When people contact me about a portrait session, they often say something like this:
“I just want photos of my dog.”
My response is always the same.
I hope you’ll let me photograph the two of you together.
Because while beautiful portraits of your dog are important, the photographs you’ll treasure most years from now are often the ones you’re in together.
Your Dog’s Favorite Subject Is You
Your dog doesn’t care about the camera.
They care about you.
They watch your face when you speak.
They follow you from room to room.
They light up when you walk through the door.
If we’re telling your dog’s story, how could we leave out the person they love most?
You Don’t Have to Be “Photogenic”
This is probably the biggest concern I hear.
“I don’t like having my picture taken.”
“I’ll just get one of my dog.”
“I need to lose a little weight first.”
Here’s what I’ve learned after years as a photojournalist and pet photographer:
The people who matter most to your dog already think you’re beautiful.
Your portrait session isn’t about creating a perfect version of you.
It’s about preserving your relationship exactly as it is today.
We Photograph Connection, Not Poses
I don’t ask you to stare into the camera and smile for an hour.
Instead, I encourage you to interact with your dog the way you naturally do every day.
Maybe you’re laughing together.
Maybe they’re resting their head on your shoulder.
Maybe you’re kneeling beside them while they look up at you with complete trust.
Those are the moments that become priceless.
They’re honest.
They’re real.
They’re yours.
Your Dog Will Feel More Comfortable
One of the wonderful things about including yourself in the session is that your dog already knows exactly who you are.
Your voice is familiar.
Your touch is comforting.
Your presence helps many dogs relax, allowing genuine expressions and natural interactions to unfold.
Combined with the guidance of our professional animal trainer—who is included with every portrait session—we’re able to create an experience that’s calm, enjoyable, and focused entirely on your dog’s comfort.
You’ll Still Receive Beautiful Portraits of Your Dog
Being in the photographs doesn’t mean giving up portraits of your dog alone.
In every Portrait Experience, we create a variety of images, including:
- Individual portraits of your dog
- Portraits of you and your dog together
- Family portraits
- Genuine interactions that happen naturally throughout the session
The result is a collection that tells the complete story of your life together.
What I’ve Learned Photographing Dogs and Their People
Some of my favorite images have nothing to do with perfect eye contact.
They’re about the way a dog leans into their person.
The smile that appears without anyone asking.
The quiet moment after the excitement settles.
Those are the photographs clients mention years later.
Not because they were perfectly posed.
Because they remember exactly how it felt to love that dog.
Someday, You’ll Be Glad You Stepped In Front of the Camera
We all take hundreds of pictures of our dogs.
But far fewer include us.
One day, these portraits will become more than artwork.
They’ll become proof of a friendship.
A reminder of daily routines.
A celebration of a bond that changed your life.
Your dog already knows you’re part of their story.
You deserve to be part of the photographs that tell it.
The Breed Portrait Series by Candice Cusic
While every dog has a unique personality, the most meaningful portraits often reveal something even deeper—the relationship they share with the people who love them. Through Moment-Driven Photography™, I create artwork that celebrates not just your dog, but the life you’ve built together.
