5 Tips to Help you Ace Family Photoshoots with your Pet!
It’s safe to say that family pets are not just other animals, but are classified as extra children or popularly known as ‘fur babies.’
Pets make up a large part of our families and make them unique.
As with any session, getting a photoshoot with pets and children can be almost a three-ring circus. And timing and preparation are key when preparing your family for a fantastic photography experience.
Here are five easy tips to ace your next family photoshoot and make it easy with your pets -
#1 Prepare the Family for the Photo Shoot
A family photo shoot with pets needs preparation.
When shooting with clients, informing them in advance about the preparation helps ease the complex juggling on the day of the photo shoot.
Find the location and set the timing for the photo shoot. In addition, shooting outdoors is much better when compared indoors because the pet has more freedom to run around.
Plus, great lighting! Win-win!
Try to find a place where the pet is comfortable - it could be their favourite dog park, family garden, or even the terrace.
Help your pet get accustomed to the camera and the flashlight by taking photos of your pet before the actual photo shoot.
Making sure the pet isn’t too scared of the camera helps and learning the tricks to keep the pets still for the photoshoot to get in great photographs.
#2 Bring the Pet’s Favorite Treats and Toys Along
Coming into a new space with various sights, smells, and people can be overwhelming and daunting for your pet. As a result, they may get distracted during your pet photography.
To help ease this process, bring along their favourite treats and toys such as their favourite teddies, ducks, and water bowls to help them acclimatize to the space!
Just like kids, pets do not take too long to feel comfortable and they’re up and running in no time.
Utilize this to your advantage and work your magic to capture some amazing images of you, your pet, and your family together.
#3 Learn Easy Tricks and Commands
Even if you are not a proud pet owner, learning a few basic commands such as ‘Sit’ and ‘Stay’ work like magic and result in a few extra calm moments.
As aww-dorable and energetic pets are, getting them to sit still to get a decent photo can feel like moving mountains!
Practice and learn the pet’s commands and take extra assistance from the owners to help them calm down and get a great photo session together.
#4 Burn Some Energy Down Pre-Shoot
The best way to calm down an energetic pet is to exercise and play with them before the shoot.
If you have a high-energy dog who just needs to run when they first go on a walk, make sure that they spend their energy before the shoot.
Although tricks to lure them and force them into staying still might work, it might not last for long when every bone of their being wants to run.
Throw a ball or a toy and let them run free for a while before your family pet photoshoot and slow down their pace by a little to wane their excitement.
#5 Must-Have Items for the Family Pet Photoshoot
On the day of the family pet photoshoot, make sure your phone is well charged.
In addition, bring water, snacks, and water for your dog with their water bowl, your pet’s favourite treats and toys.
A family pet photo shoot is supposed to be light, fun, and airy. Do not stress yourself over getting the ‘perfect’ shot every time.
Sometimes, it’s alright to let loose, and you might get the most amazing and unexpected photographs captured in your natural state.
Perhaps the most challenging part of any photo shoot is actually choosing the final images. It’s a tough call.
And most importantly, do not stress too much and have fun along the way!
If you’re looking to get a family pet photo shoot, fill out the contact form and get in touch with us to get some great photos of your family and fur baby!