A photoshoot with youR puppy: Perth Puppy Photoshoot Options

A Photoshoot With Your Puppy in Perth: Why Timing (and Patience) Matters

If you've just brought a puppy home, you've probably already got a phone full of blurry photos of them mid-zoomie, mid-nap nap or mid-chewing-something-they-shouldn't-be. And that's exactly why a proper puppy photoshoot is always so worth doing. Not instead of those phone photos but alongside them because puppyhood moves fast and it only happens once.

I get asked a lot whether it's "too early" to book a puppy photoshoot or whether it's better to wait until they're a bit older and calmer. And I always tell people, do it now! You can always book another shoot later but you will not get the puppy months back!

Why puppy photoshoots need a different approach

Every dog is different, puppy or not! Plenty of adult dogs aren't confident around new people or comfortable in unfamiliar environments either but a puppy is a slightly different case again. They haven't had the time yet to build any confidence at all, so when I'm planning a puppy photoshoot in Perth, the very first thing I think about isn't the light or the backdrop, it's the puppy and which environment might suit them best.

I think about:

How old are they? Have they had much exposure to the world yet? Are they the type to dive in confidently or the type who needs a minute to suss things out? What is their breed? What is their background? I pick the location around them, not the other way around. That might mean staying close to home for a very young or nervous pup or it might mean we can be a bit more adventurous if they're older and already a confident little explorer.

Meet Archie the Labrador

I want to tell you about Archie the little curious Labrador puppy.

Archie's mum booked my puppy package, which includes three separate sessions across his first year of life.

The first session happens not long after a puppy arrives home, once they've had a few weeks to settle in and actually get to know their new family (and, just as importantly, get a little more comfortable in places outside).

The second happens around the six-month mar when they've grown into their paws a bit and their personality is really starting to show. They can romp around, have already learned to follow a few cues and are going to interact with you and the environment more.

And the third is right around their first birthday! A special way to mark the end of their first year of life!

Archie's already had two of his three sessions. His first one was at the foreshore. It was a short 45 minute session of just exploring and watching what he gives us. The second session with Archie was at the Applecross Dog Beach. An especially memorable place for Archie's mum, as they took their previous black Labrador there all the time for a play with his friends and a little swim in the water.

My favourite part about puppy packages is, that you get to actually see them grow up in photos, rather than just having one snapshot of one particular moment.

What about vaccinations?

This comes up a lot, so let's talk about it. I don't personally require puppies to be fully vaccinated before we shoot but I know comfort levels around this vary a lot from owner to owner and that's completely fine.

Some people are already out and about with their puppy before their final vaccinations are done as they believe that it is important to socialise their new puppy to the outdoors as quickly as they can and if that's you, we can absolutely go ahead as normal. If you'd rather be cautious, we can shoot entirely in your own garden or somewhere you're confident your puppy can be safely on the ground. And if you'd simply prefer to wait until they're fully vaccinated before their first session that's completely your call too. There's no "right" way to do this! It's your puppy, your comfort level and I'll work around it and follow your guidance.

Choosing the right spot for a puppy photoshoot in Perth

I personally lean towards quiet, calm locations for dog photoshoots generally but it matters even more for a puppy. A busy dog beach or a packed park on a Saturday morning is a lot for a little brain that's still figuring out the world. Too many smells, other dogs running around, children screaming... too much happening all at once.

Instead the places that I do prefer are spots like the Pines during the week - one of my favourite locations for puppy sessions. It's calm, the light is absolutely beautiful and there's rarely anyone else around once we walked in a little bit. I also love a particular city-backdrop location with a bit of sand for puppies to explore. It gives us that gorgeous Perth skyline in the background without the noise and crowds of a busy beach. It's one of those spots that photographs beautifully and keeps a puppy relaxed at the same time.

There are also various bushland spots I can recommend that are on the quieter side of things!

What this actually looks like for you and your puppy

A puppy photoshoot isn't about getting your pup to sit and stay for fifty perfect poses. Lets be real.. most puppies simply aren't there yet and that's not the point anyway. It's about capturing exactly who they are right now. We want the silly big ears, those pudgy paws that they need to grow into and the playfulness they bring with them just naturally.

Those things disappear faster than we would like them to (especially when you are looking back when you are well and surely into the adult years) and photos are the only way to hold onto them properly forever.

If you've got a new puppy or you're expecting one soon and you like the idea of documenting their whole first year rather than just one moment of it, I'd love to chat about it.

The puppy package is bookable through my contact form. When you message me, tell me a bit about your pup and I'll get back to you with the details!

You can also check out the details of the package here.