What to Expect From Your First Pet Photography Session

A lot of people who reach out to me mention that this is their first time booking a professional photo session. That always makes me a little sad to hear, because I think people often assume that professional photos are reserved for families with children or major milestones. But you and your pet are a family, and families deserve pictures.

If you've been curious about booking but aren't sure what the process looks like, this is for you. Here's exactly what to expect from start to finish.

Step One: The Inquiry

Everything starts on my website. Once you submit an inquiry, you'll hear from me with two options: answer a short questionnaire at your own pace, or hop on a phone call with me. Either works, and both accomplish the same thing. I want to learn about you, your pet, what you're hoping to capture, and what kind of artwork you're thinking about for your home.

If you go the questionnaire route, I'll follow up with a short video walking you through the process and next steps, along with my full pricing guide. If you prefer a call, I'll send the pricing guide ahead of time so we can talk through everything together. Starting prices are also listed on my website so you're never going in blind.

Step Two: Booking

Once we've connected and you're ready to move forward, I'll present options for locations and dates. When we land on something that works, I'll send over my contract and reservation fee to lock it in. At that point, you're officially on the calendar.

Step Three: Pre-Session Prep

A couple of weeks before your session, we'll have a quick call to confirm any details and make sure everything is set. I'll also send over a prep guide specific to your session type, whether that's studio or outdoor, so you know exactly what to expect and how to get your pet ready.

Step Four: The Session

I set aside an hour and a half for sessions, but how long we actually shoot depends entirely on your pet. Some dogs are ready to wrap up after 45 minutes and that's completely fine. Others go the full time. We move at whatever pace works best for them.

One thing I want every client to know going in: your pet does not need to be perfectly behaved for us to get great photos. I hear a lot of "I'm sorry, they're not listening" during sessions, and I always want to reassure people that we are getting the shots. We're not here to capture a perfectly posed, statue-still animal. We're here to capture who your pet actually is and the relationship the two of you share.

For posing, I'll help guide you into setups, but once we're there I encourage you to forget the camera and just love on your pet. The most genuine smiles and the most touching images almost always come from those unscripted moments.

Step Five: The Image Reveal and Design Appointment

Within a week of your session, we'll sit down together for your image reveal and design appointment. This can happen in your home or over Zoom, whichever works best for you. You'll see previews from your session, and together we'll decide what artwork you want and choose the images that will go into those designs.

Step Six: Approval and Order

Within two weeks of your design appointment, you'll receive your digital images and product mockups for review and approval. Once you give the green light, I'll place the orders with my vendors. Depending on the products, printing and shipping typically takes between three and six weeks.

Step Seven: Delivery

I ship products to myself first so I can review everything before it gets to you. From there, I hand deliver. You do have the option to have items shipped directly to you if you prefer, but I love being able to see the reaction when everything comes together.

The Thing I Want You to Remember

If you've been sitting on the idea of a session because you weren't sure the process would be worth it, or because you didn't think you qualified for professional photos without kids or a big occasion, I want to change your mind. Every day you spend with your pet is worth documenting. The process is designed to be easy, personal, and genuinely fun. And the artwork at the end is something you'll have long after everything else fades.

Start here and reach out.