3 Tips for Bringing Your Dog to Your Engagement Photos

Engagement Photos in Prairie Village

I was so excited when Shelby and Davis reached out to me about their engagement session. We ended up having a ton of crossover in our social circles from our time at KU, and we had a great time reminiscing on our time in Lawrence. I’m always pleasantly surprised when a bride is a KU alum and we somehow never managed to meet while we were both there! Shelby and Davis invited me to Meadowbrook Park in Prairie Village to do their session. It was a beautiful sunny evening and even though the park was bustling with families and folks walking their pets, its so vast and there were plenty of private spots to tuck away for some sweet portraits of the two of them with their doodle boy, Brooks.

Bringing Your Dog to Your Engagement Photos

It’s always a yes, from me. My whole world revolves around my dog, so I can’t imagine any reason why I’d suggest you leave yours at home! There are always a few ways to keep the session stress-free, for both you and your pup, so I have a few tips!

Bring a handler, if you have one.

Sometimes it’s nice to be able to get the dog portraits secured and send them on their way, so they aren’t tied to a tree or stuck in the car waiting on the session to end. If you’ve got a friend or a family member who can bring them and take them, we’ll only need a few minutes to get the shots that you want with your pup! Of course, they’re always welcome to stay for the whole thing.

T-R-E-A-T-S

Don’t forget these at home! I also happen to be a certified dog portrait whisperer. Click here to see a full gallery of dog portraits I did to benefit the ACLU last summer! I’ve got all the tips and tricks to get them to chill, if you bring their favorite treats along to bribe them with.

Set your expectations, beforehand.

Dogs are animals! And I’m a stranger. Sometimes they’re a little stressed, a little overstimulated, and they’re just not quite sure what the camera thing in my hand is doing. If they can’t handle a full session, it is no big deal. We only need a few moments with them to get good portraits together, and like I mentioned above, having a friend or family member to sweep them away will take the stress off your hands and keep our session rolling smoothly.

Vintage Car Engagement Photos

Shelby and Davis rented this badass classic car on Drive Share to take a few cute photos in at the beginning of our session. The guy that brought it over for us to use was super kind, and I think it adds a little bit of old timey romance to their images. Super fun idea! Drive Share is also a great resource if you’re looking for a getaway car for your wedding night.

To see another Kansas City engagement session, click here!