You’d love a portrait of your dog on your wall, but they’re reactive or anxious. Maybe they bark a lot when they’re uncomfortable, they don’t want to be approached by people or other dogs, or maybe they have a bite history.
Whatever your dog’s triggers are, you know they’d never cooperate for a photoshoot, but even worse: they’d absolutely hate it and have a horrible time.
So you’ve already ruled a professional portrait photoshoot out, because even if they tolerated the whole thing, you’re sure the photos would just show a frightened dog… and who wants that memory on their wall?
I’m glad that’s your first instinct. Protecting your dog is what’s most important. But here’s what I want you to know: a reactive, anxious or shy dog can have a calm, gentle photo session. And you can have portraits of them that you love.
I’ve done it many times, and I understand these dogs more than most, for a reason I’ll get to in a second.
Here’s what we’re going to cover:
Your dog isn’t a difficult case
Let me clear something up first, because I think it’s why a lot of people never ask. A reactive, anxious, or shy dog is not a difficult case I reluctantly put up with.
I truly love working with them. They have a personality, preferences, and their own way of moving through the world. They should be celebrated with beautiful portraits as much as any dog.
Those of us who love these dogs often share an even closer bond with them, because they ask you to listen, learn and respect boundaries, and earn their trust. You and your dog lean on each other in a way an easygoing dog never quite demands, and that’s a bond that deserves to be honoured.
I have a reactive dog, too
I understand your hesitancy, because my own dog Basil is reactive. (The worst part? He’s cute as hell so people are always coming up to him with their hand extended for a pet.) I’ve honed the perfect RBF, “don’t come close to me” body language, and swerve tactics to prevent uncomfortable or potentially dangerous encounters.
I’ve done all the group and private training from the time he was a puppy to help him through it, but his reactivity never went away. After eight years, it’s simply part of who he is and something I got very good at managing. I read his body language, I know the things and the places to steer clear of, and I advocate for him constantly to keep him safe and happy.
This is an ordinary reality of life with some dogs, and it’s one I know personally. So when your dog needs space, or time, or a wide berth from the thing that worries them, you aren’t explaining yourself to a stranger. You’re talking to someone who already gets it.
Your session is built around YOUR dog
Everything about your portrait experience is designed to help your reactive or nervous dog thrive. This process starts long before I ever take out my camera.
During our Planning Consultation, we talk through what your dog loves and what worries them. This helps me determine the best approach to achieve the portraits you want, while keeping your dog safe and happy. Specifically, I’ll ask you questions to finalize details like:
- How and where to meet your dog (i.e. neutral territory, avoiding eye contact, staying back, tossing treats from a distance, etc.)
- What portraits will be most meaningful to you (must-haves). That is my north star during the session, but I adapt HOW I achieve those portraits to what your dog needs in real time.
- The activities your dog will enjoy doing
- The people and supporters that should be present
Nothing is rushed, they are never pushed toward anything they aren’t ready for, and they can take a break the second they need one. When the session is handled properly and no one is pressuring your dog, they will usually warm up on their own. Their tension loosens and they actually have fun.
Most people who take the leap to book a session for their reactive dog are genuinely so pleasantly surprised with how well it goes. The experience sometimes even builds more trust and strengthens the relationship between people and their dogs.
Here’s what Chicot’s mom told me after her session:
“A year ago I wouldn’t even have thought it possible to take him in a public space, new person, different setting without a full-on meltdown. I almost chickened out of the session. But this really upped my confidence in him.”
Choosing the right location
Where we photograph a reactive dog matters as much as how. We pick the spot together at your Planning Consultation, based on wherever your dog is most at ease.
For a lot of dogs that’s on their favourite walking trails or parks, or even at home on their own territory. For others it’s a quiet, neutral outdoor spot where other dogs and people don’t often go. Sometimes my studio is the ideal location, for a calm, distraction-free environment.
If they’re happier staying on their leash the whole time, that’s completely fine, I remove it afterward so the artwork looks leash-free. If they’re leash-reactive, we’ll choose a private or quiet space where they can legally be off-leash, with no other dogs around.
The idea is simple: photograph them somewhere where distractions and triggers are limited, so they can just be themselves.
I’m based in Saguenay, and I bring sessions to Quebec City about once a month and Montreal a few times a year, with travel across Quebec, Ontario, and the rest of Canada on request, so we’ll find a time and place that works for your dog.
Kazu was a fearful rescue, and here’s how her session went
Kerri’s beautiful dog Kazu was a shepherd mix, a rescue, around nine years old and fearful-reactive. The kind of dog who needs you to respect their space and earn your way in.
We met outside my studio first, where I kept my distance, avoided eye contact, and tossed treats over while she sized me up from somewhere safe. Then I waited. After five or ten minutes, curiosity won and Kazu came over to investigate on her own terms. Once she was comfortable, we moved inside and photographed her. Kazu has sadly since passed away, but Kerri has a beautiful print of her hanging at home now.
Here’s how Kerri tells it, from her side:
“We got an amazing portrait of our dog done by Sam! Our dog has behaviour and reactivity issues. Sam was incredibly professional and patient. She took the time to allow our dog to become comfortable outside with her before bringing her into the studio. She was able to capture an amazing photo of her. We could not be happier with the result. Thank you, Sam :)”
You’re their advocate, like always
Your job at the session is easy, but important: be the person your dog already trusts. Stay close so they have an anchor. Reassure them the way you always do. Sit with them while they warm up, and hand them the treats that reward their bravery and efforts. You read their signals better than anyone, so you’re also my early warning for when they need a break, and they can take one any time they want.
And it’s a small, calm crew at your session. Only me and my partner Pierre-Luc, two calm and quiet people who move slowly, hang back, and let your dog come to us. No crowd, no commotion, nothing to freak out your dog.
Photos that show the best parts of their personality
Ok, so it can be done, but will it be good? Even if your dog gets through it, won’t they look tense and miserable in every image?
No, they’ll look like your favourite version of them, because I don’t start making the portraits that matter until your dog is relaxed and comfortable. By the time the camera is up, they look like themselves, soft ears, calm eyes, the face you know from the couch at home.
My approach is quality over quantity, always. Thanks to our Planning Consultation, I already know exactly what portraits and artwork will be most meaningful for you. This allows me to create what you want in a shorter period of time, so your dog is happy the whole time and their personality shines.
Emily brought two senior dogs, one of them deaf and low-vision, and this is how the session felt to her:
“I had a wonderful experience with Sam- she captured my girls personalities perfectly and the photos are absolutely beautiful, something I will treasure forever. I loved working with Sam- she was so incredibly patient with two (one deaf with low vision) seniors, taking her time to catch them just as they were. It was such a low pressure, relaxed photo session- I don’t think my girls even knew they were being watched and the end product was spectacular. If you’re thinking of working with Sam, do it!”
One step to create portraits like these of your dog
If you keep talking yourself out of a photography experience because you’re not sure your dog could handle it, I’d love to invite you to take a tiny leap of faith. The next step is small. It’s not a booking or a commitment. It’s a conversation about your dog, what scares them, what settles them, and what you’d love to end up with on your wall.
Together we figure out whether a session makes sense for them. No pressure either way.
That’s the whole first step, and you can take it whenever you’re ready
