{"id":273,"date":"2024-02-04T23:47:24","date_gmt":"2024-02-04T23:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lemonadeweddings.com\/?p=273"},"modified":"2024-03-15T00:29:44","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T00:29:44","slug":"the-most-requested-wedding-photos-of-all-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lemonadeweddings.com\/index.php\/2024\/02\/04\/the-most-requested-wedding-photos-of-all-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Say ‘Yes’ to the Pets"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Why you always say “yes” to pets in their photos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

But getting a cat to look at the camera is probably the hardest thing you\u2019ll ever attempt as a photographer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pets. You gotta love \u2018em. Even if they are not yours. Over the years I\u2019ve had numerous couples ask, sometimes even sheepishly, if they could bring along their pet or pets for their engagement session. I\u2019m kind of a dog lover myself, and so I\u2019ve always said yes. But it\u2019s not just because I want to make a new canine friend; it\u2019s because I know just how special a couple\u2019s pet or pets is to them. Pets are their family. A lot of my couples are younger and don\u2019t have children of their own yet, and so their pets are their children. You would no more want to say no to their request than if they were asking you if their toddler could be in a few of their engagement photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve learned a few things about working with pets in engagement sessions and at weddings. My experience has been almost exclusively with dogs; in all my weddings and sessions I have only had one couple ask for their cat to be a part of their session. But I did have one wedding with a chinchilla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you are shooting an engagement session with a dog, you have to remember a couple of things. First being that some are well behaved, and some are not. The second is that even if they are well trained, their attention span is short lived. Getting them to hold a pose or look at the camera is a little bit of a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always ask how well behaved the dog is when the couple first asks me if they can be included so we can talk about what poses will or won\u2019t work. A well-behaved dog might sit long enough and a little distant from the couple so that I can make the dog the focus. A dog less well-behaved will have to be posed close to, or held by, the couple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I always ask if there is a friend or family member who might come along for the session to help with the pet, for a couple reasons. One is that we won\u2019t want to work the entire session with the pet in every picture, and so after we shoot a few photographs with the pet the extra person can take care of or leave with the pet. Also, that person is helpful if they are able to stand or lean right over the top of me (I\u2019m often at dog\u2019s eye level) to draw the dog\u2019s attention toward me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At weddings, I\u2019ve had a number of things requested. I have had dogs included in the family formals with the couple. I have had Reveals done with dogs. I\u2019ve had dogs who were ring bearers. I\u2019ve even had a dog who was a part of the bridal party. And it\u2019s fun, and makes for great images, if the venue will allow it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos that are good to get with the pet at the wedding:<\/h6>\n\n\n\n


\u2022 The pet\u2019s expression when they first see the couple or bride (or a Reveal).
\u2022 A shot with the pet in the foreground watching the couple at the altar.
\u2022 The pet processing in.
\u2022 Pet with the couple in a formal photo.
\u2022 Pet with the bride or groom as they get ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keys to getting the lovable pet shot:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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