Columbus Dog Birthday Photo Shoot: Brisket turns 4

🎶 "Go shorty, it’s your birthday!" 🎉

How I Captured the Perfect Birthday Photos of My Dog: Pet Photography Hacks for getting a personality-filled shot.

It's become a little tradition of mine to throw my dogs a birthday bash complete their very own custom photoshoot every year. After all, if you’re going to celebrate your dog’s special day, why not make it memorable?

But here’s the thing—although Brisket is adorable, this guy rarely shows emotion. His go-to move is to stare directly into the camera, closed-mouth, looking bored…which isn’t exactly the vibe I had in mind for his doggy birthday photos

So, how do I get the perfect, joyful shot of my serious little guy? Let me take you behind the scenes of how I manage to get him to look like he’s having a blast.

The "Expression" Challenge

Brisket's quirk is a common trait in a lot of dogs, but it can be a bit tricky when you're aiming for a fun, lighthearted photoshoot. I’ve tried to get him to “smile” the traditional way with lots of exercise, but what I’ve learned is that his smile (or at least an expression of joy) is only achievable after a good run. But here’s the catch: after a 20-minute sprint, he's so tired that he just wants to lay down and can hardly even keep his eyes open for pictures. So, what’s a dog photographer to do?

My Secret Pet Photography Hacks

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from 15 years of photographing pets, it's that motion can make all the difference when it comes to capturing fun and goofy expressions. So, rather than waiting for Brisket to conjure up a smile, I set him up for one with these 3 tricks.

1. Treat Tossing: If there’s one thing you need to know about corgis is that food is EVERYTHING to them. I use Brisket’s food-motivation to my advantage. By tossing a treat for him to catch, not only does it keep him engaged and excited, but it also gives me the perfect opportunity to catch action shots of him with his mouth open and eyes wide. It’s a great recipe for a silly face! Sometimes I will toss a treat far away from him so he has to get up and run after it—that extra layer of having to chase the treat makes it even more exciting for him and keeps him alert and moving.

2. How About Some Tricks for those Treats?: I enjoy trick training with my dogs, so they know how to do several of commands. Brisket’s favorites are Spin, Wave, Speak, and Beg. I use these tricks to add some fun movement to our photoshoot. It’s almost like a mini-game for him. Each time I ask him to do a command, I get a burst of energy and a new goofy expression that’s exactly what I’m looking for. Whether I’ve asked him to fetch a ball or spin in a circle, he is thrilled to show off what he knows.

3. Keep It Moving: The key to getting the perfect goofy shot is keeping the momentum going. I’ll alternate between asking Brisket to do a trick and then rewarding him by tossing him a treat. It’s fun for him and it’s non-stop pet photography gold for me. If his interest starts to fade, I will switch the treats I am offering him and it’s like somebody hit his brain’s reset switch, and he’s ready to go again! I also have extra special treats that I keep in my studio and he only gets them when he’s modeling for me. By reserving those just for sessions it’s a sure-fire way to gaurantee he’s going to be interested in earning a treat.

Why This Works for Brisket (and Other Dogs Too)

The beauty of this method is that it’s not just about getting the perfect shot; it’s about making the photoshoot fun for your dog—it’s their birthday after all! Turning the session into a game with tricks and treats gave me a way to capture Brisket’s true personality and joy without forcing it.

Every dog is different, but the principle is the same: make it fun, make it active, and incorporate things they love. Finding what excites your pet is the key to getting those joyful moments on camera.

Whether you're photographing a birthday, a special event, or just capturing everyday moments with your pet, these tips can help you get the best shots of your furry friends. After all, pets deserve to be celebrated in a way that reflects their unique personalities—serious faces and all!

Happy birthday, Brisket! You may be be serious on the outside, but I know you’re secretly a goofball at heart. 🐾💙

Take a look at the reel below for a behind-the-scenes peak at this photoshoot and the set.

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A behind-the-scenes look at this dog birthday photoshoot

Ready to book you’re dog’s birthday photo shoot? Click below to get started!

Columbus Rescue Dog Photography - Anita

The Power of a Photo: How Rescue Dog Photography Helps Pets Find Homes

🎉 Huge congratulations to sweet Anita on finding her forever home through Stop the Suffering Animal Rescue of Ohio! Anita’s new family saw the heartwarming photos I took of her and instantly fell in love with her irresistible smile—and the rest is history. 💕 It’s moments like these that remind me why I’m so passionate about giving back to the Columbus rescue dog community.

Anita’s Original Photo

The Transformative Power of a Great Photo

When Anita first arrived at the rescue, she was just another pup in need of a second chance. Her original intake photo, didn’t capture her personality or her beauty. Photos are so critical in helping dogs get adopted, so a photo like this isn’t likely to catch potential adopters’ eyes because you can’t get a sense of who the dog is.

New Photo

As soon as Anita had her professional dog photography session with me, everything changed. A high-quality, well-lit, and engaging photo allowed potential adopters to see her as more than just another rescue dog—it showed her as a sweet and happy companion full of potential. The adopters said they instantly fell in love with her smile in the photos and knew that she was meant to be theirs. After months with no interest, her new family adopted her just days after her new photos were updated. That’s the amazing power that photography can have in changing a rescue dog’s story

📸 Did you know? According to research from the University of Richmond, 90% of adopters reported looking at photos online when considering adoption, and 64% said good photos were a critical factor in their decision to adopt. That means a great photo doesn’t just make a dog look good—it can literally be life-changing.

Why Professional Dog Photography Matters

Rescue organizations work tirelessly to find homes for dogs in need, but first impressions matter. Some shelter dogs come from difficult backgrounds, and their intake photos often reflect the stress of a new environment. A professional pet photographer knows how to bring out their best features, highlight their personalities, and create images that spark an emotional connection with potential adopters.

Some of the key benefits of professional foster dog photography include:

• Increased Adoption Rates – Eye-catching, high-quality photos generate more interest and engagement from potential adopters. In fact a study found that dogs that had poor-quality photos took 3 times longer to get adopted than those that have a great photo. Even an average quality photo (while still helping the dog get adopted) still took 2.5x longer to get adopted than those that had a great-quality image.

• Emotional Connection – People are more likely to adopt when they can envision a pet as part of their family. Seeing dogs in cages or looking stressed doesn’t strike an emotional connection with adopters. Seeing a heart-melting smile, gorgeous fur, and sparkling eyes is a sure-fire way to elicit emotion and tell the viewer more about not only the dog’s physical characteristics, but also their personality.

• Better Representation – Professional pet portraits showcase a dog’s true character, rather than just their circumstances. No matter how nice a shelter facility may be, it is still a very stressful environment for every dog. By removing them from the shelter and doing their photo shoot in the studio, I’m able to give dogs the quiet, calm, happy space that dogs need to come out of their shell and let their personality shine.

Giving Back to the Columbus, Ohio Dog Community

If you’re a non-profit dog rescue organization in Columbus, Ohio, looking to boost adoptions with professional pet photography, I’d love to collaborate. Together, we can showcase these deserving animals in the best possible light and help them find the loving families they deserve.

🐾 Interested in booking a professional pet photography session for your foster dog or personal pet? Contact me today to learn more about how I can help capture the perfect portraits of your furry friend!