Can my dog come to my photo session?

In a word… yes! 🐾

Your dog is more than welcome to come along to your photo session.

Whether you’ve booked a newborn shoot, family session, sibling shoot or one-year session, if your dog is an important part of your family, then of course I’d love them to be included.

I know for lots of families, your dog isn’t just a dog. They’re part of the family, and it would feel strange to have beautiful photographs of everyone else without them!

There are just a couple of little things I ask you to think about beforehand to make sure your session runs as smoothly and calmly as possible.

Please let me know in advance

The first thing is simply to let me know that your dog is coming when you book your session.

I have my own dog too, and although she absolutely loves a visitor, I’ll make sure she’s out of the house and having a lovely time with her auntie while you’re here.

This is really for the benefit of both dogs.

Your dog won’t have the distraction of knowing another dog is somewhere in the house, and my dog won’t be wondering why another dog has suddenly appeared in her home!

It just makes everything much calmer and gives your dog a chance to settle into the studio without having to worry about another dog being around.

Let’s make time for your dog to explore

When you arrive, I’ll give your dog a little bit of time to sniff, explore and have a look around.

The studio is a new environment for them, so it’s completely normal for them to want to investigate everything!

We can take our time, have some cuddles, give out a few treats and let them settle.

I’ll then photograph those lovely natural moments of you all together.

There’s no need for your dog to sit perfectly or pose. In fact, I much prefer things to feel natural.

Some of my favourite family photographs are the ones where everyone is simply interacting with each other — a little cuddle, a kiss, a waggy tail or your dog looking up at you.

Those are the real moments I want to capture.

What happens after the first 10–15 minutes?

If you’re coming for a newborn or family session, rather than a session specifically for your dog, I do ask that a family member comes back after around 10–15 minutes and takes your dog home.

Don’t worry — this doesn’t mean your dog only gets one quick photograph!

Those first few minutes give us plenty of time for the family photographs involving your dog, along with lots of time for them to sniff, explore the garden, have some treats and generally enjoy themselves.

Once they’ve been collected, I can then concentrate fully on the rest of your session.

That might be your newborn photographs, sibling photographs, individual photographs of your children or all those lovely family images we planned.

Why do I ask you to take your dog home?

Quite simply, my studio isn't a huge space, and once we've captured the photographs involving your dog, I want to be able to give you and your children my full attention.

Having a dog wandering around the studio can be quite distracting — especially when there are toddlers involved!

And actually, I think it’s much kinder for your dog too.

I don’t want them to spend the rest of the session being asked to sit quietly in a corner or constantly being moved out of the way.

They’ve done their job. They’ve had their photographs, their cuddles and probably a few treats too!

They can then head home for a well-earned nap while we carry on capturing the rest of your family's photographs.

So in summary...of course your dog can come!

If your dog is an important part of your family, I’d love to include them in your photographs.

Your session is about your family, exactly as you are, and for many families that includes a four-legged member too.

Just let me know beforehand that your dog is coming, and arrange for a family member to collect them after around 10–15 minutes if it’s a newborn or family session.

And if you're wondering whether your dog will be "well behaved enough" for photographs, please don't worry.

They don't need to sit perfectly, look at the camera or behave like they've been professionally trained. We'll work with them, keep things relaxed and capture the moments as they naturally happen.

After all, real moments are always my favourite.

So yes — bring your dog! 🐾

I'd absolutely love to meet them and have them join in with your session.

If you’re thinking about booking a newborn or family session and would like to chat about bringing your dog along, just drop me a message. I’m always happy to talk through how we can make it work for you and your family.