Why You Should Include Your Dog in Family Photos

Reasons you should include your dog in your next family photo!

As a Family Photographer, one of the biggest questions that I get asked all the time is when it comes to family photos is, “can I bring my dog to the session?” My answer is always a resounding YES!! I don’t have a dog myself (not yet at least!) but if I did, I know that they’d be a part of the family. And we’d want to include them in our family photos.

Family photography is for the whole family, after all, and that includes your dog (or any pet for that matter)! In my opinion, your pet is as much a part of the family as you are. They are ALWAYS welcome to take part in my family sessions. Pets are family members that you love and make memories with so why not include them in your photos?

Also, children forge bonds with their pets that will last a lifetime. Documenting these relationships for me and for the family is absolutely priceless. Capturing best friends in an image that you will treasure for many years to come.

Dogs have a way of bringing lighthearted energy to photoshoots. And this tends to work out in your favor if you are nervous. Bringing your pet along for the fun can change the whole mood and turn nervous energy into relief and relaxation. It’s a great reminder that lifestyle sessions are about capturing the joy of the moment, not about capturing perfection.

Dogs have their own agendas and can be easily distracted, so don’t stress about it too much if they lose interest. They’re truly just like kids – your photos will be more genuine and fun when you’re acting normal with them!! I promise that it’s totally worth it to have them in your photos and you’re going to love the end result!!

If you would like to book a family session and include your dog, head on over to my contact page.

Check out this recent session with the family dog, Pip!