Cheerful Baby Session with Dogs in Morris County, NJ

In-home photo sessions offer a wonderful way to celebrate the arrival of a new baby and capture the bond between family members, including your favorite furry friend. Pets are very often our first “baby” and hold a special place in families. That’s why I’m happy to include your family pet in your session, especially when they are as sweet, doting and well-behaved as this family’s two beautiful dogs.

Embracing Your Baby’s Growing Personality

When this momma reached out to schedule a relaxed in-home lifestyle session, we chatted about her goals. Rather than opting for a newborn session, she wanted to wait until her baby was a bit older and more alert. She also wanted to capture a few family images with their fur babies. While I love photographing sleepy newborns during their first few weeks at home, scheduling a session when your baby is a little older is a wonderful way to capture more dynamic images that showcase your little one’s growing personality. With this goal in mind, we planned a session for when her baby was a little over six months.

Baby Sloane was all smiles when I arrived and one of the happiest babies I’ve photographed during my more than 10 years as a family and newborn photographer. I was thrilled to capture her cheerful personality and the intimate and playful bond she and her husband shared with her, as well as showcase the connection with their two dogs.

Planning A Photo Session with Dogs

Typically, I tell families that we’ll plan to include a couple photos with the family pet. However, it was clear how much these golden pups adored their baby sister and wanted to be close by at all times. And both parents and I were happy to embrace that as part of their story.

A few tips I recommend when planning a session with dogs:

1. Prepare your dog – make sure your dog is fed, comfortable and calm. Tip: a tired dog is more likely to cooperate during your session so consider taking him for a walk or letting him run around your yard before your session.
2. Choose natural and comfortable poses – Let your dog sit or lay down next to you and your baby in whatever way is most natural to how they typically interact with you. Don’t try to force them into uncomfortable positions or to do anything that might cause stress or anxiety.
3. Keep treats on hand – Treats are a great reward for good behavior and to encourage positive interactions with your baby.
4. Be flexible – Babies and dogs can be unpredictable during a photo session. Be patient and flexible and focus on capturing authentic moments.

With a little planning ahead and embracing the unique dynamics of your family, we can create beautiful photos that reflect the love, joy, and companionship shared between your pets and your newest addition. And, when your session takes place at home, not only is it a comfortable and cozy experience for babies and parents, but your pet will be happy too!

Want to schedule an in home session with your family and pet(s) or learn more about working with me? I’d love to hear from you!