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SESSION PREPARATION GUIDE

FOR DOG MODEL PARENTS

PREPARING FOR YOUR SESSION

BRUSH UP ON SOME TRAINING

While stellar obedience isn’t required, a little basic training goes a long way!! Especially handy for photo sessions is “stay” - at a distance, with distractions and duration.

Stay is handy in all positions - including stand. If your dog doesn’t have much training, don’t worry, our attendees need to learn how to work with untrained dogs as well!

WHAT TO WEAR - DOGGO EDITION

BATH

It’s a good idea to give them a bath the day before the session to remove dust and dirt from their coat - this really shows up in photographs, particularly on black or dark dogs. 

FLUFFY DOGS

If your dog is fluffy or long-coated, make sure they’ve been thoroughly brushed and their coat is free of matting, tangles, dirt, and debris.

If your dog usually visits a groomer, try to schedule that appointment at least a day or two prior to our session so your dog has some time to relax between these big outings!

COLLAR TAGS

Not only do hanging metal tags keep you up at night, they also detract from the final look of your images. 

If you’re comfortable with it, please remove them prior to the session, either all of them or everything except the name tag or use a different collar just for the session.

COLLARS & LEASHES

Just as you wouldn’t show up to a big photoshoot wearing old ratty sweatpants, old and worn collars can really detract from the final feel of the photo. 

Maybe treat your pup to a spiffy new collar for their big day - ideally a collar that is neutral in color and not too patterned or bright! 

Please also bring a standard flat 6’ leash for your session and leave the retractable leashes at home.

HARNESSES

If your dog usually walks in a harness or head collar, by all means bring them to the shoot while wearing them. 

However, if at all possible, swap their outfit to a flat collar, or at least a martingale collar for those that are a flight-risk with a small head, for the actual photography part of the session. 

If you choose to keep a harness on your dog, it will not be removed in the final images.

GOING NUDE

Your dog is welcome to be “naked” in the photos which give a nice clean look to the images, however, this is usually possible only in secure off-leash locations with minimal distractions. Please keep your dog’s collar and tags on if you’re concerned about legalities, or if your dog does not have good recall. 

WHAT TO WEAR - DOGGO EDITION

BATH

It’s a good idea to give them a bath the day before the session to remove dust and dirt from their coat - this really shows up in photographs, particularly on black or dark dogs. 

FLUFFY DOGS

If your dog is fluffy or long-coated, make sure they’ve been thoroughly brushed and their coat is free of matting, tangles, dirt, and debris.

If your dog usually visits a groomer, try to schedule that appointment at least a day or two prior to our session so your dog has some time to relax between these big outings!

COLLAR TAGS

Not only do hanging metal tags keep you up at night, they also detract from the final look of your images. 

If you’re comfortable with it, please remove them prior to the session, either all of them or everything except the name tag or use a different collar just for the session.

COLLARS & LEASHES

Just as you wouldn’t show up to a big photoshoot wearing old ratty sweatpants, old and worn collars can really detract from the final feel of the photo. 

Maybe treat your pup to a spiffy new collar for their big day - ideally a collar that is neutral in color and not too patterned or bright! 

Please also bring a standard flat 6’ leash for your session and leave the retractable leashes at home.

HARNESSES

If your dog usually walks in a harness or head collar, by all means bring them to the shoot while wearing them. 

However, if at all possible, swap their outfit to a flat collar, or at least a martingale collar for those that are a flight-risk with a small head, for the actual photography part of the session. 

If you choose to keep a harness on your dog, it will not be removed in the final images.

GOING NUDE

Your dog is welcome to be “naked” in the photos which give a nice clean look to the images, however, this is usually possible only in secure off-leash locations with minimal distractions. Please keep your dog’s collar and tags on if you’re concerned about legalities, or if your dog does not have good recall. 

WHAT TO WEAR - HUMAN EDITION

Our focus will be mostly on the dogs themselves, but it’s possible our attendees may want to capture a few images of your special relationship with your dog. Don’t worry, these are cheesy glamour shots of the 90’s! I promise you will love them.

If you’re cool with us taking a few shots of you with your dog and want to look your best, here are some clothing suggestions:

  • Neutral colors always photograph beautifully - grey, creams, browns or greys, desaturated colors
  • A nice pair of jeans always look great, especially paired with some texture like a sweater or some jewelry.
  • Some locations may require a bit of walking and navigating long grass or rough ground - so we recommend wearing proper shoes - ideally shoes that are still fairly clean and decent looking!

LET'S TALK FOOD

We often use treats to bond with your dog and reward desirable behavior. We will have some treats that are very popular with many of our subjects but if your dog has dietary restrictions or is picky, please bring your own treats.

Treats should be cut up in the teeniest-tiniest pieces. This way we can work with your dog without filling them up or upsetting their GI system. Seriously, treats that are the size of a piece of kibble are plenty.

We also use toys and other methods to motivate your dog, especially for dogs that aren’t very food motivated OR for those that are so food motivated that they can’t think about anything else if food comes out!

If your dog is ball or toy-motivated, please grab those to bring along with you as well. Maybe just keep them in a bag so they don’t obsess on them.

DURING THE PHOTO SESSION

ARRIVING AT THE LOCATION

We will share an exact meeting spot with Google map link a day or two prior to the session - as we will be finalizing our session locations on March 7th.  

If you do not receive the directions 24 hours before your session or are still unclear about the meeting location, please let us know. 

All locations will be within 30 minutes of Rosemary Beach.

Feel free to email or message:

Amy at [email protected] or via text at +1 317 985 6030

If you need any last-minute help finding the place or if you are running more than 10 minutes late. 

SESSION FORMAT

As these photo shoots are teaching sessions, they run a little differently from regular photo sessions. For most shoots, you’ll be with an instructor and a group of four attendees. We may start off with a demonstration by the instructor before splitting into smaller groups or pairs.

Each group will work with one dog, and we will aim to swap around during the session to allow the attendees to photograph a variety of dogs.

There may be some downtime where your dog is not required - use this time to have a break and give your dog some water and a rest.

Unless we specifically let you know otherwise, we’ll need your dog there for the whole time, so please don’t abandon us if we’re not currently working with your dog! 

WORKING WITH YOUR DOG

We’ll always aim to give you clear directions about what we need from your dog. At times we might need your dog to stay in one spot for a while; standing, sitting or lying down. We’ll always aim to let you know when you can “release” your dog from the stay, so you’re not standing there wondering what’s happening! And if your dog is not cooperating that is no problem! Please don’t get stressed. We will change our plan, instead of forcing the dog to comply with us.

Sometimes we’ll ask to work with your dog directly - our attendees need practice handling dogs themselves as well.

If at any time you are confused about what is expected, or feel your dog is not happy or safe, please talk to the instructor at your shoot.

WHAT TO BRING:

  • One or two handlers per dog - no children under 14 please
  • ONE bag to hold everything you bring
  • Regular collar and lead and/or;
  • Special occasion collar and lead
  • LOTS of your dog’s favorite treats (tiny pieces) in a treat pouch or sealed container (open bags of treats can be very easily spilled)
  • Your dog’s favorite toy/s
  • A towel - if there’s a chance your dog will be getting wet
  • Water & drinking container for your dog
  • Water for you
  • Sensible shoes/clothes for you - if there is walking or rough ground involved
  • Lots of patience and a good sense of humor!

WHAT NOT TO BRING:

  • Additional dogs not being photographed
  • Extra people or children under 14

BEHIND-THE-SCENES PHOTOS

We always love seeing “behind the scenes” photos taken at our workshops of us in action, so if you manage to grab some and would like to share, you can text or email them to Craig, or just share them on social media using the hashtag #progresslab2025 - where you also might see some sneak peeks of your dog!

FAQ'S

AFTER THE SESSION

WHEN DO I GET TO SEE THE PHOTOS

As a thank you for your participation, you’ll have access to download a selection of full-resolution images taken by the instructors and attendees - you may use these images as much as you like for your personal enjoyment, including sharing on social media, making prints or personal albums.

We’ll need some time to compile your dog’s photos after the retreats so can expect to receive these around May 1, 2025.