Capturing Authenticity: A Professional Work Photo with Three Beloved Canine Companions

When Stephanie reached out to book a photo session that she described as a headshot with her 3 dogs, I was intrigued! Turns out she was starting a new job with a large, corporate pet company, and LinkedIn photos of her peers featured their beloved pets.

She has 3 large dogs and a fun, charismatic personality that she wanted to ensure came through in the photo. No stiff, posed photos! I knew we needed to strike a balance between fun and professional - all while fitting 3 dogs and human into the photo. In the end we were incredibly successful. A perfect image that she absolutely adores.

Here’s a little bit about how we got there.

Meeting the Client and Her Canine Crew: Before the session, we spoke on the phone atleast twice to talk through the plan for wrangling 3 large dogs as well as making sure she was comfortable and looking her best. We had her husband coming to do the dog handling and my assistant to be looking out for any hair/makeup tweaks that might be needed. When she arrived, it was a lot of energy and large dogs! But we gave everyone time to settle in before trying to wrangle in front of the camera.

Exploring a Variety of Poses: I shoot tethered, which means as I shoot, you can see the images on my laptop screen. We kept the session fluid by piling everyone in, taking a few shots, quickly looking at them on the screen and making adjustments as needed. After a few rounds, Stephanie realized she didn’t like the vest she was wearing and preferred solid black top and pants. Once she made that change she suddenly liked the way she looked in the photos. We felt like we were pretty close to nailing the shot, so I pushed us to try just one more pose - and that was the magic shot. There was excitement in the room as we knew it had it all. Stephanie loved the way she looked, all 3 dogs were relaxed and looking at the camera - and everyone was in the frame!

The experience of capturing a work photo with three dogs was a testament to the power of authenticity and a relaxed atmosphere. By embracing spontaneity and creating a fun-filled environment, we were able to produce a portrait that exceeded Stephanie’s expectations. This session reminded me of the unique charm and boundless love that pets bring to our lives and emphasized the importance of capturing those moments in a way that is genuine and full of personality.