What to Expect
Knowledge is fun
Welcome
Thank you for considering Shagly pet photography to capture beautiful images of your pet.
The photo sessions are modeled after a fun relaxing day of playing with your pet.
While we are doing all of their favorite things and in a beautiful location there are a few things that YOU can do to make sure the session goes wonderfully!
In this guide you will hopefully find all kinds of useful information, if you have any questions please ask.
I look forward to meeting you!
Prepare for your Session
You know your pet better than anyone so here are a few simple things you can do to help both you and your dog prepare.
Practice Tricks and Commands
Give your pet a refresher in any commands or tricks they may know.
It is not required that they know any at all, but it can be a big help if
they know the basic Sit, Stay and Down commands.
Any other commands are amazing, but it's smart to give them a few
practice runs before the session so that it is fresh in their heads.
Exercise your Pet
Almost all breeds could use a walk before the session. Some
breeds like border collies should get a big jog before the session.
We don't want panting or dragging tongues, but if we can burn
off the bouncing off the walls energy then it will help everything
go much smoother.
Ready Yourself for the Session
All animals are instinctively intuitive to our emotions and general state of being.
With that, I go into every session with an upbeat calm patience.
If you ever feel that your dog is misbehaving or just not doing what you want,
just have faith that I will guide the session to a successful conclusion and we will have a great time.
You know your pet better than anyone so here are a few simple things you can do to help both you and your dog prepare.
Practice Tricks and Commands
Give your pet a refresher in any commands or tricks they may know.
It is not required that they know any at all, but it can be a big help if
they know the basic Sit, Stay and Down commands.
Any other commands are amazing, but it's smart to give them a few
practice runs before the session so that it is fresh in their heads.
Exercise your Pet
Almost all breeds could use a walk before the session. Some
breeds like border collies should get a big jog before the session.
We don't want panting or dragging tongues, but if we can burn
off the bouncing off the walls energy then it will help everything
go much smoother.
Ready Yourself for the Session
All animals are instinctively intuitive to our emotions and
general state of being. With that, I go into every session
with a upbeat calm patience. If you ever feel that your dog is misbehaving
or just not doing what you want. Just have faith that I will guide
the session to a successful conclusion and we will have a great time.
Get Them Groomed
A bath and a brushing a day before the session can do
wonders for your pet’s coat. You’ll want to give them
a good brushing right before the session to cut down on
shedding and it really makes them shine!
A good nail trim a few days before the session is
smart as long nails tend to be very noticeable in photos.
If your breed requires professional grooming. I would
suggest you get it down a few days before the session as
it gives the hair a chance to settle into that perfect coat
Small Changes Big Rewards
Keep an eye on your pets eyes to make sure they are
clean of buggies and debris.
If your breed is prone to tear staining ask your
groomer to freshen the area up. Make sure you give them
a good wipe before the session.
If your pet is prone to shedding or dandruff the bath
will help with this, but it’s smart to give them a good
brushing before the session. The furminator is great for
this and I usually have a brush in my bag at the session.
Leashes and Collars
Collars are often a very personal accessory to any pet. I
see all kinds of fun and beautiful collars that really add
to the photos. The collar will be in almost every photo, so give
it a good cleaning before the session.
Tags can be both beautiful and distracting. If you have a fun cool tag
I would limit it to just that single tag. If you have a big clump of old tags
it can be helpful to just remove the distracting ones for the session.
I have most dogs on leash 85% of the sessions, in which the leash is edited out
after the session. I have a 50ft leash for those times when you have a runner,
but we still want those fun running and playing photos. For the more posed photos,
I will minimize the leashes presence to make it smoother to remove later.
Also consider getting a leash and collar combo that match your outfits for the session this can be a great way to bring it all together. If you do, I would suggest 4ft leashes as they are easier to manage during the session.
Get Them Groomed
A bath and a brushing a day before the session can do
wonders for your pet’s coat. You’ll want to give them
a good brushing right before the session to cut down on
shedding and it really makes them shine!
A good nail trim a few days before the session is
smart as long nails tend to be very noticeable in photos.
If your breed requires professional grooming. I would
suggest you get it down a few days before the session as
it gives the hair a chance to settle into that perfect coat
Small Changes Big Rewards
Keep an eye on your pets eyes to make sure they are
clean of buggies and debris.
If your breed is prone to tear straining ask your
groomer to freshen the area up. Make sure you give them
a good wipe before the session.
If your pet is prone to shedding or dandruff the bath
will help with this, but it’s smart to give them a good
brushing before the session. The furminator is great for
this and I usually have a brush in my bag at the session.
Leashes and Collars
Collars are often a very personal accessory to any pet. I
see all kinds of fun and beautiful collars that really add
to the photos. The collar will be in almost every photo, so give
it a good cleaning before the session.
Tags can be both beautiful and distracting. If you have a fun cool tag
I would limit it to just that single tag. If you have a big clump of old tags
it can be helpful to just remove the distracting ones for the session.
I have most dogs on leash 85% of the sessions, in which the leash is edited out
after the session. I have a 50ft leash for those times when you have a runner,
but we still want those fun running and playing photos. For the more posed photos,
I will minimize the leashes presence to make it smoother to remove later.
Also consider getting a leash and collar combo that match your outfits for the session this can be a great way to bring it all together. If you do, I would suggest 4ft leashes as they are easier to manage during the session.
Pro Tip: Don’t pull hard on the leash it will make the fur around their neck look unnatural and it’s hard to fix that choking look.
Expressions and Interactions
I have never had a pet show up worried about how their fur looks when they smile.
Somehow they always know how to have fun and look great in every situation. This is something that is much harder for people to accomplish. I guarantee if you just concentrate on having fun with your pet you will forget all about the camera and have a great time!
Get Comfortable
You will notice I spend the entire session on the ground at your pet’s level. If you would like to join us on the ground I would suggest sitting on one hip with your legs to the side. This tends to be flattering, whereas kneeling makes your legs disappear and squatting is only flattering in the gym.
Smile
This is one of the quickest and easiest way to make every photo look a little better. If it helps
feel free to laugh at all the weird noises I make and watching me army crawl my way
throughout the session. A pleasant and relaxed facial expression is the secret to a
great family photo.
Check your Hands
When in doubt pet your dog. They will love it and it’s great way to reset when you don't
know what to do with your hands.
Pro Tip: Try to avoid tight grips and clenched fingers it never looks good in photos. A relaxed and gentle grip always looks better.
The Toys the Treats and The Squeaks
With every toy treat or squeak I may only get one chance to get the reaction I
want so please let me control the roll out of new stimuli. I never want to waste
a reaction on them looking the wrong direction or in an unflattering location.
One Squeak to Rule Them All
The real trick to that perfect expression is timing! I capture that by timing my
squeaks and crazy noises to be most effective. It only works if I am able to
surprise your pet so that I get that fabulous ears up focus face! I often only get
one or two chances to surprise them before they get desensitized to the sound
and go back to watching for squirrels. I always save these squeaks for when they
are in just the perfect spot so that I get the most out of every location.
This goes for trigger words as well like "go outside", if you have a few words or phrases
you know will make them react let me know before the session, so I can
dole them out when they are needed most. I want to get that perfect head tilt and
"wheres momma" might just do it.
Favorite Toys
Bring their favorite toys. Toys will give them something they love to focus on
and it gives me a tool to get them more relaxed and give you the photo that says this is my pet everyday! Remember, if you have a dog that is highly toy motivated let’s make sure
we save that for when we need that motivation. I want to use up all other
avenues to get their attention before I bring out the thing that drives them
crazy.
Bring the Good Treats
I often say that I have liver flavored skin to explain why pets love me so
much. But a good treat is a great way to get their attention. If they have a
few favorite treats bring them all as each treat gives me a new chance to
get their attention and a chance at another perfect photo.
Cats often require special attention. It is often wise to set up the session close
to feeding time so I can have their food guaranteeing that they will
come out and give me some attention.
Other Things to Consider Bringing
Please feel free to bring any of the favorite objects, beds or clothing.
I know that I have a pug that loves to dress up and no photo session would
be complete without a few costume changes! Bows, flowers and scarves
are a fun way to add some sass to any photo session.
If your dog is likes to drool or foam for fun then I would suggest bringing a cleaning cloth for some mid shoot cleanups.
One Squeak to Rule Them All
The real trick to that perfect expression is timing! I capture that by timing my
squeaks and crazy noises to be most effective. It only works if I am able to
surprise your pet so that I get that fabulous ears up focus face! I often only get
one or two chances to surprise them before they get desensitized to the sound
and go back to watching for squirrels. I always save these squeaks for when they
are in just the perfect spot so that I get the most out of every location.
This goes for trigger words as well like "go outside", if you have a few words or phrases
you know will make them react let me know before the session, so I can
dole them out when they are needed most. I want to get that perfect head tilt and
"wheres momma" might just do it.
Favorite Toys
Bring their favorite toys. Toys will give them something they love to focus on
and it gives me a tool to get them more relaxed and give you the photo that says this is my pet everyday! Remember, if you have a dog that is highly toy motivated let’s make sure
we save that for when we need that motivation. I want to use up all other
avenues to get their attention before I bring out the thing that drives them
crazy.
Bring the Good Treats
I often say that I have liver flavored skin to explain why pets love me so
much. But a good treat is a great way to get their attention. If they have a
few favorite treats bring them all as each treat gives me a new chance to
get their attention and a chance at another perfect photo.
Cats often require special attention. It is often wise to set up the session close
to feeding time so I can have their food guaranteeing that they will
come out and give me some attention.
Other Things to Consider Bringing
Please feel free to bring any of the favorite objects, beds or clothing.
I know that I have a pug that loves to dress up and no photo session would
be complete without a few costume changes! Bows, flowers and scarves
are a fun way to add some sass to any photo session.
If your dog is likes to drool or foam for fun then I would suggest bringing a cleaning cloth for some mid shoot cleanups.
On Location
At your Home
If you have ever watched a show about selling your house you have a good base to work from for the photo shoot at your home. Picking up clutter anywhere we may be shooting like the main living spaces and bedrooms or anywhere the pets hang out provides the best opportunity for beautiful photos. Open up all the windows drapes and curtains to let in as much natural light as possible. We may also move some furniture to maximize where the natural light falls.
This includes the yard we will spend a fair amount of time out there so it’s best if it’s picked up and poop scooped.
At the Park
Sessions are often at a nearby park, a spot that holds meaning to you or one of my big list of beautiful dog friendly places. I use shade heavily in my photos, so if you are suggesting a park
please make sure it has some shade. I have locations in the heart of the city all the way out to
the country so just let me know the look you want for your photos and we can provide something that will fit perfectly. Busy places can be hard so it’s best to plan for sessions when there will be less of a crowd.
Consider which environments will be best for your pet, if they are reactive or dog aggressive
let me know as there special secluded places we can go and have the whole place to ourselves.
Magic Hour
I always schedule my photo sessions in the first two or last two hours of the day as that is when
light is most flattering. The long shadows and soft light you get at this time are perfect for taking beautiful vibrant photos.
The Weather
You know the weather here can be tricky and can turn on a dime. I always try to be just as
flexible. Ideally, we want to avoid rain, heavy overcast, too hot or cold and unsafe driving conditions. If we are getting that patchy rain fall, we sometimes get, I can work around it. It would be better to reschedule to a beautiful day where everything will look its best! It is your decision.
*In the case of an emergency session all of this goes out the window and I will reschedule heaven and earth to get you beautiful photos ASAP.
What to Wear
By far, the most often asked question I get asked by friends and clients about their upcoming shoots is: “What do I wear?”
My best advice? …keep it fun…keep it simple…keep it coordinated.
Read: Coordinated….NOT matching! Say goodbye to the khakis and white shirts for the entire family. No more wearing black from head to toe for everyone involved! Have a little fun with it by adding some personality with accessories and color!
One thing I tell everyone is wear your favorite outfit. You know the one that you always feel like you look good in! It's one less thing to worry about in front of the camera, because you know you look good. I want you to be as comfortable as possible.
There are all levels of coordinating. It doesn’t have to mean everyone has to wear the same color…just the same family of color.
What to Wear
By far, the most often asked question I get asked by friends and clients about their upcoming shoots is: “What do I wear?”
My best advice? …keep it fun…keep it simple…keep it coordinated.
Read: Coordinated….NOT matching! Say goodbye to the khakis and white shirts for the entire family. No more wearing black from head to toe for everyone involved! Have a little fun with it by adding some personality with accessories and color!
One thing I tell everyone is wear your favorite outfit. You know the one that you always feel like you look good in! It's one less thing to worry about in front of the camera, because you know you look good. I want you to be as comfortable as possible.
There are all levels of coordinating. It doesn’t have to mean everyone has to wear the same color…just the same family of color.
After the Session
Behind the Scenes
I will take all of the photos from your dog’s session and cull them down to the best of the best.Those photos are edited taking out the stray hairs, leashes, blemishes and slobber turning them into beautiful distraction free photos. Those photos are then edited for color and clarity and boom... a gallery is born.
The Gallery
Within two weeks of your session, we’ll schedule your in home ordering session. A link will be provided to your gallery at that time. Feel free to show your family and friends and start to narrow down your favorites. Look for the little heart on your photo and start sorting them out!
The Ordering Session
During the ordering session I will put lay out samples of canvas, prints and coffee table books for you to touch and feel. We can measure all the spots you are considering placing a canvas, and we can go over your list of favorites. I can help you narrow down what goes where and make sure you get the most out of all of your photos.
If you are ordering an album, I can send you a copy for your approval. I love feedback so
give me all of your suggestions!
Production usually takes 3-4 weeks, but can be rushed for a small fee. Once I have received
and inspected everything, I will set up a time for delivery. I get to watch as you unwrap lasting memories. Priceless!
Make Room on the Wall
It is never to early to start thinking about the type of products that complement your home.
Whether it is a large wall portrait a smaller grouping of photos or a coffee table book. I can work the session to make sure we have more than you ever imagined.
The Fine Print
Ordering
After the photo session is finished, we will plan a time to sit down together and go over all of your photos and I will guide you through all of my offerings and help you find the perfect prints and packages for you. I ask that all decision makers are present at the meeting. When needed orders can be taken over the phone or online.
All Forms of Payment are Accepted
I accept cash, check, and all credit cards. The full session fee is due at or before the session.
Prints and products chosen during the ordering session do require a deposit, but payment
plans are an option. All products will be delivered once the order is paid in full.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
All images, original and processed, remain the sole property of Shagly Photography,
LLC. It is illegal to copy or reproduce any photographs, either physically or digitally,
without permission. Violators of this federal law will be subject to its civil and criminal
penalties. No images taken by Shagly Photography may be used in contests or for commercial
purposes without written consent.
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