How to prepare your dog for a photoshoot

Twelve simple things you can do before your session so your dog walks in relaxed, walks out happy, and the camera catches the personality you actually live with.

A studio photoshoot sits somewhere between a trip to the park and a visit to a very generous friend: new smells, friendly people, and an unusual number of treats. Most dogs walk in curious and leave delighted. A little preparation still goes a long way, though: it's the difference between a dog who settles in five minutes and one who spends half the session deciding whether the backdrop is trustworthy.

Here are the twelve tips we share with every owner who books one of our studio dog photography sessions in Melbourne's west.

The week before

1. Groom a few days early, not the morning of

A freshly clipped coat needs a couple of days to soften and settle, and a morning-of bath can leave some dogs damp, frizzy or slightly out of sorts by the time they arrive. If your dog is due for the groomer, book them in two to four days before the session. The night before, a good brush is all that's needed: it lifts loose fur and leaves the coat sitting naturally.

2. Practise the basics, gently

Your dog doesn't need to be obedience-school material (we photograph plenty of free spirits) but a dog who can hold a sit for a few seconds gives us more options for posed portraits. In the week before, run a couple of one-minute refreshers a day on sit and stay, rewarded generously. Keep it playful. Don't drill it; a dog who thinks sitting is a fun game photographs far better than one who thinks it's homework.

3. Wash whatever they'll be wearing

If you want a particular bandana, collar or jumper in the photos, give it a wash early in the week so it's clean, dry and smells familiar again before the big day. High-resolution portraits are unforgiving of last month's mud.

The day of the shoot

4. Take a decent walk first

The aim is to take the edge off the zoomies, not to exhaust anyone. A solid walk an hour or two before the session leaves most dogs alert but settled, perfect for photos. Skip the two-hour dog-beach marathon; a wiped-out dog gives you droopy eyes and not much else.

5. Keep the meal light

A big breakfast plus car ride plus excitement is a risky combination for some stomachs. A lighter meal than usual before the session keeps everyone comfortable.

6. Bring their appetite

Treats are our main tool for ears-up, eyes-bright expressions, so a dog who's a little bit hungry is a dog who's very interested in the camera. Slightly peckish is the sweet spot.

What to bring

The studio provides backdrops, lighting and props, so your packing list is short:

• 7. Their favourite treats. The high-value stuff they'd sell you out for: small, soft and easy to eat quickly works best.
• 8. One toy that always gets their attention. A reliable squeaker or a beloved ratty tennis ball earns head tilts on demand.
• 9. Any personal props or outfits. Special collars, bandanas, birthday hats, a jersey from your team, anything that makes the photos feel like your dog.
• 10. A towel, if you have a drooly breed. Between-take chin wipes keep jowls gallery-ready.

At the studio

11. Arrive a few minutes early to sniff and settle

The first thing every dog wants to do in a new space is read the room, with their nose. Arriving a few minutes ahead of time gives your dog a chance to explore the studio, meet us properly and decide it's a good place to be before the camera comes out.

12. Let us do the wrangling

Once things start, your main job is to relax. We handle the posing, the squeaking and the treat delivery. Years of practice have made us fluent in head tilt. And if your dog needs a breather, a drink or a sniff-break partway through, that's completely normal. Sessions run at your dog's pace, never ours.

Nervous, senior or reactive dogs

If your dog finds new places or other animals hard work, a studio session is often easier than you'd expect. Ours is a quiet home studio in Deanside, with no other animals around and no walk-in traffic, just your dog, you and two patient humans. Shy and nervous dogs get all the settling time they need, and senior dogs can take things slow and comfortable. Tell us about your dog's quirks when you book and we'll shape the session around them.

After the shoot

Once the session wraps, we get to work editing. Your high-resolution digital images are delivered through a private online gallery within 10-14 business days. From there you pick your favourites (the number included depends on your package) and if you genuinely can't narrow them down (it happens a lot), extra images can be purchased at the current per-image rate. Full package details are on our pricing page.

One more thing: if the dog you're preparing is still growing into their paws, timing matters more than you'd think. Our puppy photography sessions cover every stage, and our guide to the best age to photograph your puppy will help you pick the right window.