Ohio Engagement Photography for Couples with Dogs

Tuco, Lido, and Pasha’s pet parents came to me recently for a very special engagement photo shoot that included their dogs! I am honored to help celebrate this little family as they take this next big steps in their lives! It was a joyful evening together filled with wagging tails and smiling faces, set in the natural beauty of central Ohio. If you're looking for inspiration for engagement photos with your dog, check out some of the highlights from this photo shoot.

We started our session in a quiet creek area—one of my favorite spots for dog photo shoots near Columbus, Ohio. We’ve been dealing with an extreme drought lately, which lowered the water level in the creek. But, that actually ended up giving us something magical. Amidst the mostly dry creek bed, there were a few small pockets of water remaining—just enough to catch some gorgeous mirror reflections.

If you're planning engagement photos with your dog, unique natural elements like this can really add something special and set the mood of the scene. It’s also a great opportunity to include fun things your dogs love like playing in the water. For this session, exploring the creek created a nice a laid-back atmosphere for the dogs and their owners, which helped put everyone at ease.

After the creek, we moved on to a nearby prairie grass field just in time to catch the end of golden hour and sunset. The tall golden grasses were perfect for capturing that warm, romantic atmosphere that really resonated with the joy of the couple’s engagement. We let the dogs burn off a little energy by walking them around in order to capture some action shots of the dogs individually as well as the whole family together.

One of my favorite things about this session was watching the interactions between everyone. The connection this couple shares with each other and their dogs was evident in every frame—whether they were walking hand in hand, surrounded by their trio of happy pups, or kneeling down for some cuddles while the dogs tried to give them kisses. Including dogs in engagement photos adds a level of joy and spontaneity that’s hard to beat. It’s always a joy to capture those genuine candid moments where everyone is relaxed, being themselves, and simply enjoying each other's company.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, we captured some of the final moments of the day. The prairie grass took on a soft silhouette against the dramatic sky. We captured a few final sunset portraits. I can’t help but love this amazing shot of Tuco the corgi mix. This little short king practically has a sun ray crown on his head for crying out loud!

After all the excitement of exploring the creek and runhing through the field, Tuco, Lido, and Pasha were ready to take a break and lounge by their parents while they shared few quiet moments together, bathed in the golden hour glow of the setting sun. The dramatic sky above provided a beautiful natural backdrop that felt almost cinematic—exactly the kind of setting you'd want for unforgettable engagement photos with your dogs.

My favorite shots though are of the couple surrounded by their three dogs. It was the perfect ending to a session that celebrated not just a new chapter in their lives, but the family they had already built together with their beloved dogs. Engagement photos that include your dogs capture more than just a milestone—they tell the story of your entire family.

This little family was so much fun to work with, and here is what they had to say about their pet photography experience:

“Holly is such a talented photographer. We wanted family photos with our three crazy pups and they turned out amazing! We 100% recommend Holly Hildreth Photography for beautiful photos that you will cherish forever.”

Engagement photos are such a special milestone, and including your dogs in the celebration makes it even more personal. After all, our pets are our family—they share our homes, our hearts, and all the ups and downs of life. It was an honor to be part of this beautiful moment for Tuco, Lido, Pasha, and their paw-rents, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to capture these memories that they will cherish forever.

If you’re looking for engagement photo ideas that include your dog, I’d love to help you bring your vision to life. Including your dogs in your engagement photo shoot is a wonderful way to celebrate the love and joy that makes your family complete!

2-Dog Photo Shoot with People : Ellie and Harrison’s New Albany Pet and Family Session

Capturing the Heartwarming Bond Between Ohio’s Dogs and Their People

Ellie the Golden Retriever and Harrison the Doodle mix made for quite the dynamic doggy duo at their photo shoot. Ellie's total happy-go-lucky goofball personality perfectly complemented Harrison's super chill Bob Ross vibes. It was a joy to witness and capture the unique bond these two dogs share with each other and their adoring pet parents during our pet and family photography session.

This couple wanted to make sure we captured their dog’s personalities with this photo shoot. I think it’s safe to say that Ellie and Harrison's souls shine through in every shot. Between Ellie’s joyful leaps and silly expressions, and Harrison’s calm and collected demeanor, we got a ton of gorgeous images. Their owners were equally wonderful to work with, and it was a pleasure to be a part of capturing the love and joy they share.

If your dog is your ride-or-die, then including them in your family pictures is a no-brainer. They’re a much-loved family member! Your session is your chance to celebrate and forever freeze those fleeting moments of affection, joy, and companionship.

As Columbus, Ohio’s best pet photographer, I specialize in capturing the special connections between pets and their people. Just as every dog is different, so is every photo shoot! Custom pet photography means I tailor your shoot specifically to you and your dog. Before your session we will chat about the type of images you’re looking for, your dog’s individual needs, abilities, personality and quirks. We’ll also discuss the locations we could use for our shoot as well as see if there is any special occasion you’re celebrating. Whether you’re marking a happy milestone like your dog’s birthday, celebrating the adoption of a new puppy, or simply wanting to capture the daily happiness your dog brings into your life, a professional pet photo shoot is the perfect way to do so. This couple wanted to celebrate their wedding anniversary with a fun summer photo shoot together with their furry friends. They wanted to to tell the story of their little family as well as create some dramatically-lit colorful portraits to turn into canvas print wall art for their new home.

Since your session is tailored to you, if there’s something special you’d like to capture (like a cute trick, or your dog playing with their favorite toy), let me know! There are lots of fun and unique ways to incorporate these little details into your shoot in order to truly make your photos unique.

Not only will we capture the natural beauty of your dog by themselves, but I’ll document the bond you share as well. During your session, we will have plenty of opportunities to capture candid moments as well. I love being able to freeze these sweet, quiet moments of owners together with their dogs forever. Beautiful candid shots are a great representing of your relationship and the depth of your bond. Often these unscripted scenes end up being the owner’s favorite, as they tend to really show genuine emotions and don’t feel “stuffy” or posed like traditional family photos that you would get from a people-photographer (rather than a professional pet photographer).

Whether you’re in Westerville, Dublin, German Village, or anywhere else in the Columbus area, there are plenty of beautiful locations for a dog and owner photo shoot. We chose New Albany’s Rose Run Park for this portrait session location because we wanted to get a beautiful blend of natural scenes like the woods and the stream with some more man-made features like the brick bridge over the water. This picturesque location, with its lush greenery and serene atmosphere provided the perfect backdrop for an evening of tail-wags and belly laughs.

Interested in family photos with your dog? Let’s talk!

Your first step is to request your photo shoot HERE . Once I receive your submission I will be in touch within 2 business days to discuss your session details.

Dawes Arboretum Engagement Photo Shoot with a Couple and their Dog | Ohio Professional Pet Photographer

Your engagement photos should reflect your love story and the excitement of this new chapter together. Since your dog is a key part of your story, including them in your engagement photos just makes sense! It adds a layer of warmth and authenticity that’s hard to replicate, making the photos uniquely you.

One reason why your dog should be in your engagement pictures is because they make the experience so much more fun! There is much less pressure on you when your dog is involved, as dogs have a way of bringing out the most authentic emotions in us. These unscripted moments lead to amazing candid photos that show genuine smiles and expressions.

During this photo shoot, scruffy little Mason here made sure both his dog-parents were having a good time while we shot. He was a little clown and would sneak in to steal puppy kisses. This always ended up in all of us laughing at his goofy antics. My favorite face licking photo is below of Mason and his mom together surrounded by wildflowers.

One important factor in making your engagement photos truly special is to incorporate a location that you, your partner, and your dog all enjoy. For this session the couple chose to be photographed at the amazingly beautiful Dawe’s Arboretum in Newark, Ohio. There were so many gorgeous spots to photograph in this park, but we spent a majority of our session shooting around the Japanese garden area. It was super hot, so the large shade trees of the garden gave us some relief from the scorching summer sun.

This was my first time visiting Dawe’s Arboretum, and I loved how dog-friendly it is! Most botanical garden type parks in the Columbus area do not allow dogs. So it was a nice breath of fresh air to discover that Dawe’s encourages people to visit with their dogs. I know I’m excited to go back with my own dogs soon!

In the end, your engagement photos will not only document this big life milestone, but also capture the love and joy that your dog brings into your life. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate your love story, one that includes all the members of your family—furry ones included.