You’ve completed the preliminary research stage. That means you have a general idea of what you want out of a dog photo session, why you’re doing this, and who the good potential candidates are to hire.
The next step is to connect with the dog photographer! Some photographers offer consult calls, others might be email-only. It’s up to you which method you prefer for getting to know them.
I almost always have a video consult call with the dog parent(s). I say “almost always,” because there are a few people who hate phone calls and are perfectly fine conducting business over email. Fun fact: I also hate phone calls, so I do my best to make efficient use of our time together. If you prefer to use email only, I’m happy to send over the relevant information so you can make an informed decision on who to hire. My writing is a good reflection of who I am and how I speak (I do not use AI to write, but sometimes I use fewer exclamation marks in person).
Here are five key questions I recommend asking your dog photographer on the consult call—provided that they haven’t already answered these in their FAQ or blog posts. A lot of these answers should also be covered when they introduce their service details to you.
1. How do you manage a photo session with a reactive dog?
I’m glad you asked! I wrote an entire blog post on how to do this, complete with tips that I use when photographing reactive, anxious, or shy dogs. The photographer should give you a concise answer on what they personally do to ensure a safe and fun experience for everyone.
🚩 Red flags:
- They don’t know what reactivity is
- They don’t answer the question with actionable details
- They conflate reactivity with aggressiveness
2. Does my dog need to be trained, off-leash, or know commands?
No, not at all. I’ve photographed many foster dogs who have either not started or were in the middle of training programs. Your dog’s safety is my top priority. If recall isn’t 110%, the leash stays on, and in most cases, can be edited out. Check out some examples of leash removal.
In terms of knowing commands or tricks, obviously, they could be helpful in a shoot. But it really isn’t required to take good photos of your dog!
🚩 Red flags:
- No location options for staying on-leash
- Needs the dog to pose perfectly
- Is not patient with your questions (imagine how they’ll be at a session!)
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3. What do we do at a dog photo session?
Another excellent question that I have answered extensively in a blog post. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a studio, your home, or at a park: there should be an answer to this. Also, in case this wasn’t in your research already, you should know which location you prefer (e.g. studio, mountain, beach), because the resulting photos will vary wildly.
🚩 Red flags:
- They have no suggestions
- They don’t ask what you want/don’t want
- There’s no discussion on what you want captured
4. What is included in your pricing and packages?
Practically speaking, you should already have an idea before this call about your budget and whether the photographer fits in it. But sometimes websites aren’t updated with the newest pricing or service details have changed. I recommend saving this question for later in the call, because it should be covered by them earlier.
There are varying ways to price photography
The traditional family and studio photography route involves charging a low session fee that covers the photographer’s time and work during the session. The photos you want will be purchased separately from the session fee.
Another option is the all-inclusive package, where the client receives most of the photos taken during the session. This is for those who value quantity over quality. Often, the editing is not done at a high quality because they have a large number of photos to work through.
And yet another route—the one I take—is a combination of the above. I am personally not a fan of session fees, because the low price is framed as payment for time & session. In many cases, this low number is NOT reflective of what a photographer’s time is worth.
I opt for a $550 non-refundable retainer (but transferable to another date) that secures your date on my calendar, covers the preparation work I put into every session, the cost of shooting the session itself, a custom acrylic block, culling, sample edits, and the selection call. It also covers the cost of doing business and my skill development, which provides you with a great client experience. This retainer is then applied to the package of your choice that includes digitals and a complimentary product credit.
🚩 Red flags:
- They can’t give you a range of average spend
- It’s unclear what’s included
- There’s no mention of how many photos to expect in a preview or final gallery
5. What is your experience with X dog size/breed?
As a parent to a pit-mix, I’m conscious of how Zoey interacts with the world and the people in it. I know that pitties have a bad reputation and are the first to be blamed if anything happens, even if it’s not their fault. If you see only small dogs in a dog photographer’s portfolio, it doesn’t mean that they don’t have experience with larger ones. But you should absolutely ask this question so you know if size or breed is an issue.
On my end, I’m a dog parent to a 50 lb solar-powered tank who loves to potato on the couch and run around on the beach. I’ve also volunteered with California Bully Rescue for the past year, helping out with adoption photos. These bully breed dogs have ranged from the smaller 35 lbs to 80 lbs (at this point, they’re just giant cuddlebugs).
🚩 Red flags:
- No medium or large dogs in their portfolio
- Negative reactions to certain breeds or sizes when you mention them (video calls are great to gauge this)
- They stick with certain dog breeds in their portfolio that aren’t the same as yours
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