Family photography with dogs on Florida's Gulf Coast
Sarasota Family Photographer for Photos With Your Dog
Sometimes the dog is as much a part of the vacation as anyone else in the car. If yours came to Florida with you, there is no reason to leave it out of the photographs. I photograph families with dogs, I enjoy it, and I can help you plan a session and a location that work for your family and your dog.
Your dog can be part of the family photos
This is not a separate pet photography appointment. It is a normal family session, and the dog is simply one of you. From one session you can come away with everyone together, the family without the dog, a child with the dog, the two of you with the dog, a few frames of the dog on its own, and the walking, waiting and playing that happen in between. Every family builds it differently, and that is the point.
Many of the families I photograph are visiting Florida for a week and the dog came with them. If your dog is part of the vacation, it can be part of the session too. I schedule sessions with dogs in the morning, and they run as a full one-hour session rather than a mini session - the dog needs room to settle, walk and be itself, and the beach is quieter and cooler early in the day.
Can we take family photos with our dog on the beach?
Sometimes, and it depends on the beach. Several Gulf Coast beaches have real restrictions on pets, so I do not promise that any dog can come to any Sarasota beach. What I do instead is simple: tell me where you are staying before the session, and I help you think through a location that makes sense for your family and your dog. Pet rules vary by beach, park and property, so I always recommend confirming the location before the session.
A dog-friendly beach option in Venice
One straightforward option is Brohard Paw Park in Venice, which is specifically set aside for dogs: a dog beach, a fenced area, a boardwalk, showers, drinking fountains for people and dogs, and parking. If that location fits your trip and the kind of photographs you want, it can be a good answer. Whether your dog is on a leash or off it there depends on the rules on the day and on your dog, and we decide that together.
The beach is not the only option
If a public beach does not work, the session still can. Depending on where you are staying and what the rules allow, we can look at a dog-friendly park, a permitted outdoor location, or your vacation rental. Sometimes the easiest answer is not another beach. If your rental has a good yard, pool or outdoor area and the property allows it, we can sometimes build part or all of the session there.
Family first, dog included
I do not spend the session trying to make your dog look at the camera. I photograph the family first, and the dog is included in the way it is included in your life: walking beside you, pulling toward the water, leaning on a child, lying down in the shade when it has had enough. So you get a mix - a few more traditional family portraits, walking, play, quieter close photographs, the dog with one person, and the dog on its own when the moment is there. I do not work from a shot list, and I do not promise a fixed number of dog photographs. I photograph what actually happens.
What if our dog will not sit still?
That is fine. Your dog does not need to be perfect in front of the camera. It does not have to sit, hold a pose or know commands. We can work with walking, movement and the way your family naturally interacts, and those photographs usually look better than a dog forced to sit still anyway.
Bring a leash, water, and if it helps, a few small treats or a favorite toy to get your dog's attention for a moment. Whether your dog stays on a leash depends on the location and the situation. Safety and the rules of the location come first.
Family photography with dogs FAQ
Can our dog be in our family photos?
Yes. That is the whole idea. The dog joins a regular family session and is in as many or as few of the photographs as you want.
Can we take photos with our dog on a Sarasota beach?
Some beaches restrict dogs. Tell me where you are staying and I will help you choose a location before you settle on a beach.
What if our dog will not sit still?
Not a problem. The session can use movement and the natural interaction between your dog and your family.
Do we need to bring a leash?
Yes, please bring one. Whether it stays on during every photograph depends on the rules of the location and on safety.
Can we photograph at our vacation rental?
Often yes, if the property allows it and the yard, pool or outdoor area works visually. Tell me about it when you write.
Planning family photos with your dog?
A session with your dog is my regular one-hour family session, from $350, scheduled in the morning. Current options and open dates are on the live Sessions page. Tell me where you are staying, roughly what kind of session you want, and that you are bringing a dog, and I will help you work out the location.