During Your Dog Portrait Experience

A brown dog with a muscular build and white paws standing on a green background, looking over its shoulder.

The kind of artwork that becomes part of your home and your story is created during the session itself.

It’s about capturing your dog’s spirit that truly reflects who they are, with patience, dog whispering, and a lot of treats.

The session is thoughtfully guided from arrival to finish, creating a calm, focused experience where your dog can settle in and be themselves. Here’s what you can expect during your time in the studio.

During Your Session

  • Studio Arrival

    Arrive 5 minutes before your session so your dog has time to take a potty break, sniff around outside, and take a stroll around the block. A calm arrival helps your dog feel grounded before we begin.

    The studio is located inside the Holland Arts Building West in Northeast Minneapolis. The building is secure, so when you arrive, text me and I’ll come let you in. Residential street parking is available nearby.

    Before we start, we’ll let your dog explore the space off leash to sniff and get used to the studio.

    This transition period makes a noticeable difference in how relaxed dogs feel on set.

  • Dog-Friendly Photo Studio

    My photo studio is more than just a photography space—it’s a safe, comfortable, and stress-free environment where your dog can truly shine.

    Key Features of the Studio:

    - Durable, industrial design

    - Calm, cozy space that puts dogs at ease

    - Dog-safe materials and easy-to-clean surfaces

    - Large water bowl, filled with filtered water

    - Colorful paper sweep backdrops to compliment a dog’s coat

    - Professional-level sandbags securing all photo equipment for safety

    - Grass turf available for dogs who prefer a more natural surface

  • Documentary-Style Portraits

    I lead every session with a documentary-inspired approach. That means I’m not rushing your dog into poses or forcing moments to happen.

    Instead, I approach each dog differently:

    - Observe how your dog moves, reacts, and engages

    - Adjust my approach based on their energy and interest

    - Use patience and timing to capture expressions that feel real

  • A Collaborative, Dog-Led Approach

    You know your dog better than anyone. I’ll check in with you as we go, but you don’t need to direct or manage anything.

    My role is to guide the session, adapt in real time, and find the techniques that resonate with your dog — whether that’s play, stillness, curiosity, or quiet connection.

    The goal is never perfection, it’s autheticity.
    The goal is recognition — images that feel unmistakably like your dog.

  • Happy Dog Guarantee (In Practice)

    If at any point your dog feels overwhelmed, stressed, or simply not into it, we slow down, shift gears, or stop.

    Sessions succeed when dogs feel safe and respected — and I never push past that.

Session Timeline

  • The first 10-15 minutes are spent letting your dog get acclimated to the studio. Each dog is different and letting them determine when they’ve fully sniffed out the studio is the first key to a successful, stress-free photo session.

    I’ll use this time to learn more about your dog from you while I get down on their level so they can get to know me too.

  • Then we move into the studio and begin capturing your pup on the first background color.

    I start but letting your dog get used to flashing lights, smooth paper, and a scary-looking camera slowly and with plenty of treats bribes.

    We’ll spend more time on the first color because it includes a warm-up period. Once your dog finds their stride, it’s smooth sailing.

    We’ll move through a few different “poses” while letting your dog lead the process.

  • You’ll step out of the studio with your dog while I change out backgrounds. You can explore the building for more new smells or step outside for a quick potty break.

    I ask clients to step out because rolling up the backgrounds can get noisy and my goal is to never stress dogs if it can be avoided.

  • We’ll pick up where we left off on your second background color choice. I’ll capture similar moments on this color.

    Since your pup is a seasoned pro at this point, we can capture many of those images quickly.

    It’s common for many dogs to tire around the 45-50 minute mark. Your dog will likely let us know when they’re ready to call it a wrap by laying down or just walking off set and laying by the studio door!

  • We’ll wrap up your session by making sure everything you brought with you makes it back in your bags.

    I’ll also show you wall art, print, and album options so you can start envisioning how you might like to display your pup’s portraits.

Two dogs lying on green grass against a blue sky, one brown and black with floppy ears, and the other yellow with a broad face.

“She captured our two dogs perfectly and gave us photos we will always treasure. Can’t recommend her enough!”

— Evie and Stanley’s mom, Isle

Next Up:

Close-up of a black and white dog with one ear up, wearing a colorful collar, against a plain background.

Before the Session

The session itself is relaxed and dog-led, allowing your dog’s personality to naturally come through in a calm, distraction-free space.

Before the session →
Close-up of a Doberman dog with a black collar, looking to the left, against a green background.

After the Session

After the session, everything is handled with care—from selecting the strongest images to guiding you through artwork options.

After the session →

Your Questions, Answered

  • I’ve found it’s best to have your dog be able to sit and wait (or stay) before their session. It’s important for them to be able to sit on the backdrop by themselves without running after you!

    Many dog parents are pleasantly surprised at how quickly I’m able to capture a split-second sit and stay. Just practice up beforehand and your dog should do just fine!

  • Sh!t happens.

    Before your session, make sure your dog uses the facilities outside to start the session with an empty bladder. There’s time for another potty break halfway through the session.

    If your dog does have an accident, I’ll clean up the mess while you take them outside. The session will resume after but cannot guarantee adding additional time to the end of the session.

  • Two weeks after your session, you’ll get an email with a gallery of your edited images to swoon over. Can’t narrow it down? No worries—you can purchase extra images for $35 each or go all in and order the whole gallery.

    These photos aren’t meant to live in your phone’s camera roll—they’re meant to be shown off! You can order prints, wall art, or even custom apparel straight from your gallery.

  • I’m happy to reschedule when given as much notice as possible. Rare circumstances will allow for full refunds.

    Check out the Cancellation Policy for all details.

    You can always contact The Dog Photog if you have specific questions or circumstances.