This is a sample walk-through of a family session with the dog in a Christmas set. It's an example, not a real client story: two parents, a nine-year-old, and a calm, medium-sized dog who knows "sit", in a 60-minute family session with two sets or backdrops. Your photographer's own session length, gallery size and pet policy will differ, so check their profile. The plan has three pillars: a handler, the right treats, and a sequence that photographs the dog while it's still interested.
What to tell your photographer when you book
Every dog is different, so a good photographer will ask a few questions before the day, and you can offer the answers up front:
- Size and age. A puppy, a senior and a large young dog all need different pacing.
- Temperament. Is the dog relaxed with strangers? Nervous in new places? Excited by other people's hands?
- Commands it knows. Sit, stay, down, look. Even one reliable command helps a lot.
- Favorite treats and toys. And any allergies or foods to avoid.
- Anything that worries the dog. Loud noises, hats, people bending over it.
If your dog is reactive, unwell or very anxious in new places, a studio session may not be kind to it. Be honest with the photographer and talk through whether it makes sense. Our guide to Christmas photos with your dog covers this in more depth.
The handler
When the whole family is in the frame, someone still needs to manage the dog. In this plan, a friend or relative comes along as the handler. Their job:
- Holding the leash just outside the frame when the dog is on set.
- Holding treats and the favorite squeaky toy, so the dog looks toward the camera.
- Taking the dog out for a short walk or a drink during breaks.
If you can't bring a handler, say so when booking so the photographer can plan around it, for example with more family photos where one parent holds the leash low and loose, and dog portraits while the family steps aside.
Treats and toys
The treat is your best tool, so bring the good ones:
- Small, soft, high-value treats the dog really loves. Chicken, cheese or their favorite training treat, cut small so the dog doesn't get full in ten minutes.
- A squeaky toy for ear-perk moments. Use it sparingly, or it stops working.
- The dog's own water bowl and a towel.
- A walk before you come. A dog that has already had a good walk is calmer on set.
Safe props in a Christmas set
With a dog on set, a few things should change:
- No tinsel or loose ribbon within reach. Both can be dangerous if swallowed.
- No chocolate, including any sweets used as props.
- No glass ornaments near the dog's height.
- No lit candles.
- A soft collar bow or holiday bandana instead of a costume, only if the dog is comfortable wearing one. If it paws at it, it comes off.
Our wider guide to family photos with pets covers cats and smaller animals too.
The 60-minute sequence
- 0:00 to 0:10, arrive and let the dog sniff. The dog stays on the leash and gets time to explore and smell everything. The photographer sits on the floor and lets it come over. No cameras yet.
- 0:10 to 0:20, dog portraits first. Fresh dogs give the best attention. Sitting by the tree, a bandana on if it likes it, the handler holding a treat just above the camera so the eyes come forward.
- 0:20 to 0:32, the family with the dog. Nine-year-old sitting on the floor with an arm around the dog. Then the parents join. One family photo of everyone looking, then a few of everyone looking at the dog.
- 0:32 to 0:38, dog break. A drink and a short walk with the handler. Meanwhile the family gets a few people-only photos at the Christmas set.
- 0:38 to 0:50, classic backdrop. A clean family portrait with no holiday props, with and without the dog. The nine-year-old's solo portrait. A couple portrait of the parents.
- 0:50 to 1:00, playful round and buffer. The dog back for a final round: the squeaky toy, a play bow, the nine-year-old getting a lick on the cheek. Then any shot that needs repeating.
Shot list
Dog on the Christmas set
- Sitting by the tree, looking at the camera
- Head tilt at the squeaky toy
- Lying down beside a wrapped gift
- Close-up of the nose and the bandana or bow
Family with the dog
- Whole family seated, dog in front
- Nine-year-old hugging the dog
- Parents and dog, a calm moment
- Everyone looking at the dog, laughing
Classic backdrop
- Family portrait with the dog
- Family portrait without the dog
- Nine-year-old alone
- Parents together
Patience is the plan
Dogs don't understand that you booked an hour. They get tired, distracted or overexcited. A good photographer builds rest into the schedule so the dog never gets pushed past its limit, and if there are two photographers, one is free to work with the dog's attention while the other shoots. The leash stays on for safety. Where possible it is framed out, or kept low and loose so it doesn't take over the photo.
If the dog is done, it's done. It is better to end the dog portion early and finish with family photos than to have a stressed dog in the gallery.
What a gallery of about 35 photos might include
Gallery size and delivery time depend on the photographer. From a session like this, you might expect roughly:
- About 10 dog portraits
- About 10 family photos with the dog
- About 8 family and couple photos without the dog
- About 4 photos of the nine-year-old
- A few playful and detail frames
The exact split depends on the dog's mood that day. For more about a Christmas set without a dog, see Christmas family photos in a studio.
Quick answers
Can we bring our dog to a studio session?
Many photographers welcome dogs, but not all. Check the profile or message the photographer before you book, and share the dog's size, temperament and treats.
Do we need someone to handle the dog?
It helps a lot. A friend or relative holding the leash and treats lets the whole family be in the photo together.
Are Christmas props safe for dogs?
Only if the photographer removes tinsel, loose ribbon, chocolate and glass ornaments from the dog's reach, and never uses lit candles. Ask before you book.
Find a photographer
Browse family photographers in NYC and Long Island, check which ones welcome pets, and tell them about your dog when you book.