Pets are such an integral part of our lives and if your furry friend is particularly important to you, you might want to include them in some of your senior photos.

Professional photo sessions always require a little planning regardless of the type of shoot it is, but even more so if you’re planning to include your pet.

Here are a few tips to ensure your senior shoot with your pet runs as smoothly as possible.

• Consider your pet’s behavior. First, you want to consider how your pet generally behaves. Is there anything that tends to upset them? For example, if your dog doesn’t love riding in the car, you may want to arrange for a shoot at home.  
• Ask someone to come along. While including your pet in your senior photos can be fun, the last thing you want is to have to run after them the entire time. For this reason, it really helps to bring someone along who can help you manage your pet. 
• Bring a few items along. For safety reasons and your pet’s comfort, bring along a carrier or leash, a water bowl, and some treats. And if you’ve chosen a public location, make sure you have something available to clean up after your pet.
• Pick the right spot. Not all pets are suited to all locations, so pick carefully. Your cat isn’t going to do too well in a park where there might be other dogs. And if your dog isn’t a fan of the heat or cold, a studio or home setting is better.  
• Choose an appropriate outfit. Shooting senior photos with your pet means you’re probably going to be moving around a lot, so decide on an appropriate outfit. You also don’t want to wear anything that will show pet hair too easily. And if your pet won’t be in all your photos, you may want to pick out a second, more formal outfit too.
• Go with it. Understand that not all your photos will go according to plan because you can’t predict what your pet might do. Just have fun and go with the flow. 

Lastly, be sure to check with your photographer whether they are comfortable working with animals and if they have experience doing so.