What Makes a Great Location for Pet Photography?
Selecting the right outdoor location for your pet photography session can make all the difference in capturing memorable, high-quality images. This is one of the most important choices we make with our clients. During our pre-session meeting we consider many factors in selecting the location and time for the session. Here is a list of important factors. I’ve listed these in the order I think is most important.
Safety and Comfort
I believe this is the most important factor for several reasons. First, we cannot take risks with your pet. At a minimum, a good location should be free of heavy traffic, dangerous animals, toxic plants, and steep terrain. We also need your pet to be comfortable. A comfortable pet is more relaxed, less guarded, and can easily show its personality. If your dog is easily distracted or reactive to humans or dogs, it is important to select a less crowded location. Of course, many locations are more crowded on weekends and evenings, so we may need to schedule the session on a weekday morning.
Diverse Backdrops
We strive to create a good variety of photos for clients to choose from. Therefore, it is important to select a location with a variety of backgrounds. Think grassy fields, woods, colorful flowers, water and beaches, cool architecture, and even graffiti walls. Another element to consider is a wide-open area. In almost every photo session with dogs, clients want action photos. Having open spaces is crucial for capturing action!
Does your dog love the water?
Of course, if you have a water dog, we should select a location that allows them to safely enjoy the water! Your water dog will love it, and we can capture dynamic, playful photos!
Seasonal Settings
Some locations are much better depending on the season. One of our favorite locations, Owen Beach, is much better in sunny clear weather. In sunny clear weather you will likely see Mount Rainier and the water will be clearly visible. During the winter, there is frequently fog making it impossible to see the mountain and the water looks gray and dull instead of blue. Other examples include fall foliage, spring flowers, and winter snow.
Accessibility
We are willing to hike to get to a great location, but maybe you or your pet are not up to that! If that is the case, consider a location within easy distance of parking.
Local Regulations
Sometimes a location requires a permit for professional photography. Getting a permit will add to the cost and may limit the time you can schedule. For example, some organizations require a 30-day notice before issuing a permit.
Another Factor to Consider
Mostly we’ve been discussing location, but time of day is also important. Many photographers (including me) prefer taking photos during the early evening before sunset (Golden Hour) or early morning just before sunrise or right after (the Blue Hour). These times provide beautiful soft light that is perfect for photography. Regardless, we bring our own light to photo sessions (you will see us schlepping around big studio lights at sessions) so we can take photos in any lighting conditions. That is one of the advantages of working with Angel Dog Photography. Regardless, if possible, I encourage clients to schedule photo sessions either during the early evening or early morning.
Some Locations We Love!
- Over the next weeks, we’ll be highlighting some of our favorite locations. Here is a short list of favorite locations to consider.
- Owen Beach – our favorite beach location!
- Wilkinson Farm Park (known by many as The Farm). This Gig Harbor location is great for portraits in the woods. It’s also perfect for action photos because there is a large meadow.
- Downtown Gig Harbor – this urban location has many great spots that includes beautiful brick, flowers, piers, trails, and the harbor itself.
- University of Puget Sound – This amazing campus located in Tacoma is a not so hidden gem. It features beautiful buildings and halls, flowers, and grassy open areas. It’s perfect for both portraits and action photos.
- Discovery Park – This dog friendly Seattle park has everything! Trails, beautiful trees, open areas, water, even a small lighthouse!
If you have any great locations to share, we would love to hear!