5 Mistakes People Make When Preparing for Photos With Their Dog (And What to Do Instead)

Apr 21 2026 | By: Ina J Photography

If you’ve been thinking about booking a session with your dog, you’ve probably also caught yourself overthinking a few things.

Most of the time, it’s not big issues, it’s small decisions that feel unclear, so you either delay it or try to control everything upfront.

So here are the most common mistakes I see, and what actually helps instead.

Shih Tzu sitting on a dirt path beside purple wildflowers.

1. Doing a big walk right before the session to “tire them out”

This is probably the most common one.

People think their dog needs to be exhausted so they’ll sit still and behave better.

What usually happens is the opposite. The dog turns up overstimulated, panting heavily, tongue out the whole time, and not really able to focus.

What to do instead:
Yes, having them get out their energy before the session is good, do this by taking them for a longer walk earlier in the day and then maybe a shorter relaxing walk 30 min before the session. Let them have a bit of energy, but not so much that they’re bouncing off the walls or completely flat.

Also bring water and a towel if it’s a warm day as these small things can make a big difference during the session.

2. Bringing too many “special” treats they’ve never had before

I’ve had people show up with brand new, super exciting treats thinking it’ll help get their dog’s attention.

Sometimes it works… but a lot of the time, the dog is either too distracted by the new smell or ends up with an upset stomach halfway through.

What to do instead:
Bring treats your dog already knows and really loves. Something high value but reliable. Cut them into small pieces so you’re not overfeeding during the session.

If your dog is toy-driven, bring their favourite toy too but not five different ones. One or two is enough. And if they are very obsessed with the toy or ball, do let me know as sometimes they can get too obsessed that they can’t focus on anything but the toy, so we would then leave this towards the end if we really need to bring it out.

Fluffy white dog sitting on a forest path surrounded by greenery.
Two small dogs standing on grass in a wooded area, with sunlight filtering through the trees.
Happy brown and black dog with a collar sitting in a garden with pink flowers and greenery.

3. Choosing outfits that look good but feel uncomfortable

This usually shows up in small ways. Clothes that need adjusting, shoes that are hard to move in, or something that doesn’t quite feel like you.

You can see it in photos when someone isn’t comfortable because they move differently and they’re not fully relaxed. 

What to do instead:
Pick something you’ve worn before and feel good in. Neutral and solid colours work well because they don’t compete with your dog, but more importantly, you want to be able to sit, walk, and move without thinking about it.

If you’re unsure, lay your outfit next to your dog. That alone helps you see if it works. One key thing to remember is, if you have a black dog (or a very dark coat dog), please do not wear black. They’ll blend in and disappear in the photos and we don’t want that as your dog needs to be the star of the photos.

4. Practising “posing” your dog beforehand

Some people try to rehearse poses at home like getting their dog to sit a certain way, look a certain direction, hold still for longer.

It sounds helpful, but during the session, it usually makes both the dog and owner more tense.

What to do instead:
Focus on basic things your dog already knows like sit, stay (even briefly), and recall. That’s enough.

Everything else is guided during the session and all led by your dog. The goal isn’t to recreate a pose, it’s to capture how your dog naturally moves and interacts. We’re not going to force your dog into certain poses if they’re not comfortable in doing so.

Fluffy brown puppy sitting on a brick wall with flowers and greenery in the background.
Dachshund with a checkered bandana sitting in a field of flowers.

5. Not thinking about how you actually want to enjoy the photos

Most people go into a session thinking, “I just want some nice photos.”

But they haven’t thought about where those photos will end up or how they will actually enjoy it.

That’s usually why images stay on a phone or hard drive. This is the reason why I focus on creating tangible artworks for my clients whether that’s a hero wall art on their wall or a beautiful album to display on their coffee table. 

What to do instead:
Before your session, think about where you’d love to see your dog every day.

Is it a spot on your wall? A frame on your desk? An album you can flip through?

You don’t need to decide everything upfront, but having an idea changes how you approach the session and what you prioritise in your images. This also helps me plan to shoot for those artwork.

A quick one that comes up a lot

A lot of people also assume they won’t be in many photos because the session is “for their dog”. Or they say that “oh I don’t want to be in the photos” or “I don’t like being in photos”. 

But more often than not, those end up being the images they keep. Because a lot of the times, if you’re like me, we have so much more photos of our dogs on our phones and have barely any (or even none) of you with your dog.

You don’t need to plan for it or overthink it. Just be open to stepping in when it feels right. I like to capture more candid moments and really capture the bond and connection you have with your dog.

Six dogs sitting on a path surrounded by trees and red flowers, with one dog wearing a blue cap.

Keeping it simple

Most of the stress around preparing for a session comes from trying to do too much.

You don’t need to exhaust your dog.
You don’t need brand new gear or outfits.
You don’t need to rehearse anything perfectly.

You just need a few simple things done well.

If you’ve been on the fence

If you’ve been waiting until everything feels “ready”, this is usually the part where I’d say, why wait, Yesterday is probably the day you should have booked in.

If you want, you can reach out and I can walk you through what it would look like for you and your dog. There’s no pressure, just a casual chat so i can get to know more about your dog and your vision for your session.

BOOK IN FOR A CONSULTATION

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