If you’re like me, your pets are incredibly important members of your family. So, when it comes time to take family photos, I completely understand when clients want to include them, and I highly encourage it! I worked in veterinary medicine for over thirteen years, so being around animals is something that brings me great joy. Today, I want to share my best tips for getting pet and family portraits sessions in the smoothest way possible.

Tip #1: Let pets join in the photo session when they’re ready

When it comes to getting pet and family portraits, sometimes we have to coax pets to get involved, and sometimes they insert themselves whether invited or not. Often pets need time to adjust to your arrival (when doing in-home sessions), so they might not want to be in photos right away. I find that they almost always will come and join in eventually.

For many dogs, their natural curiosity and tendency to follow their humans around the house means that they will be involved from the start, like this precious golden retriever.

Tip #2: Safety is key when including pets in photos

As much as we love our pets, it is important to understand that we still have to be mindful of safety. When working with babies and small children, even the sweetest dog or cat can get stressed and incidents can occur. I urge parents to keep a close eye on their kids and pets to make sure that everyone is staying safe. Don’t do any poses that will make a pet (or child) uncomfortable or nervous, and always keep a close eye on their body language to avoid any incidents.

Some pets take a while to adjust to a new baby (just like human siblings), and it’s totally normal for them to be nervous and not want to be near them, especially if they are crying.

Tip #3: Let things happen naturally when including pets in your photo session

When I arrive for an in-home session, I encourage parents to allow the pet(s) to meet me right away. The sooner they say hi and smell me, the sooner they will feel comfortable with my presence. Then, I can be a fly on the wall for some of the session while I document the pet interacting with the family! A lot of the time my favorite images come from moments that were completely unprompted, like when a dog comes to sniff a new baby or give a family member kisses.

This handsome pup was such a sweetheart and he was totally trying to get into pretty much every photo. I’d say he succeeded!

I often have parents who want to include their dog in outdoor family photos as well, such as this beautiful session from the NC Museum of Art Park. Not all parks allow pups, but many do. Be prepared to help your client decide if this is a good idea for their particular session.

Editor’s Note: A version of this article originally appeared on Valerie Worth’s blog.

Valerie Worth lives for capturing authentic moments in her Raleigh, North Carolina hometown. She photographs families, newborns, babies, and maternity. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

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