Don’t Be a Hover-Human: Why Where You Stand Matters More Than You Think During Your Pet Photography Session

If there’s one universal truth about pet photography sessions, it’s this: you will, at some point, end up in the photo. It’s inevitable. You’re helping wrangle your pup, encouraging those sit-stays with your best treat-jazz-hands, and doing your absolute best to be both dog mom and stage manager. And you know what? That’s totally normal.

I expect it. I plan for it. Heck, I welcome it! (Nothing says “real-life bond” like a pair of Crocs and the sleeve of a sweatshirt sneakily photobombing the edge of a frame.) But—and this is a gentle, lovingly enthusiastic “but”—please don’t stand directly behind your dog. Seriously. Not even a little bit. Not even “just for one shot.”

Why? Well, despite the miracles of modern technology and my trusty Photoshop wand (which, fun fact, is not actually a wand but a Wacom pen), trying to erase a human directly behind a dog is a bit like trying to bake a cake after someone’s already eaten half the batter. It’s messy, takes twice as long, and the results—while probably delicious—are never quite what they could have been.

Don’t worry, I get it. You’re excited. You’re proud. You want to be close to your dog (or maybe your dog wants to be close to you), but when you’re standing directly behind him, your presence can become a bit…challenging in creating the final portrait. Kind of like accidental photo bomber meets slightly disembodied dog parts. Not quite the timeless portrait you envisioned, right?

It’s Not You, It’s…Well, Your Knees

When you’re standing right behind your dog, especially in those early moments when we’re getting them warmed up and focused, you become what I like to call a “hover-human.” That’s the term I lovingly use for the client whose legs, shoes, or entire torso ends up framed perfectly behind their dog’s floofy tail or pointy ears.

And listen, I get it—your dog loves you, needs you, and often doesn’t want to take their eyes off you. But from a photography standpoint? It’s tricky. Editing out leash-holding hands or stray elbows off to the side is one thing; reconstructing an entire background behind a Labrador’s backside? A whole different level of Photoshop gymnastics.

Photoshop to the Rescue (Because Magic is Real and Often Necessary)

Here’s the good news: if you find yourself caught in this oh-so-natural but less-than-ideal stance, or we discover that your dog only strikes his best Zoolander pose while you’re two inches behind him, all is not lost. That’s where my post-processing prowess comes into play. Enter leash removal, background cleanup, human limb vanishing acts, and all the Photoshop sorcery my retoucher and I lovingly pour into your portraits. We can make it look like your dog is living his best off-leash life in a fairytale field, even if you were standing just inches away. Master art retouching is one way I elevate your portraits into something you’ll want to turn into wall-worthy artwork, not just hide in a folder on your desktop.

So, Where Should You Stand?

Still, even the best editing has its limits, and nothing beats getting it right in-camera. To help us capture the absolute best portraits during your session, follow these quick tips:

• Stand off to the side rather than directly behind your dog. Think about being at a 45-degree angle—close enough to interact, but out of the main frame.
• Keep a loose leash (and I mean that literally). A taut leash screams tension in photos. Hold it gently and lower, ideally with a relaxed arm by your side.
• Let the leash fall naturally, or if needed, I’ll position it to run along the back of your dog where it’s less visible and easier to edit out later.
• Take a knee or crouch if you’re helping your dog stay focused. This often puts you out of frame while still giving him the comfort he needs.
• Bring along a long lead in addition to your usual leash, which is great for safety and freedom of movement but still gives your pup the illusion of being completely untethered, without the anxiety of actually being, well, unleashed.

Your TLDR summary

This is your reminder that you are allowed to be present. You’re allowed (and expected) to assist. You’re allowed to squat behind the scenes like a cheese ninja. I’ll direct you. I’ll help you. I’ll even praise your leash-holding posture like it’s Olympic-worthy, and if you accidentally hover, no worries—I’ve built my workflow and team around real dogs and real people doing real things.

I always capture a wide variety of images, and yes, some may feature your jeans and your arm, but those are just the warm-ups. Once your dog gets comfy and we’ve got our rhythm, I’ll step in to help reposition you like the behind-the-scenes puppeteer I am.

And remember: if all else fails, I’ve got a digital eraser with your name on it.

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Ready to see your dog shine leash-free (and hover-human-free)? Let’s create portraits that look effortless, even if we were doing a full-on dog-and-human yoga routine behind the scenes, which happens 90% of the time, by the way. Choose your adventure, limber up, and let’s get started!