Client Concerns – Part 3: But My Dog Can’t Be Off-Leash

One of the very first things my clients notice when they look at my website or gallery is that very few, if any, of the dogs I photograph are on leashes. The next comment I almost always hear is that there’s no way their dog would ever cooperate off a leash (and therefore is not a good candidate for a session).

Well, I want to let you in on a little secret: almost all the dogs I photograph are leashed during their session, whether it’s to keep your pup safe–my top priority during your session–or because the location we’re shooting in requires all dogs be leashed. The only time a dog I’m working with is permitted off-leash is if the owner is 110% comfortable with their dog’s recall.

The reason you don’t see many leashes and/or harnesses in the final images presented to my clients is because I am able to remove them during post-processing through the magic of Photoshop. See for yourself by moving the slider to the left and right to see the before-and-after of Ace and Odie.

I am also happy to share suggestions on how to hold your dog’s leash to make removing it later a breeze. There are some instances, however, when a leash or harness cannot be removed during post-processing because the image simply won’t look right or because it is not technically possible. If this is the case with any of your photos, I will let you know during your big reveal and ordering appointment so that you can make the best decision regarding your products and prints.


This Client Concerns post is the third in a three-part blog series addressing the top three client concerns and myths I hear surrounding pet photography. Click here to read part one and click here to read part two. 

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