Preparing For The Shoot

Here are a few things you should consider in preparation for the shoot.

    1) Location:  We recommend the shoot takes place at your home.  This is where your pet will be most comfortable and behave naturally.  It is also the best place for a dog to be off-leash.  We make every effort during our "getting to know you time" to allow your pet to relax and go about its natural behaviors.  As too much excitement or anxiety can work against the desired shots, we discourage holding the shoot at a dog park.  Besides, other dogs may end up in your photos - we want YOUR pet to be the star of the show!

    2)  Pet Appearance:  You might be surprised we mention this, but sometimes the simple things are overlooked in our busy lives.  Please make sure your pet has his best coat on for the big shoot!   If your pet has long fur or a higher maintenance coat, consider bathing/grooming the day before the shoot to allow for all the "strays" (no pun intended) to relax beforehand. Many pets have large tags on their collars; you may consider taking them off the collar before the shoot (unless you don't mind seeing them in the shot, or we are holding the shoot in a public place).

    3)  Location Appearance:  The "set" is your home/yard.  Though your pet will be the focus of all our images, everything in the background may be visible too, so please understand that anything you don't want photographed should be taken "off set".

    4)  Special Requests:  Our packages are called "Safaris" because we photograph pets as though they were big game on the savannah.  We try to avoid poses and props whenever possible; however, if you have a particular "scene" in mind, or your pet already does something in particular you would like us to photograph, we will make every effort to capture it.  We do not bring backdrops or elaborate lighting equipment to the shoot, but we will bring some simple photography lighting to assist with indoor environments.

    5)  Time:  We do our best to schedule appointments far enough apart to accommodate for extra time requests. We would not want to cut into someone else's Safari; therefore, if extra time is requested but our schedule is full, we will schedule a follow-up visit.  We fully expect to capture fantastic images you will love in the time allotted for your chosen package.

    6)  Pet Behavior:  This is an important aspect of the shoot.  Understanding your pet’s natural behavior and personality is key to a smooth-running session. Muffin normally runs under the bed whenever strangers come over and doesn’t come out.  Muffin may not be the best model.  We are not professional animal trainers and we won’t force your pet to participate if he or she is unwilling.  Please be ready to provide appropriate direction to your pet during the shoot to keep things running smoothly.

We look forward to meeting your pet soon!  (You, too, of course!)