Have More Than One Pet? Bring the Whole Family to Your Portrait Session!
When families first inquire about a pet portrait session, one question we sometimes hear is, “I have more than one pet. Do I need to choose which one to bring?”
Absolutely not!
Whether you have one fur-baby, two, or a whole houseful, we want to photograph your entire pet family. After all, how could you possibly choose just one?
Our pets are such an important part of our lives, and each one has their own personality, quirks, and place within the family. When we're creating portraits, we want to celebrate all of them.
One Pet, Two Pets, Four Pets... Everyone Is Welcome!
Every pet family looks a little different. Some have one dog who gets all the attention, while others have several dogs, a couple of cats, or a combination of furry family members.
We love photographing them all!
During your session, we can create individual portraits of each pet, photographs of them together, and portraits that include their favorite people.
Sometimes it's a beautifully composed portrait of four dogs together. Other times, it's a quiet moment with an older pet or a photograph that captures the playful relationship between two siblings.
The goal is to create portraits that represent your family, including all the personalities that make it special.
But What If They Won’t All Cooperate?
That's one of the biggest concerns families have when considering a session with multiple pets.
And it's understandable! Getting two, three, or four animals to look in the same direction at the same time can sound like quite a challenge.
But that's where our experience and planning come in.
We don't need every pet to cooperate at exactly the same moment to create beautiful portraits. We work through the session, photographing individuals, different combinations, and the whole group.
When photographing dogs, we always use leashes. They help us position each dog exactly where we want them and keep them in place while we create the portrait. This is just as important in your own fenced backyard as it is on our private studio property. Safety is always our first priority, but leashes are also an important part of how we create our carefully composed portraits.
And don't worry! Those leashes, along with the people holding them when necessary, are edited out of your finished portraits.
What you see in the finished portrait may look effortless, but there's usually quite a bit happening behind the scenes!
A Few Extra Hands Make All the Difference
When we're photographing multiple pets, one of the most helpful things you can do is bring a few extra hands along.
A spouse, older children, another family member, or a friend can make a big difference in how smoothly the session goes. While we're photographing one fur-baby, someone else can be nearby with the others. And when it's time to bring everyone together for a group portrait, those extra hands help us get each pet into the right spot and keep them there while we create the photograph.
Even the best-behaved pets don't necessarily stay exactly where we need them, especially when their furry siblings are nearby! Having someone available to hold leashes, help with positioning, and give individual pets a little attention makes the experience easier for everyone.
If you have three or four dogs, for example, think about bringing enough people so that each dog has someone who can help when needed.
We'll talk through your pet family's personalities and any special considerations during your Discovery Call so we can plan ahead.
The most important thing is that you don't leave a fur-baby at home because you're worried about managing everyone. With a little planning and a few helping hands, we can include the whole family.
Every Pet Has Their Own Personality
One of the things I enjoy most about photographing multiple pets is watching their different personalities come through.
There's often the one who wants to investigate everything, the one who is happiest staying close to their person, and the one who seems perfectly content to watch all the activity from a comfortable spot.
We take those differences into consideration when planning the session.
Some pets settle in quickly, while others need a little more time. We adjust our approach to the animals we're photographing, choosing locations, arrangements, and combinations that work best for them.
Whether we're photographing at our Franklin studio, on our two-and-a-half-acre property, in your home, or at another meaningful location, we'll talk through the details ahead of time.
Don’t Leave Part of Your Family Behind
Think about the pets who share your home. Maybe one has been with you for 14 years, another joined the family as a rescue, and a younger one keeps everyone entertained.
Each one has a story. Each one has a place in your family.
Years from now, when you look at your portraits, you'll want to remember all of them and the life you shared together.
That's why we encourage families to include every pet they can in their portrait experience.
So whether you have one fur-baby or four, there's no need to choose who gets to be photographed. Bring the whole crew, plan for a little extra help if needed, and we'll work together to create portraits that celebrate every member of your pet family.
Bring the whole crew. We'd love to meet them all!
Misty Westebbe Photography is an award-winning portrait studio in Franklin, Tennessee, specializing in pets and their people, families, and more. Pet portrait sessions are available at our private studio property, in clients’ homes, and at select locations throughout Middle Tennessee.
