How to Prepare Your Dog for a Photoshoot: Tips from a Pet Photographer

athousandwordstexa

Sep 18, 2025

6 min read

Updated: Sep 3

In studio pet portrait in Sugar Land, TX

How to Prepare Your Dog for a Photoshoot: Stress-Free Tips

So you’ve decided to book a professional photoshoot for your pup — yay! But then the questions start rolling in: What if my dog won’t sit still? Do I need to groom them? Should I bring toys?

Take a deep breath, dog moms and dads. As a professional pet photographer in Sugar Land, I’ve seen it all — from camera-shy pups to high-energy wigglebutts. With a little prep, we’ll capture portraits you’ll treasure forever. Here’s how to get ready.

Grooming Before the Photoshoot

You don't need to turn your dog into a show dog before their dog photography session — I promise! A little preparation, though, can make a big difference in how polished their portraits look. The goal is simply to have your pup looking and feeling their best while still looking like themselves.

Bath & Brush

If your dog needs a bath, I recommend giving them one the day before their photography session, rather than right before. This gives their coat a little time to settle and helps avoid that freshly-bathed, extra-fluffy look that some dogs get immediately after a bath.

A clean coat photographs beautifully, especially when we're doing close-up pet portraits. Give them a good brushing afterward to remove loose fur, mats, and tangles. For long-haired dogs, pay special attention to areas around the face, ears, chest, and tail where little tangles can be especially noticeable in photographs.

That said, don't suddenly try a brand-new grooming routine right before your session. If your dog doesn't normally get bathed at home or has sensitive skin, it's better to stick with what you know works for them. We want them comfortable and happy — not wondering why you've suddenly decided to give them a spa day!

If your pup regularly sees a professional groomer, scheduling their normal grooming appointment a few days before their dog photoshoot can work beautifully.

Face & Eyes

Your dog's eyes are often the star of the show, so keeping their face clean can make a surprisingly big difference.

Before your session, gently wipe away any eye discharge or "eye boogers" and clean around the muzzle if needed. For dogs with longer facial hair, you may also want to have the hair around their eyes tidied up during their normal grooming appointment.

Clear, visible eyes help your dog's expressions really shine in photographs, and those little moments when they look directly at the camera are often some of my favorite images from a session.

Nails

A quick nail trim before your session is another little detail that's easy to overlook.

Keeping your dog's nails trimmed helps their paws look neat and polished in close-up photographs. It's also helpful if we're incorporating family and dog portraits, especially if your pup likes to put their paws on you or climb into your lap.

And, admittedly, trimmed nails are also appreciated by everyone involved — including me and my camera gear! 😂

If your dog gets anxious about nail trims, don't make this a battle the night before their photoshoot. It's much better to have slightly longer nails than to arrive at the session stressed out and unhappy.

The Goal: Clean, Comfortable & Still Themselves

The most important thing to remember is that your dog doesn't need to be perfect.

A little messy fur, a floppy ear, a gray muzzle, or even a tongue sticking out is part of what makes your dog your dog. I'm not trying to photograph a perfectly groomed model — I'm trying to capture the personality, expressions, and little quirks that you love so much.

So give them a good brush, clean up their face, trim their nails if they're comfortable with it, and then let them be themselves. I'll take care of the rest during your Houston-area dog photography session.

Gear & Accessories

Your dog's collar and leash are part of the portrait too, so it's worth giving them a little thought before your dog photography session. You don't necessarily need to buy anything new — often, the collar your dog wears every day is perfect. The goal is simply to choose something that complements your dog without stealing the attention from them.

Collars & Leashes

Neutral-colored collars in black, brown, tan, cream, or other simple tones tend to create a timeless look and work beautifully with almost any setting. They're especially nice if you're going for classic portraits that you'll want hanging on your walls for years.

But don't be afraid of color! If your dog has a personality that demands a little more fun, a bright or colorful collar can look fantastic in photographs. A red collar on a black dog, a colorful collar against green grass, or a favorite patterned collar can add a little personality to the image.

The one thing I generally recommend avoiding is anything extremely bulky or covered in a very busy pattern. Large buckles, oversized charms, neon prints, and complicated patterns can become distracting in close-up portraits.

And don't worry if your dog needs to wear their collar for safety — especially during an outdoor dog photography session. Safety comes first! Depending on the photograph, I can often edit out a collar or leash when appropriate, or we can choose moments where they aren't as noticeable.

Bandanas & Bows

If your dog is a fashion icon, by all means, let them have their moment.

Bandanas, bows, flowers, bow ties, and other small accessories can be a really fun way to incorporate your dog's personality into their portraits. They're particularly cute for seasonal sessions, holiday photographs, or if your dog has a signature accessory they wear all the time.

The key is to keep accessories intentional. One great accessory can add personality; five competing accessories can make the photograph feel busy.

Think about the overall look you're going for. A simple bandana can be adorable for an outdoor session, while a classic bow tie might be perfect for a more polished studio portrait.

And if your dog absolutely refuses to participate in the accessory portion of the program? That's okay too. We have plenty of other ways to show off their personality!

Keep the Leash Simple

For outdoor pet photography, I usually recommend bringing a thin, simple leash whenever possible.

A narrow leash or slip lead is much easier to minimize or remove during editing than a thick, bulky leash. This is particularly helpful when we're photographing your dog walking, sitting, or standing in a beautiful location and you want the final image to look as natural and uncluttered as possible.

Please don't feel like you need to remove your dog's leash during the session. Quite the opposite — I want your dog safely attached to you or a handler whenever we're outside. I can work around the leash while we're photographing, and in many cases it can be removed during editing.

If your dog normally wears a harness, that's completely fine too. Your dog's safety and comfort are much more important than getting a completely leash-free photograph.

Don't Forget: Bring Their Favorites!

If your dog has a favorite collar, bandana, bow, tag, or other accessory that feels like them, bring it along. We can always try a few different options during the session.

You can even bring a couple of choices if you're not sure what will photograph best. We'll look at the colors and overall style together and decide what works with your dog's coat, the location, and the type of dog portraits we're creating.

The most important thing is that your dog still looks — and feels — like themselves. After all, these photographs are about capturing your dog, not turning them into someone else's Pinterest board. 😉