Have you booked a professional studio portrait session for your dog and are wondering how your crazy furball will go? What are the chances they’ll actually sit still? Good news first: they don’t need to be a perfect model, and there are a few simple things you can do in preparation that will help us capture them and their personality perfectly.
How do you prepare a dog for a professional photo session?
Preparing a dog for a professional photo session at Lilypad Photography comes down to a few simple things, none of which involve training your dog to be perfect. Book a session time that lands in your dog’s calmest part of the day, bring their favourite treats and a much-loved squeaky toy, and give them a decent walk beforehand so the wildest energy is already out. Skip the big meal right before. Bring anything that gets their ears up: a specific word, a tennis ball, the sound of their lead.
The studio is set up for wriggly, excitable, easily-distracted dogs, so the pressure to have a calm, obedient model on the day simply isn’t there. You show up with your dog as they are. We handle the rest.
Why your dog doesn’t need to be expertly trained or perfectly behaved
Wrangling cheeky furballs is a big part of what we do here. We’ve photographed nervous rescues, bouncy puppies, dignified old dogs who’d rather nap, and dogs who would not stop talking for the entire session. None of them were “trained models.” The photos still turned out beautifully.
The character you love is the whole point. The head tilt, the goofy grin, the way they lean into you when they’re unsure. A perfectly posed dog often loses exactly the thing that makes them them. We’d rather catch the real one.
So if your worry is “my dog won’t behave,” you’re in the clear, because behaving is not the assignment.
Does my dog need to be trained for a photo session?
Your dog doesn’t need to be perfectly trained. Practising a little sit and stay a few times in the week before you come in does go a long way though.
A dog’s biggest instinct is to trot straight up and say hello the moment we point a camera at them. Lovely manners, tricky for photos. If they can hold a stay or wait for even a few seconds, we can catch the magic shot first, then let them come in for the kisses. Without that, we’re often limited to close-up wide-angle shots taken with a dog already in our lap. Still cute, just less variety.
So no formal obedience required. A few short, low-key practice sessions at home, plenty of treats, no pressure, and you’ll give us a lot more to work with on the day.
What to bring to your dog’s photo session
High-value treats. The good stuff, not the everyday biscuits. Small and quick to eat works best. We have plenty in the studio if you don’t have any.
A favourite toy. Especially anything squeaky or noisy that snaps their attention forward. Again, we have a stash if you forget.
A familiar lead. Easily edited out of final images, and useful for keeping them settled between setups.
Anything that makes their ears go up. Think about any trigger words (park, walk, cheese, and the random one we see often, “do you want to . . .”), a clicker, the rustle of a treat bag, the squeak of a particular toy.
A second person, if you have one. More important if you’re bringing more than one dog. Not essential, but nice.
If you forget half of it, the studio has backups. The list just stacks the odds in your favour.
How to time the session around your dog’s day
Timing factor | What helps | What to avoid |
Time of day | Book when your dog is naturally calmest, often mid-morning or early afternoon | Their peak zoomie hour |
Exercise | A solid walk beforehand to burn off nervous energy | Arriving straight from the couch, wound up |
Food | A light meal earlier in the day | A full belly right before, which makes treats less exciting |
Toilet | A toilet stop just before walking in | Skipping it and hoping for the best |
Arrival | A few minutes early to sniff around outside and settle | Rushing in flustered and late |
Dogs read our energy. If you arrive relaxed and unhurried, your dog is far more likely to follow your lead.
What actually happens on the day
You arrive, your dog has a sniff and a wander, and we let them get comfortable before the camera does anything serious. There’s no rigid shot list they have to perform. We work at their pace, use treats and toys and a fair bit of silliness to catch their expressions, and keep the whole thing low-pressure and genuinely fun.
Some dogs are ready in five minutes. Some need twenty to decide we’re alright. Both are completely fine. We’ve done this many, many times, and we’ve never met a dog we couldn’t work with.
By the end, you’ll have images that look like your dog on their best, most characterful day. The kind of thing worth framing. Literally.
Frequently asked questions
What if my dog is anxious or reactive around new people?
Anxious and reactive dogs are welcome, and we photograph them often. We slow everything right down, let your dog set the pace, and give them time to decide the studio is safe before we ask anything of them. Tell us about their triggers when you book so we can plan the session around them. Sessions are one dog and their people at a time, so there’s no surprise crowd to manage.
Does my dog need to know how to sit and stay?
No. A reliable sit-stay is a nice bonus, not a requirement. We use treats, toys, sounds, and timing to catch the shots we need, and we’re well practised at getting a great image from a dog who has never held a pose in their life. Bring them as they are.
How long does a dog photo session take?
Most dog sessions run around 30 minutes, give or take 15. We let the dog dictate the real pace. Some settle fast and we’re done early. Others need more warm-up time, and we give it to them without rushing. Plan for around 45 minutes, stay relaxed about the clock, and let your dog take the time they need.
Should I get my dog professionally groomed first?
A bath and a brush a day or two before the session helps your dog look their best on camera, especially for long or light-coloured coats. A full professional groom is optional. Avoid a fresh haircut on the day itself, since dogs often look a little stiff and unsettled straight after. Clean, dry, and comfortable is the goal, not show-ring polished.
