All of Us: Why Including Your Dog in Your Couples Photoshoot Tells a Fuller Story
All of Us: Why Including Your Dog in Your Couples Photoshoot Tells a Fuller Story
There’s the way they greet you at the door.
The way their tail thumps when you say their name.
The way they curl up next to you on the couch—always closer to the one who needs comfort most.
When I photograph couples with their dogs, something shifts. The session becomes less about posing and more about presence. The laughs come easier. The quiet moments linger longer. Okay, maybe not all the time if a rambunctious puppy is involved, but I think you get the point.
Including your dog in your couples photoshoot doesn’t just make for adorable portraits—it brings your full story into the frame.
Your dog is part of your love story
Whether they were there on your first date, joined you mid-journey, or became your first “baby,” your dog has witnessed your relationship evolve. They’ve been with you through messy mornings, spontaneous road trips, and the everyday magic that makes a life together.
To leave them out? It would be like tearing a chapter from your favorite book.
My girlfriend and I have always included our dogs in our sessions–we did this from the very beginning and never stopped. It’s such a gift to have tangible memories of our early relationship that also include our girls. Our sessions captured not only my partner and I’s evolving relationship, but all four of us becoming a family.
How dogs add depth and authenticity to your session
Including your dog creates natural movement and emotion—two things that elevate couples sessions from a pretty picture to a soul-stirring memory.
☾ They ground you in the moment when nerves might otherwise creep in
☾ They invite playfulness, softness, and surprise
☾ They allow us to tell the real story of your little family
Plus, when you're focused on loving them, you're also loving each other—and that’s where the magic happens.
How to prepare your pup (and yourselves)
To keep the experience joyful and stress-free, here are a few gentle tips:
✧ Bring their favorites: treats, toys, and a portable water bowl are all good things to have on hand.
✧ Choose a location you know your dog will thrive in: I help my clients pick spots where their dogs can explore safely and live their best lives.
✧ Practice basic cues ahead of time: sit, stay, and recall go a long way. If you have the time, do short training sessions to freshen up skills before your shoot.
✧ Bring a friend if needed: the more the merrier! If you think you may need some extra hands, bring them along.
✧ Don’t worry about perfection: messy is okay. Tongues out, paws dirty—it’s all part of the charm. Show up ready to have fun and make memories. Then let me do the rest.
What these sessions look like
These aren’t stiff, posed images where your dog sits like a prop. They’re playful strolls at golden hour, snuggles in the grass, or rainy-day cuddles at home. They are moments where your dog is allowed to be a dog, and you’re invited to simply be yourselves.
I often use prompts that feel more like play than posing:
“Give them your best dog voice.”
“Let’s go for a walk and pretend I’m not even here.”
“Okay, now give them as many kisses as you can in 5 seconds. Ready? Go!”
And before you know it, we’ve created something real.
The takeaway
Love doesn’t always look like a perfect pose or expensive jewerly. Sometimes, it has fur and floppy ears and a bark that fills the silence. When we include your dog in your couples photos, we’re not just capturing an image—we’re honoring the wild, wonderful wholeness of your story.
So bring the leash. Bring the treats.
Bring all of you.
Because that’s the version worth remembering.