wall). We'll select a location that will produce images that will complement your homes decor and color palette.

One of my favorite sayings is that "art doesn't have to match the sofa", but it should look at home on your walls. That may be an edgy urban location, the clean aesthetic of a studio session or the natural beauty and color of a local Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex park.

We'll discuss how you want to enjoy your images in your pre-session consultation as that will help guide the session. Are you looking for that one, large, epic wall piece along with a small variety for your office and gifts? Or did you have an album in mind, capturing the many faces and moods of your pup? Because dogs (and husbands) can loose patience in a photo shoot around the 45-60 minute mark, knowing what we're aiming for will help me be more efficient in how I plan the session to ensure that we come away with the images of your dreams.

These border collies are agility trial regulars so easily handled this urban location

All Around The Circle

Now it's time to see how other pet photographers choose their locations starting with Rachel of Touched By a Dog Photography reveals how session location and home decor work together for Spokane interiors and then continue clicking on the link at the bottom of each post until you end up right back here and then you will have completed the circle!

Tracy Allard of Penny Whistle Photography is a Certified Professional Photographer with the organization Professional Photographers of America; a designation held by fewer than 2,000 photographers nationwide and a hallmark of consistency, technical skill, artistry and professionalism. Tracy recently had 3 of her 4 submitted images selected from hundreds of entries to be among the 10 finalists for the Grand Imaging Award for the Animal Portrait category for the Professional Photographers of America Southwest District Print Competition.

Penny Whistle specializes in both on-location and studio photography providing pet, equine, family, couples & engagement and high school senior portraits as well as corporate headshots and commercial photography services in her studio located in historic downtown Carrollton as well as on location in Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, Flower Mound and surrounding communities in Dallas – Fort Worth, Texas.

Let me help you decide the best location for your pet's photo session!

5 Comments

Jul 28, 2021, 7:38:09 AM

Linda Perdue - These are great tips - things that I do think about but didn't consider for my blog post (oops!). Cats always should be at home when they are at home....dogs, it totally depends but I like how you discuss 'seniors' and that they may want to be home not elsewhere.

Jul 24, 2021, 1:06:04 AM

Rachel - Okay, totally biased about being crazy for the Border Collie photo. I wish you could take one of my Brigs that looks just like that!

Jul 23, 2021, 9:45:06 AM

Nicole - I'm so sorry about Dingo. It seems they are with us just long enough to leave a giant hole when they're gone. These are excellent tips.

Jul 23, 2021, 8:45:34 AM

Nancy - I like your saying that the art does not have to match the sofa.

Jul 23, 2021, 8:01:25 AM

Terri Jankelow - Such a good point about people not wanting to sit on the ground! I love the photo of the agility dogs

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3 Things To Consider When Selecting A Location For Your Pet's Photo Shoot

1) What Will Make Your Dog, Cat, Horse Most Comfortable?

Don't love your backyard? Or is it small? No worry, I use a variety of shooting techniques and different lenses to bring out the best of what we have to work with so your pet can be comfortable while capturing gorgeous images of them and you!

This cat looks completely relaxed hanging out in her own kitchen

2) Will You Be In Some Of The Pictures With Your Pet?

Everyone is close together and comfortable

3) How Do You Plan On Enjoying Your Photographs?

One of my favorite sayings is that "art doesn't have to match the sofa", but it should look at home on your walls. That may be an edgy urban location, the clean aesthetic of a studio session or the natural beauty and color of a local Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex park.

These border collies are agility trial regulars so easily handled this urban location

All Around The Circle

Related Posts

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Filling the Frame

My Favorite Lens for Pet and Equine Photography

Adorable Golden Retriever Puppy Photo Shoot

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