How to Prepare Your Dog for a Professional Photoshoot
You booked the session. You're excited. And then it hits you — what if my dog doesn't cooperate? What if they won't sit still, ignore the camera, or go completely wild? These are the most common worries I hear from dog owners before their first professional photoshoot. The good news? A little preparation goes a very long way. Here are six things you can do before the session to set your dog up for success.
1. Exercise Your Dog Before the Session
This is the single biggest thing you can do. Take your dog for a solid 45 to 60 minute walk or run before you arrive. If your dog normally goes for a quick 15-minute walk, push it further. Play fetch. Do a long trail walk. Get them physically tired before the session begins.
A tired dog is a focused dog. When your dog has burned off their zoomies and excess energy, they settle into a calmer state — which makes them far more responsive to treats, to your voice, and to the camera. Overstimulated dogs bounce off everything. Exercised dogs work with you. This one habit alone transforms the quality of every session I do.
2. Skip a Meal Before the Session
Don't feed your dog a full meal right before your photoshoot. A slightly hungry dog is a motivated dog. Treats become incredibly powerful when your dog is working up an appetite. We use high-value rewards during sessions — think small pieces of chicken, freeze-dried beef liver, or cheese — and they work best when your dog is genuinely interested in earning them.
Timing matters too. If your session is in the morning, skip the morning meal and bring treats. If it's an afternoon session, give a small breakfast but no lunch. You're not starving them — you're just making sure that treat in your hand is the most interesting thing in the world to them.
3. Bring Their Favorite Toys and Treats
Every dog has something that makes them light up — a squeaky toy, a worn tennis ball, a specific treat they go crazy for. Bring it. These familiar items do two things: they create comfort in an unfamiliar situation, and they give us tools to get incredible expressions.
A squeaky toy held just above the camera lens will get those perfectly perked ears and bright, attentive eyes. A smelly treat held near my face gets direct eye contact and a beautiful focus. I'll guide you on how to use them during the session, but having them available gives us so many more options to work with.
4. Groom Your Dog the Day Before
Groom your dog the day before the session — not the morning of. Here's why: freshly bathed dogs are often puffy and overly fluffy for a few hours. By the next morning, their coat has settled into its natural, most photogenic state. Brush them out, trim any scraggly face fur, clean their ears, and clip their nails if they're overdue.
You don't need your dog to look artificial or overly groomed. We want them to look like themselves — just their best self. A clean coat catches light beautifully. Matted or dirty fur flattens in photos. A little grooming prep makes a real difference in the final images.
5. Arrive Calm and Relaxed
Your dog is a master at reading your emotional state. If you arrive stressed, rushed, or anxious, your dog picks up on it immediately. They don't know what the camera is — but they feel your nervousness, and it makes them nervous too.
Try to arrive 10 minutes early. Let your dog sniff around the location, get comfortable with the environment, and greet me without any rush. Take some deep breaths yourself. The more relaxed and casual you are, the more your dog will feel like this is just another fun outing — which is exactly what we want.
6. Trust the Process — Don't Force Poses
The biggest mistake owners make during a session is trying too hard to make their dog pose perfectly. They push their dog into a sit, hold their head in place, and then get frustrated when the dog looks away or tries to move. Forced photos look forced. They're obvious in the final image.
The best professional dog photography captures real moments — the authentic head tilt, the mid-play sprint, the quiet gaze into the distance, the undeniable personality of your dog being completely themselves. My job is to anticipate and capture these moments. Your job is to let your dog be a dog and trust that the magic will happen. It always does.
Key Learning
“The single most impactful thing you can do is exercise your dog for 45–60 minutes before arriving. A physically tired dog is a focused, cooperative dog. This one tip alone transforms the quality of every session.”
Ready to Book Your Professional Dog Photos?
Now that you know how to prepare, let's make it happen. Sessions fill up fast on the South Shore — reach out today to pick your date, discuss your dog's personality, and start planning the perfect session together.
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“It was so fun and easy to work with Chris, and our dogs loved him, too! The photos and artwork are beautiful! Highly recommend booking a session.”
Related: For the full session overview — studio, outdoor, what to expect — see the Dog Portrait Photography overview.
About the Author
Chris McCarthyProfessional Dog Photographer · Rockland, MA · 11+ years experience
I've photographed hundreds of dogs across the South Shore and Greater Boston since 2014 — every breed, size, age, and temperament. My own rescue, Sully, was reactive and anxious when I got him, and working with him every day taught me how to photograph dogs that other photographers find difficult. I specialize in reactive and shy dogs, seniors, and memory sessions — the sessions that matter most and need the most patience.