They Don't Have to Be Perfect.
By the time Portrait Day arrives, we've already gotten to know your pet and planned the details around them. We know where we're photographing, what we're hoping to create and the things that will help your pet feel comfortable.
Then it's time to let them be who they are.
Joan and Randy bring decades of experience working with dogs in front of and behind the camera. We read body language, work at your dog's pace and know when to ask for something, when to change direction and when the best photograph is about to happen all on its own.
We Follow Their Lead.
Some dogs walk in ready to make friends with everyone. Some need a little time to decide what they think of us. Some would happily work for treats all afternoon. Others have their own ideas entirely.
That's okay.
We adjust the pace, the expectations and sometimes even the plan to the dog in front of us. There is no rush to “get the shot.” Giving your pet the time and space they need is often exactly what allows the photographs to happen.
Their Well-Being Comes First.
A beautiful photograph is never more important than your pet's comfort or safety.
We pay attention to body language throughout the session and adjust when your pet tells us they need something different. That might mean a break, a change of position, a little more distance or simply a few minutes to sniff around and take everything in.
Portrait Day isn't a test your dog has to pass. It's an experience we create around them.
Safety Doesn't Have to Show.
Your dog does not need to be trusted off leash for us to create beautiful outdoor portraits.
Dogs remain safely leashed whenever the location or situation calls for it. We photograph with the finished image in mind and can remove the leash during the artwork process when appropriate.
You never have to choose between the photograph you want and keeping your dog safe.
Because You're Part of Their Story.
Some of the most meaningful photographs aren't of your pet alone. They're the way your dog looks at you. The hand that reaches down without thinking. The familiar lean against your leg. The connection the two of you have built over years together.
If you'd like to be photographed with your pet, we'll guide you just as carefully. You don't need to know how to pose or what to do in front of the camera. We'll take care of that, too.
Relax. We'll Take It From Here.
We'll guide you throughout the session, but we leave room for the unexpected, too. Sometimes the photograph we planned is exactly the one we create. Sometimes your dog gives us something entirely better.
There may be treats. There may be strange noises. There may be ridiculous things happening just outside the frame to get one perfect expression.
Your job isn't to manage the session or make your dog perform.
Your job is simply to enjoy them.
It Starts With a Conversation.
Tell us about your pet, what makes them unmistakably themselves and what you're dreaming of creating. We'll take it from there.
Schedule a Creative Consultation