Are you thinking about celebrating your furry friend’s holiday season with some festive photos? Dogs are the perfect addition to your holiday pics! Not only will you have some fond memories to look back on, but you’ll also be able to show off your pup to all of your friends and family in this year’s holiday card. Documenting their holidays and birthdays is a special way to cherish every moment you have with them. And if you want to share the fun, you can book a corporate wellness event with puppies so your employees can take cute holiday photos with adoptable rescue dogs. At Puppy Love, we specialize in employee wellness. A puppy experience is an adorable way to spread some holiday cheer while bringing awareness to animal rescue organizations.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you get some cute holiday photos this season! The following blog post offers tips and ideas to help inspire you.

• Think about the angle of your shot. You may want to get down on your dog’s level for the best photos. This will help you capture your dog’s cute personality in the photos, especially if they’re not very big. For tiny dogs, you can try positioning yourself on the ground or use a prop to sit them higher up. But for larger dogs, kneeling down should be just fine.
• A good strategy is to take lots of photos and discard the ones you don’t like. You’re sure to get a few gems mixed in with all the shots you take.

The most important thing is to have fun. Dogs are great subjects for holiday photos because they’re always up for a good time. As promised, here are 10 ideas for how to include pups in your holiday pics, so get out your camera and give them a try!

• It’s easy to find holiday sweaters for dogs of all sizes. Have your dog wear a festive holiday sweater or bandana for your holiday photos. You can also shop for some adorable holiday-themed outfits, or wear matching ugly sweaters to take some funny photos together.
• Include your dog in your family’s yearly holiday card. Your dog is part of the family, so why not include them in your holiday card photo? It’s a great way to showcase your furry friend and spread some holiday cheer. A traditional family photo in front of festive decorations is a time-honored classic. Company’s can send holiday cards, too. This has become more common in email newsletters that go out during the holiday season, so it’s another reason to make sure you snap some photos if you book a puppy experience for your employees this year.
• Get creative with perspective and take a photo of your dog peeking out from under the tree (if you decorate one), or looking up at the mistletoe. Holiday ribbons or colorful wrapping paper make for a nice touch, too, so feel free to get creative.
• Does your dog get holiday presents? Your dog will be excited to see what’s inside their stocking, or loosely wrapped present. Their reaction is a moment you’ll want to remember forever, so make sure to snap a picture of their reaction!
• If you’re traveling for the holidays, another creative idea is to take a photo of your dog beside your suitcase. If you have a small dog, you can even place them inside your open suitcase for a memorable image.
• This is the coziest time of year. Take a photo of your dog in front of the fireplace for a nice seasonal touch. This can add warm lighting to your photos, just make sure your furry friend is safe around the fire. Note: This may not be the best option for high-energy dogs.
• If you’re booking a corporate wellness event with puppies, you can snap some photos of the whole team together with their cute canine visitors, and hang them in the break room so everyone remembers how much fun they had, all year long.
• Make a sign of all the things your dog is thankful for and take a photo of it with your pet. Your dog’s holiday photos will be sure to make everyone smile and think about what they’re grateful for in their own lives.
• Take a photo of your dog enjoying his favorite holiday treat. There are pet treat recipes online if you enjoy baking, or you can find safe options at your local pet store. Just make sure to avoid any ingredients that could be harmful to your furry friend, like chocolate.

Common Mistakes Pet Owners Make When Photographing Their Dogs

One of the most common mistakes that pet owners make when trying to photograph their dogs is not paying attention to the background. This is problematic because a cluttered background is distracting and can ruin what would otherwise be a perfect photo. With that in mind, make sure to set the stage by choosing a background that complements your dog, or using a camera filter that gently blurs the background. Keep this in mind if you’re planning an employee wellness event, too.

Natural Lighting

Another common mistake is not taking advantage of natural lighting options. If you prefer to be indoors for your festive photography session, try to position your dog near a window so that your pet is featured in soft light that flatters them. If you’re outdoors, do your best to avoid taking photos in direct sunlight. This can be tricky, depending on the time of day. Mornings and evenings are best, in general, and favored by professional photographers. When the sun is high overhead, it can create harsh shadows and make your dog squint.

We hope you found these tips helpful, and that you let us know how it goes if you try some of them with your dog. We’re always happy to hear from pet lovers in our community! If you want to share the joy of dogs with your whole team, consider booking a puppy experience with us.