Should We Include Our Dog in Our Family Photo Session?

You may be wondering if it is a good idea to bring your pet to your family photo session, or how your photographer might feel about it. As an animal lover myself (growing up I had a laundry list of pets: cats, dog, turtles, hamster, parakeet, and fish - don’t ask me how my mother did it!), I completely understand that your pet is a family member. Including your dog in your session tells your complete family story and allows your photos to more strongly reflect the connections within your family right now.

However, before you bring your pet along, there are a few things you might want to consider…

When including your pet in family photos, strive for connection over perfection.

Family photography in general has moved to a more “lifestyle” approach. Rather than family members stiffly forcing smiles and looking at the camera, lifestyle photographers like me aim to capture love and connection. Your pet can absolutely enhance the authenticity and emotion in your imagery, especially if you are looking for connection over perfection.

Your dog will bring an element of fun to your session, perhaps also a bit of the unexpected.

Even a perfectly trained pup won’t understand when asked to look over at his “siblings” or smile for the camera. I often explain that a pet fills the role of the youngest child or toddler at a family photo session. You can’t expect them to pose or do things on command, especially when they are in a new environment.

Instead of assuming they’ll sit perfectly beside your family, it’s best to let them become the center of your attention (for at least a portion of your session) and focus on capturing your family’s connection with them.

If you have a willful toddler or a child who could require extra coaxing during your session, bringing a pet may be the wild card you don’t need.

On the other hand, pets can add an element of fun and lighten the mood allowing your family to relax during your session. Often older children who feel self-conscious in front of the camera easily let go of airs when the focus turns to their beloved pet.

Consider having a back up plan for your pet.

Incorporating a pet into part of your session may be great, but there could come a time when you would like to focus solely on your children or human-only family members! When bringing a pet, discuss with your photographer which locations are best and would offer the most flexibility during your session.

Are there options to use a leash to contain your dog just out of view of the camera when needed? Could you bring along a friend or an extended family member to take your dog for a walk or sit with them in the car when you want to move the primary focus of the session to just your family? Does the location where you are meeting allow space to move away from other families who may have their dog out for a walk?

Before including your pet in your family photos consider the scenarios and your pet’s typical behavior when out in public spaces. Let’s work together to ensure your pet is safe and that they’ll be an asset to your family photos.