I LOVE dogs!  My dog Summer is my shadow and best friend.  A lot of the couples I work with have dogs, and love dogs, too.  So, it’s no surprise that a lot of them want to incorporate their furry friends into their engagement session!  Sometimes people ask me if this is allowed, or how this would work.  Well, today I’m going to make it clear and simple so you never have to wonder again!

Can you bring your dog to your engagement session? The answer is yes!  Here’s what I recommend, and what you can expect if you bring your furry friend along to your engagement session.

• We will start with the dog.  It can be a little more hectic to start your session off with a dog, especially if your dog is high-energy or not very obedient.  But, I’ve found that it’s better to get these photos out of the way first.  Most sessions, we ease into shooting, but sessions with dogs, you are kind of thrown into it!  🙂  It’s nothing to be scared about, but things will be a little more fast-paced at first.
• Bring along a third person to take the dog away when we are done shooting.  We will only shoot with the dog for around 10 minutes.  Afterwards, we’ll continue with your session without the dog.  So, make sure you have someone who can properly care for the pup when we are done.

• Bring treats.  If I’m holding a treat, or the third person you brought along is holding a treat next to the camera, your pup might be more inclined to look at the camera.  Resist the temptation to hold the treats yourself, because the dog will only pay attention to you.
• It’s ok if your dog isn’t perfectly behaved!  My dog Summer has been through a lot of training.  But, she is no where near perfectly behaved.  She seems to mess up the most when we have an audience.  Kind of like human children do. 🙂  Try not to stress out if your dog isn’t perfectly behaved.   I am not expecting that.  If we can’t capture a picture of everyone looking at the camera, some candids of you loving on your pet will be just as sweet.

If your dog is a big part of your relationship, I hope you feel encouraged to include your furry friend in your session!  We definitely would have if Summer was around when we were engaged!  🙂