If you're anything like me, your phone is full of photos of your dog. Mine is full of Rosie and Pippa.
Sleeping in a funny position, looking cute on a walk, or doing absolutely nothing at all. And of course you have to take a photo, because they're just too adorable!
Before you know it, you've got hundreds, maybe even thousands.
So how many of those would you print and hang on your wall?
As a pet photographer in Canberra, I think about this a lot. We take more photos of our dogs than ever, and most of them never leave our phones.
Why we have so many dog photos but so few on the wall
Having a camera in our pocket means we can capture almost everything our dogs do, and I think that's wonderful. Those everyday photos remind us of the funny moments and the little adventures.
The trouble is finding them again. When you go looking for one to print, you scroll past 15 nearly identical shots, the screenshots and the holiday photos, and the one you wanted gets lost in there somewhere.
One of my clients, Annabelle, put it like this:
"I had plenty of photos of my dogs. With multiple friends being photographers, dog show and sport photos too but again none of it was the kind of thing that felt timeless while still showing my dogs as who they are."
What happens in a professional pet photography session with Ina J Photography
When I'm photographing Rosie and Pippa at home, I take plenty of casual photos too. Some days they sit, some days they do their own thing, and sometimes Rosie has her little tongue out, which I love.
During a session, I've got time to think about the light and the spot we're in, and to wait for the little expressions. Maybe it's the way their ears perk up when something catches their attention, or the cheeky look they give you when they know a treat is coming.
Sometimes I'll wait for a particular expression. Other times I'll get them playing, because that's when their personality comes through.
The favourite isn't always the one I expected
Something I've noticed over the years is that the photo a client loves most isn't always the one I would have picked.
Sometimes it's a portrait with their dog looking straight down the camera. Other times it's a sideways glance or a funny little expression.
At the ordering appointment, someone will point at a photo and tell me that's the face their dog makes when they want a treat, or that's exactly how their dog looks at them every morning. Those little details are what make a photo mean something to you.
Your favourite photos deserve to be seen
Think about how often you scroll back through your phone. Our favourites end up buried under screenshots, holiday photos and hundreds of everyday moments.
That's one of the reasons I love printing for my clients. Imagine walking into your living room and seeing your dog on the wall. No scrolling, no searching through folders. It's just there, every day.
One to two weeks after your session, we have your ordering appointment back at my studio in Jerrabomberra. We go through your photos together and pick your favourites. I use software that shows the artwork on your actual wall, at the right size, before you decide anything. You only buy what you love.
Keep taking the phone photos
Now, I'm certainly not suggesting you stop taking photos of your dog on your phone! Keep capturing the silly sleeping positions and the muddy paws. They're all worth remembering.
A professional dog photography session gives you a handful of photos you'll want on your wall for years, alongside all the ones on your phone. And sometimes one ends up back on the phone too. Danielle, who I photographed with her family and her dogs Teddy and Buddy, told me:
"I still have our family photo as my phone screen saver."
If you've been thinking about a dog photography session in Canberra, I'd love to hear about your dog. Let's have a chat.
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