Your Pet Stories Shoot

If you’ve been wondering about hiring a pet photographer, but you’re not sure how it all works, read on for an insight into the Pet Stories process and why taking the pictures is only a small part of it.

The Pre-Shoot Process

From the minute your enquiry is received, Emily is already thinking about location, style and the overall aesthetic of your shoot. In the early stages, Emily will ask a few questions so that she can really understand your pet. This means your shoot will truly reflect your bond and is individual to you and your little pal.
There might be a certain behaviour trait, or something that makes your animal unique and special to you that you want to capture. So it's a great opportunity to mention special requests or 'things to look out for'. If you have a nervous dog, Emily is more than happy to arrange a meet before your shoot, with no additional charge. Once your location, date and time is sorted, Emily will ask for a deposit.

How to Prepare for Your Photoshoot

Ahead of your shoot, Emily will ask that you wear something plain in colour and not too print heavy. Jazzy clothing can often make photos look a bit busy. If your pet has a favourite treat, it can be great to have some to hand, however Emily prefers not to use treats or toys as an incentive, as they can lead to startled and unnatural looking shots. And finally, if your pet has a ‘Sunday Best’ collar, definitely dig it out for their shoot.

Shoot-Day

The first 10-15 minutes of your session is used to simply get to know your pet. The act of just sitting calmly (usually with a brew) allows your pet to get all of their excitement out the way, so that they can relax around a new person in the house.

Emily lets your pet take the lead. The whole photoshoot is about the two of you/the whole family just doing what you usually would. Whether that’s playing, having cuddles, sleeping, or even being a nuisance. For your pet, it’s a day of doing all of their favourite things.

When you choose our Premium package (our most popular), there’s no restriction on time for your shoot. Most shoots usually last between 1-2 hours and it’s totally up to you if you want to split your shoot across multiple locations. Maybe some shots at home, followed by a few snaps on your pet’s favourite walk?

Throughout your shoot, Emily will ask questions about your pet’s routine and their personality. This is a nifty distraction tactic so that everyone feels as relaxed and as natural as possible. And if you don’t want any pictures with your pet, that’s totally fine! You would be surprised how a bond can be captured even when the owner doesn’t feature in the photos.

Your Photos

It takes Emily around 4-7 days to get digital images over to you. You will receive an email link for an online viewing gallery where you can view and download your photos. It’s at this stage that you can also choose any favourites that you would like to be transformed into prints. Once you have decided on your prints, they usually arrive within 1-2 weeks. Your prints are beautifully hand packaged in our Alan branded tissue paper and if you’re local to Sheffield Emily will hand deliver them.