How to Prepare Your Dog for Their Photoshoot — Waggly Studios
Waggly Studios — Session Prep Guide

How to Prepare Your Dog
for Their Photoshoot

Some simple steps to help craft your dog's ultimate photos.

Read before your session ✦
Before We Begin

Great Photos Don't Require
a Perfect Dog.

They come from a well-prepared one.

Here's the thing — I've photographed hundreds of dogs. The ones who sat perfectly still aren't the ones that produced the best images. The best shots come from dogs who are comfortable, engaged, and just being themselves.

You don't need to train anything new before your session. You don't need your dog to be obedient. You just need to do a little prep — and I'll take care of the rest.

This guide exists so you walk in confident, your dog walks in comfortable, and we walk out with images that genuinely look like them.
Most Important

Your Dog's State
on the Day

This matters more than you think.

The single biggest factor in great photos isn't your dog's breed, their markings, or whether they know how to sit on command. It's their state of mind when they walk through the door.

We're aiming for: calm, lightly exercised, and engaged.

✅
The Sweet Spot
Calm. Aware. Present. They've had some movement, they're not bouncing off the walls — but they're not checked out either.
⚠️
What to Avoid
Overexcited, overstimulated, exhausted, or anxious. Any of these directly affect how they hold their body, their expression, and their ability to engage.

How much exercise is right depends entirely on your dog. A Border Collie and a Basset Hound have very different needs. The goal is to take the edge off — not to tire them out completely.

  • 🏃 Avoid over-exercising — an exhausted dog looks flat in photos and won't engage with direction
  • 😰 Avoid high-stimulus environments right before the session (busy parks, dog parks, off-lead chaos)
  • ⏰ Avoid rushing — a stressed owner creates a stressed dog. Give yourself buffer time
Day-Of Prep

Before Your Session

A few simple things that make a big difference.

🐾
ExerciseA light walk or a short play session before you arrive. Enough to take the edge off, not enough to leave them flat. Adjust based on what you know about your dog — you know them better than anyone.
🍖
FeedingDon't arrive on an empty stomach — a hungry dog is a distracted dog. But don't overfeed either. A lightly fed dog is more motivated by treats, which means more attention, more expression, better photos.
🧸
Familiar ItemsIf your dog has a comfort toy or a favourite blanket, bring it along. Familiar scents settle dogs quickly in new spaces.
🧘
Your EnergyDogs mirror their owners. If you walk in anxious about how they'll behave, they'll feel it. Walk in like you're dropping them off for the best day of their life — because honestly, that's what it is.
Calm owner = calm dog. It's not a cliché, it's just how they're wired.
Grooming

Look the Part

Timing is everything here.

You'd be surprised how much a well-timed groom can affect the final images. Too far in advance and they've rolled in something. Same day and their coat is often fluffy, static, and out of shape.

The ideal window is 1–3 days before your session. For fluffy or curly breeds, aim for 2 weeks prior — it gives the coat time to settle into its shape.

Here's what to focus on:

👁️
Trim the hair around their eyes — this one is critical. Expressions are everything in dog photography. If their eyes are hidden behind a fringe, we lose the shot. Even a small trim makes a massive difference.
💅
Nails trimmed — if you can manage it! I know this can be a whole ordeal with some dogs.
🪮
Brush thoroughly — work out any mats or tangles before the session. A smooth coat catches light beautifully.
✨
Clean ears and a tidy face — any dried discharge or tear staining will be visible in high-res images.
Styling

Choosing Your Colours

Everything revolves around your dog.

When we discuss backdrops and session colours, here's a simple way to think about it — because your dog's colouring should always be the starting point.

Light Coated Dogs
Go Deeper
Light dogs need contrast to stand out. Think richer tones — deep greens, muted terracottas, warm browns. Avoid very light or pastel backdrops that let them blend in.
Dark Coated Dogs
Create Separation
Dark dogs don't need to avoid darker backdrops entirely — the right dark tone can be stunning. What matters is contrast between their coat and the background, not just light vs dark.
We style everything around your dog — not the other way around. When in doubt, we'll work it out together on the day.
Checklist

What to Bring

Tick these off before you leave the house.

  • ✓Your dog's absolute favourite treats — the ones reserved for special occasions
  • ✓Their favourite toy — squeaky, plush, ball, whatever gets them going
  • ✓Any costumes, outfits, bowties, or bandanas you'd like them photographed in
  • ✓A comfort item if they have one — blanket, stuffed animal, etc.
  • ✓A backup treat option — sometimes even I don't have the exact thing that works for a fussy dog
If you're unsure, bring options — it's always better to have more than less.

P.S. your dog said to tell you that definitely includes treats too. 😉
The Real Stuff

Personality Over Perfection

Natural behaviour photographs best. Always.

Dogs don't need perfect obedience to have an incredible session. The zoomies, the head tilt, the mid-sneeze face — that stuff is gold. Some of my favourite shots have come from dogs who had absolutely no interest in sitting still.

We're not after catalogue perfection. We're after them.

Your dog's
portrait here
Their personality
captured here
The real them
right here
The best photos I've taken have almost always come from a little bit of chaos.
Quick Note

What You Should Wear

Keep it simple. Keep it you.

When choosing what to wear, think about the backdrop colours you've already selected and plan loosely around those. Picked a deep green? Maybe not the time for a bright orange and red combo.

As a general rule — skip the massive logos and graphic tees. They pull attention away from your dog.

Style is personal. At the end of the day, wear what feels like you. If that means a bunch of crazy colours and fun graphics — go for it. Your dog is the hero of these photos, and they'll outshine you regardless.
Avoid These

Common Mistakes

Worth knowing before the day — these are the ones I see most often.

  • 01Over-exercising OR under-exercising before the session — both extremes affect how your dog presents
  • 02Skipping grooming, especially trimming the hair around their eyes — we lose the expression, we lose the shot
  • 03Not bringing a fussy dog their specific high-value treat — I have a lot in the studio, but I don't have everything
  • 04Stressing about your dog's behaviour — stress travels straight down the lead
Remember This

You're in Good Hands.

You don't need a perfect dog. Trust me — the best photos I've ever taken came straight out of chaos.

You don't need to know what to do when you get here. I'll guide you through every step of the experience, from the moment you walk in.

Come as you are.
Bring the chaos.
That's the whole point.

I've seen it all. Every temperament, every energy level, every "oh god sorry about this" moment. And every single time, we've walked away with something amazing.

Your dog really isn't as badly behaved as you think they are. 😉