Outdoor Dog Photography Adventures
Photography for obsessed dog parents in San Francisco
Sessions are gentle and joyous, designed so anxious, reactive, and “unphotogenic” dogs (and humans) can bring their whole selves. Your dog's story is worth telling, and I'd be honored to be the one who captures it.
The moment is now
This chapter of your life together—punctuated by the silly moments, loving kisses, and their trusting eyes—deserves to be a whole album on your coffee table.
Pup & Me Session
In a span of 60-90 minutes—a deliberate range for the anxious and reactive dogs—I follow along your story. Kind of like a paw-parazzi, except you know I'm there and I'm not stressing you out.
And speaking of stress, there's none of that at the session.
I believe that the best, most authentic photography comes from creating a safe and comfortable environment for everyone, dogs and humans included.
I'm a pretty good reader of body language, so we'll take breaks when someone's uncomfortable, and no one will be forced into a pose they don't want. In fact, we don't need to pose at all.
You're low-key (okay, high-key) obsessed with your dog
How many of these ring true for you?
- Dogs aren't LIKE family, they ARE family
- Your weekend activities are planned around your dog
- You've used your dog as an excuse to leave a party early. And if you haven't yet, you're welcome
- You may or may not have matching clothes (Psst: my favorite is Spark Paws)
- Your dog eats better than you
Why hello, fellow obsessed dog parent! You're in good company and there's no judgment here.
Team Members
Jenn
Pet Photographer
The one who makes a living through pet photography. Sometimes has blue hair.
Zoey
Emotional Support
The one who reaps the benefits of said pet photography and lives rent-free. Refuses to learn how to put her toys away.
Zoey is a staffy-pittie-cocker spaniel brindle tank I adopted in 2020. With her, I learned how to manage reactivity and anxiety, read dog body language, and photograph quickly because she was always on the move.
Through volunteering my photography for California Bully Rescue, I discovered a love and ease for photographing dogs and their people. So I pivoted my photography niches, and here we are!
My approach to pet photography is a little different from others
From designing a session built around your dog's favorite adventures to helping you select photos for your living room wall, I am with you every step of the way.
Nature is my studio and the backdrop to your story. I travel to your/your dog's favorite or most memorable locations.
With a style that's a mix of documentary and lifestyle, I mostly follow along your adventure and may prompt you to sit for an occasional cuddle session
Sessions range from 60 to 90 minutes (not a hard stop) because I know it may take a bit for an anxious or reactive dog to get used to me. I have first-hand experience in both and can also photograph from a distance.
Humans are included, too! Your dog may be the main character, but you're absolutely part of the story.
While I photograph dogs of all breeds and sizes, I'm especially fond of bully breed rescue dogs. They're not always dealt a great hand in the beginning, but with patience and love, they are some of the most generous, forgiving, and hilarious velcro dogs around.
The Pup & Me Experience
Whether it’s your first or fifteenth time having professional photos made, don't worry: I’ll walk you through the whole process from start to finish.
1. Vibe check
It begins with a pressure-free consultation, so you can share all about your dog, and I'll cover my process and pricing (no surprises later!). We'll design your session—everything is customized to you.
2. Adventure Time
A gentle, joyous, stress-free session led by your family's favorite outdoor activities. No posing or commands required.
3. Selection call
We'll review the best photos from the session, plus some fully edited ones! Once you've seen everything, you'll be ready to choose your photos and decide on your collection.
4. gallery delivery
I edit your favorite photos, send over the final gallery, and you can immediately download & order the wall art you were eyeing!
My guarantee
During the session, I will show you the back of the camera so you have a general idea of what to expect in your gallery. In the unlikely event that you hate all of your photos during the selection call, we'll schedule another session within two weeks at no additional cost.
Stress-free, playful outdoor sessions
Pup & Me sessions are designed for obsessed dog parents in the SF Bay Area, who recognize what a gift it is to be their dog’s chosen family and want to celebrate their favorite adventures on their living room walls.
So that every time they walk in, they experience that love and joy all over again.
Retainer
To secure your pet photo session on my calendar, a $550 nonrefundable retainer is due at booking.
It includes:
- custom-designed outdoor session
- 60-90 minutes of your family's favorite activities
- selection call to choose from 50+ unique images
- your choice of one photo printed on a 5x7" custom acrylic block (see above) with the matching digital file
- and of course, lots of praise and treats
Collections
This retainer is then applied to one of three available collections—each with a set number of digital files and product credit. Depending on which you choose, some or all of the retainer transforms into product credit.
Most clients invest an overall $1550-$2550+ (plus tax) in their custom experience and heirloom artwork.
Each collection's product credit covers at least one piece of art, because I want everyone to walk away with a tangible memory.
Bay Area Dog Photography Portfolio
Pet Portraits with Personality
Before & After
Leash Removal Editing
Your dog's safety is one of my biggest considerations. For most of the sessions, dogs are on leash! With some magical editing, I remove leashes from photos where they aren't necessary. These photos show the before and after results.
An example of when I would keep a leash in the photo is if you do a walk in downtown SF (where leashes are required)—it makes sense to keep it in. Leash removals are the first step in the editing process, so the "after" photos in the examples shown are not the fully edited photos.
FAQs
My dog doesn't know many commands and can't sit still, is that okay?
Absolutely! A lot of the dogs I've photographed were in training for commands. When I press the shutter button, many frames are captured in one second, so that 1/4 second when the dog sits down and stands back up is recorded. Posing is also not necessary for a session—I prefer a documentary style of photographing.
My dog has to stay on leash- can you edit that out?
Your dog's safety is a top priority! If we're in an unfenced area or they're in training, a leash is required. In most cases, leashes can and will be edited out. For photos taken in urban areas where being leashed on a sidewalk makes sense, the leash will stay in the photo.
How many photos should I expect to see during my selection call?
In a 60-90 minute outdoor dog session, you should expect to see a minimum of 50 photos. Depending on the type of activities we do during the session, you'll have a wide variety of photos to choose from.
My dog is shy, anxious, and/or reactive—what do you do to handle that?
I totally understand this, as my dog is all three and I wrote a thorough blog post to cover this. We can schedule sessions earlier in the morning and/or use locations with minimal dogs around. We'll also discuss triggers, so they can be taken into account when choosing a location. I know it takes time for a dog to familiarize themself with a space, and that time is built into the session (that said, 90 minutes is not a hard limit). I'm also a firm believer in positive reinforcement, such as through treats or praise.
What are your rescheduling, cancellation, and refund policies?
The retainer is nonrefundable; however, you may reschedule and transfer it to a different date. I know life happens, so I offer one free reschedule with at least 48 hours' notice before the session date. The reschedule must be within 3 months of the original date. A rescheduled date more than 3 months away, or any additional reschedules, incurs a $25 fee. Inclement weather for outdoor sessions may be rescheduled without penalty within one month of the original date (I'll make the final call).
How can I use my photos?
You receive a personal use license and print release in the contract. This means you can use the photos on your personal social media pages, make prints or albums, and include them in a personal email newsletter. You can't use them for commercial purposes or resale, and you can't upload them to AI to create new photos.
I've never had a professional dog photoshoot before. Is that okay?
Absolutely! Before the session, I'll send over a prep guide, so you know what and how to prepare. And during the session, it'll be a lot like hanging out with a friend. I'm a pretty chill person—I may ask you to sit in a certain light, but I won't be formally posing you. I want the photos to look as natural as possible for you!
What is the payment schedule?
To book an outdoor dog session with me, I need a $550 nonrefundable retainer, which is applied to your chosen collection's total. Collections begin at $1550 (+tax). The remaining amount is due within 15 days of the selection call. To put your images into my editing queue, the invoice must be paid in full. Alternate payment plans are available by request.
If not paid in full after 15 days, I consider the project closed. To reopen, an unarchiving fee applies, plus any late fees.
Can we have a longer session?
Hell yes. "A Day in the Life" is 4-6 continuous hours.
Let's make a whole day of it. Go hiking, picnic, have a birthday party, eat a million treats, roll in the sand, visit a cafe—you name it, let's make it happen. This custom adventure session with continuous documentary photography starts at $6500. It includes ALL the best photos from the session, a 10-spread, custom-designed keepsake album, and additional complimentary product credit.
From the Blog
