How to Prepare Your Dog for a Photoshoot (Behind the Scenes of Ours)

We still can't quite believe it: Nicole and Nora won a giveaway for a fine art photoshoot with The Ways of the Dog Fine Art Pet Portraits. We filmed the whole day, and we picked up a lot about how to prepare your dog for a photoshoot along the way. Here's the behind-the-scenes video, the finished portraits, and everything we'd tell a friend who's booking one.

Behind the scenes of Nicole and Nora's fine art photoshoot.

What a fine art pet photoshoot is actually like

If you picture a dog sitting nicely while someone clicks away, think again. Our shoot involved tiny hats, fresh flowers, lace collars, a steady supply of treats, and a lot of funny noises from behind the camera. Most of all, it took patience. Getting two miniature dachshunds to look in the same direction at the same moment is its own art form.

A huge part of it came down to Jen, the photographer behind The Ways of the Dog. She kept the girls focused just long enough, again and again, without ever rushing them. By the end, Nicole and Nora were completely worn out, and it was worth every second.

The finished portraits

The portraits are in, and we couldn't be happier with them. Swipe or use the arrows to see how the day turned out.

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Photos by Jen at The Ways of the Dog Fine Art Pet Portraits.

How to prepare your dog for a photoshoot

Take the edge off their energy

A walk before the session helps a dog settle. You want them relaxed, not exhausted, so skip the big hike and go for a normal walk and a sniff.

Pack the good treats

Treats do most of the work at a shoot. Bring small, soft pieces your dog really loves, more than you think you'll need, because you'll be rewarding every sit and every look. Some of our favorites are on our dachshund essentials list.

Practice with props at home

If your photographer uses hats, collars or flowers, don't let the shoot be the first time your dog sees them. A few short, happy practice sessions at home, with a treat each time the hat goes on, make a big difference on the day. And if your dog clearly hates something, leave it out. The photos won't look good if your dog is miserable in them.

Groom a day or two before

A bath the same morning can leave a dog stressed and fluffed up in odd places. Brush or bathe a day or two ahead, then just tidy up on the day.

Bring something that smells like home

A familiar blanket or toy helps a dog settle in a new place, and it's useful for breaks between setups.

During the shoot: watch your dog, not the camera

This is where knowing your dog's body language really pays off. Dogs will tell you when they've had enough, well before they give up. Look for lip licking, yawning when they aren't tired, turning their head away, or a sudden shake-off between shots. These are calming signals, and they mean it's time for a break.

New places, new people and props all add up, and a dog can go from fine to overwhelmed quickly. That's called trigger stacking. Short breaks with a drink, a sniff and a cuddle reset things far better than pushing for one more shot.

As for the funny noises, they work. A squeak or an odd sound gets the ears up and the eyes on the camera, and often gets you a head tilt too. Just don't use the same noise over and over, or it stops working.

Tips for photographing two dogs together

With two dogs, everything takes longer. A few things that help:

One person per dog. Each dog has someone holding treats and focusing on them, so neither one wanders off.

Solo shots first. Get each dog's portrait on their own, then try the together shots once they've settled into the space.

Lower your expectations for the duo shot. Two dogs looking at the camera at the same time is rare. Take lots of frames, and let the photographer pick the one where it happens.

After the shoot: let them rest

A photoshoot is hard mental work for a dog. They're focusing, following cues and handling new things the whole time. Expect a very sleepy dog afterwards and plan a quiet evening. Ours slept like logs.

How to choose a pet photographer

Look for someone with real experience photographing dogs, not just people. Their portfolio should show relaxed, natural-looking dogs. A good pet photographer is patient, builds in breaks, and is happy to change the plan if your dog isn't comfortable. If you'd like a fine art portrait like ours, have a look at The Ways of the Dog.