Children and Pet Photography Tips

Our studio is geared towards animal photography, however many times clients wish to include themselves or their children in their pet's portrait. We welcome this!

Children are individualists and the greatest photographs allow this to shine through. Besides the obvious tips such as scheduling your appointment during your child's best time of the day, not bringing your child when she's sick, hungry or tired, here are a few tips:

1) For younger children, bring items that will help make your child feel comfortable in a new and exciting place. Favorite stuffed toys or a favorite blanket for example. These may also be included in the photograph.

2) Bring snacks and juice drinks if needed. (Try to stay away from sugar loaded foods for obvious reasons)

3) Please no cells phones, ipods or video games in the studio unless you would like these included in the portrait.

4) Your clothing choice depends on your personal tastes and your child's personality. Choose a color that works well with your chosen background. Stay away from prints and stripes. These distract from the model.

5) Keep things easy and casual. The greatest photos come from the heart and this means letting your child be himself!

6) Be prepared to spend some extra time letting your child get to know me and to become comfortable in the studio. Just being with their pet will offer a sense of security in a strange place.

7) The best advise for teenagers is to "let them do their thing"....within reason. Allow them some control over their sitting by using their choice of clothing, props or backgrounds for the last half of the shoot, with your choice for the first half.

8) Sometimes breaks with be needed. As you well know, children's moods can change rapidly.

9) Should you allow your child to bring a friend? Generally not. The more people in the studio the more distracted your child will be.

10) Keep it fun!