How to Prepare for a Puppy Photoshoot

Chantell Schulz • December 4, 2025

A puppy photoshoot is the perfect way to capture your furbaby’s cutest stage with their tiny paws, clumsy sits, floppy ears, and all their personality. As a Calgary dog photographer, I’ve worked with puppies of every energy level, from shy little beans to full-on chaos gremlins.


Here are 5 simple steps to help you prepare and make the most out of your puppy photoshoot.

1. Bring High-Value Treats They Actually Value

For puppies, treats are everything, but the everyday treats won’t grab their attention during a session. Bring the good stuff...the treats that make their tail go wild. This helps with tiny poses, focus, and rewarding those adorable moments.

2. Let Your Puppy Be Themselves

Puppies don’t need to sit still or follow cues perfectly. Your session is built around play, exploration, micro moments of calm, and all the messy cuteness that makes this stage special. The more natural they act, the better your photos will be.

3. Keep Leashes On

Safety comes first, and your puppy will stay on-leash for photos. Don’t worry, I remove leashes during editing so your final photos look clean and distraction-free.

4. Expect Breaks (and Lots of Praise!)

Puppies get excited fast and tire even faster. Sessions include plenty of breaks for sniffing, water, calming down, or zoomies. Everything is paced slowly, using positive reinforcement so your puppy feels safe and confident.

5. Choose the Right Time to Book

While you can book anytime, most pawrents choose between 8–16 weeks when puppies still have that baby look but are curious enough to interact. Honestly, every stage is worth capturing. If your pup is older, you haven’t missed your moment.

If you’d love photos that capture your puppy’s real personality, whether it's goofy, sweet, shy, brave, or all of the above...I’d love to photograph them!


Ready to plan your puppy photoshoot? Let’s fetch some photos!

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