“Can pets come to my session?” And the short answer is YES! I absolutely love when clients include their pets in their photography session! After all, your pet is part of the family! Today I want to share with you some tips for bringing your pet to your next photo session!

Just remember to tell your photographer that you are bringing a pet so they can find a pet friendly location.

Here are 6 tips for planning for your session with your pet.

1. Pre-session pet workout. If you can get to the location (or one close by) and let your pet burn some energy, this will help them be a bit more calm for the actual session. From my experience, when pets first come, they are pretty hyper and just want to explore. So come early to burn some of their energy!
2. We are going to do the photos with the pet first. This means bring someone that can watch your pet after we are done with them or even take them home. This is helpful so the pet doesn’t get anxious are start to bark at strangers that pass by or have the risk of them running off and wasting precious photo time.
3. Bring a leash. This will help you keep your pet close to you and where you want him or her in the photos. Be sure to bring a thinner leash if possible. And remember to take off the poop bag carrier if it’s attached to the leash.
4. Bring their favourite toy. This will help to get your pets attention. And if it can be a noisy one, the better for capturing their attention in a new space. And this leads into number 4…
5. Bring treats. Treats are great bribery tools for your pet. It will help to keep your pet focused on the camera if need be. Smaller treats that are easy to handle and fast to consume are the best!
6. Clean them. Be sure to clean your pet before your session. Either take them to the groomers so they are clean and brushed and ready to go. Or brush them before. And don’t forget to clean your pet’s eye to ensure they are clean too.

Now you are ready to bring your pet to your next session!