Your long-awaited photography session is right around the corner, and you’re stoked to get some adorable photos with the most important member of the family – your dog! But what should you wear? What should you not wear?
Picking an outfit for a photoshoot can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! Check out this nifty guide on what not to wear when posing with your dog. Are patterns okay? What colors should you avoid? What kinds of clothes are hard to pose in? We’ll answer all of these questions and talk about what you should wear instead so that you can be best prepared for your session.
When I photograph pets and their people, I want everyone to look and feel their best – but some clothes photograph better than others.
Loud and Busy Patterns
When photographing dogs and their humans, I want the attention to be on you and your pet, not your clothing. A patterned dress or shirt can make a visually interesting addition to a photo, but sometimes it can be distracting. Patterns with bold colors and high contrast can hog all of the attention and can create a lot of extra “noise” in the photo that clutters it up.
As your photographer, I want to capture the way the light hits your furbaby’s soft brown eyes, their spunky personality, the way you look at them, and the love you have for each other. Busy patterns can take the attention from what truly matters, and that’s why they’re first on our list of what not to wear when posing with your dog.
This isn’t to say you should avoid patterns completely. Pairing patterns with coordinating solid colors can really make your photo pop! But steer clear of conflicting patterns if there’s more than one person in the photo – if one of you is wearing polka-dots and the other is wearing a vibrant plaid, it brings in too much visual clutter.
Solid Black or White
While solid colors are usually a safe bet, avoid wearing solid black or white – especially if you have a pet of the same or opposite color. Your white rescue puppy will stand out wonderfully against your black dress – but so will her hair!
When choosing an outfit to pose with your pup, consider how the color and fabric of the clothing will show your pet’s shed hair.
Similarly, while you want to coordinate with your pet and wear a color that complements you both, be careful of matching your furbaby a little too well. A black dog may completely disappear against your black sweater.
Lastly, check the weather on the day of your photoshoot. White clothing can give photos a gorgeous light and airy vibe, but it reflects a lot of sunlight and can potentially affect the lighting of the photograph, making you appear washed-out and ruining delicate details.
Restrictive Clothing
I want you to be comfortable on the day of your session – whether you’re walking with your dog through a field, hugging your pup, or sitting on the grass. When selecting what to wear for your pet photoshoot, consider things you feel comfortable moving, sitting, and bending in.
Avoid clothing that restricts your movement or that takes careful adjusting – like your faithful pair of skinny jeans or a tie that won’t stay in place. It can be challenging to wrangle an excited dog and make sure that your outfit is in order!
What to Wear for a Photoshoot with Your Dog
We’ve talked about clothing to avoid – but what should you wear instead?
Wear clothes you feel comfortable posing in, and solid colors that look good with your dog’s fur are always a safe bet. You can also wear patterns that aren’t overly busy or that conflict with another pattern in the photo – pairing solids and patterns is a great look! If your dog is a fashionista themselves, you can even coordinate (or even match) your outfits with some super-cute doggy accessories!
Now that we’ve talked about what to wear and what not to wear when posing with your dog, experiment with different combinations and figure out what makes you and your furbaby look (and feel) your best!
Looking for inspiration? Check out my gallery of pets and their humans.