Do dogs like getting their picture taken?
- Mr. Paw Portraits
- Jun 15
- 6 min read
The Question Every Pet Owner Asks Me Before Booking
Before almost every session I book, I hear some version of the same question: But does my dog actually like this?
It's a fair thing to wonder. You love your dog. You don't want to drag them into something stressful just to get a pretty photo. So I want to give you a real answer — not a marketing answer — based on what I've actually seen after photographing dozens of dogs across Fort Lauderdale beaches, forest trails, and city streets.
Here's What Most People Get Wrong About Pet Photography
Your dog doesn't care about my camera. Not even a little.
What your dog cares about is being outside. Running. Sniffing. Exploring. Swimming. Fetching. And that's exactly what I let them do during a session. I shoot with a telephoto lens, which means I hang back and capture your dog living their best life — mid-sprint, nose to the ground, or standing tall and majestic — without hovering over them or making them feel watched.
Most of my sessions look less like a photo shoot and more like the best walk your dog has had in months. By the end, they're completely wiped out. The camera is almost invisible to them. The experience is what they love.
What I Actually See From Dogs During Sessions
The overwhelming majority of dogs I photograph react positively from the moment we arrive on location. They're energized, curious, and free to explore. That energy is exactly what creates the best images.
When it comes time for a more posed shot — sitting, looking toward camera — that's where it gets trickier. Dogs naturally want to look around at their environment rather than at a stranger with a big lens. I use a noise maker to grab their attention, but I've learned not to overdo it. Dogs figure out the pattern fast and stop reacting, so timing and patience matter more than any gadget.
Treats are a game changer. Trained dogs especially tend to lock in once they know treats are involved. They get focused, they respond, and the shots come naturally.
In all my sessions, I've only had two dogs that were genuinely difficult to work with — and both had histories of abuse. They were shy around people and guarded in open environments with a stranger nearby. That's not a photography challenge. That's a trauma response, and it deserves patience, not pressure.
The Story of Dulce
I want to tell you about a dog named Dulce, because this session changed how I think about this work.
Dulce was completely blind. Her owner brought her to the beach here in Fort Lauderdale, and honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect. What happened instead was one of the most beautiful sessions I've ever photographed.
Dulce used her other senses — smell, sound, the feeling of sand under her paws — to explore the shoreline, run, and genuinely enjoy herself. She wasn't limited by her blindness. She was fully alive in that moment, and it came through in every single frame.
Her owner was overjoyed with the photos. Then Dulce was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away not long after the session.
Her owner messaged me afterward to tell me how grateful she was that we did the shoot. That she looks at those photos every single day. That they give her joy when she thinks of Dulce.
That's not a photo shoot. That's a memory that outlives a life. And that's exactly why this work matters to me.
Do Dogs Actually Enjoy It? My Honest Opinion
Yes — but not because of the camera.
Most dogs don't get long stretches of outdoor time because their owners have jobs, busy schedules, and full lives. When I book a session, I'm dedicating a full hour to letting that dog run, explore, sniff, fetch, and just be a dog. The outdoor experience is the gift. The photo shoot is just the vehicle that captures it.
I also pay attention to what individual dogs respond to. Trained dogs often seem like they genuinely love the process — they react to cues, hold attention, and settle in for treats like they know exactly what's happening. Other dogs are more naturally free-spirited and couldn't care less about posing, and that's fine too, because the action shots and candid moments are often the most stunning images I deliver.
The bottom line is that when a dog is in an environment they love, doing things they enjoy, with their owner nearby — they're happy. The camera just happens to be there.
What I Ask Every Owner Before We Start
Before any session, I ask one simple question: What does your dog love to do?
Some owners say the beach without hesitation. Others tell me their dog has never even been to the beach. Some dogs are forest explorers. Others thrive in urban settings with city energy around them. I build the session around the answer, not the other way around. The location should feel natural for your dog — not forced for the sake of a backdrop.
My advice for owners who are nervous going in is simple: don't worry. Bring a leash, bring their favorite treats, and let me handle the rest. I'll spend the first few minutes letting your dog get used to the environment before I ever lift the camera. I've done this enough times to know that when a dog is comfortable, the photos take care of themselves.
The Objections I Hear All the Time (And Why None of Them Should Stop You)
Almost every owner comes to me with at least one reason why their dog might not work for a session. Here's what I hear most often and what actually happens:
My dog doesn't stay still. That's not a problem — it's an opportunity. Some of my best images are dogs mid-leap, mid-sprint, or in full zoomies mode. Movement creates energy in a photo that posed shots can't always match.
My dog is black and hard to photograph. I've heard this one more times than I can count. I know how to expose and light for dark coats. I've created stunning wall art of black dogs that stopped people in their tracks.
My dog isn't photogenic. Every single dog I've photographed has come out looking incredible. That's my job. A great photographer doesn't wait for the perfect subject — they find the magic in every subject.
I already have a ton of photos of my dog on my phone. You probably do. But there's a real difference between a snapshot on a phone screen and a 16x24 metal print hanging in your living room. One is documentation. The other is fine art — something you'll look at every day and eventually pass down.
A beautiful memory that will last in your home forever
What Great Pet Photography Actually Gives You
I'm a photographer, but what I really create is a way for you to hold onto your dog forever. The metal wall prints I produce are statement pieces — the kind of thing guests stop and comment on the moment they walk into your home. The heirloom albums I create are something you hold in your hands, flip through slowly, and feel something every time.
Phone photos are easy to take and easy to forget. Fine art created from a real session with intention behind every shot is something else entirely. It's a record of who your dog was — their personality, their joy, their spark — preserved in a way that does them justice.
Dulce's owner understood that. She didn't know at the time that it would be the last time she'd see her dog run free on the beach. But those images are with her every single day, and they bring her happiness instead of just grief.
That's what you're really booking when you book a session. Not just photos. A permanent piece of your relationship with your dog.
Ready to Book Your Session?
If you've been on the fence because you weren't sure your dog would be a good fit, I hope this answers that question. The vast majority of dogs thrive during a session because we build the entire experience around what they love.
I'm Mario Mihalik, founder of Mr. Paw Portraits and back-to-back 2025 and 2026 Best Photographer of Fort Lauderdale. I'd love to create something extraordinary for you and your dog.
Visit mrpawportraits.com to view our session experience and investment or reach out to start planning your session today.
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