Sophie Gamand is an artist, photographer, and rescue advocate who has spent years traveling the world to photograph dogs in need. Her viral Pit Bull Flower Power series has helped find homes for hundreds of homeless dogs. She has also photographed countless dogs for their own families -- and the lessons she's learned apply directly to getting your dog in the frame on your wedding day.
The stakes are higher at a wedding than at a regular backyard shoot. There are 150 people, a loud DJ, catering staff moving around, and your dog is wearing a bow tie they've never worn before. The good news: the same principles that make a great shelter portrait make a great wedding portrait. Here's how to apply them.
Train sit and stay well before the wedding -- not the week before.
"This is the first thing you ever teach your doggie, regardless of whether you want to photograph them," Gamand says. "And if you haven't done it yet, it's never too late to work on those skills."
For a wedding, the bar is higher than a basic obedience class. Your dog needs to hold a sit with strangers walking past, music playing, and people crouching down to get the shot. That kind of reliable stay takes months, not days. Start early. Practice in distracting environments -- a busy park, a friend's backyard party -- so the wedding venue doesn't feel like an overwhelming surprise.
A dog who can sit and stay on command gives your photographer something to work with. Without it, even the best photographer is chasing a moving target the whole time.
Scout the background at your venue before the day.
"Photos can easily be ruined by something that happens in the background," Gamand notes. "Take a moment to make sure the background is clear of clutter and unwanted items."
Walk your venue before the wedding and identify two or three spots where you'd want dog photos taken. Look for what's behind those spots: is it a solid hedge, a brick wall, an open field? Or is it a parking lot, a tent with visible catering equipment, a crowd of chatting guests?
"For classic headshots in my style, try to find a solid-color background," Gamand says. "A flowery bush, a wall of greenery, and brick can also be fantastic backdrops. The sky, too!"
Share those specific spots with your photographer before the wedding. Most photographers are delighted when a client has done this homework -- it saves frantic scouting on the day and means they can focus on getting the light right instead of searching for a clean backdrop.
Start calm. It's easier to add energy than to bring it down.
"Make sure to start the shoot from a calm place," Gamand says. "It's much easier to ramp up the energy on the shoot than to bring a dog down from a place of high excitement. I see a lot of pet parents overdo it with their dogs and end up with a dog who is way too stimulated to cooperate for photos."
At a wedding, this matters twice as much. Your dog will be overstimulated by the time the photographer turns their lens on them. Build in a calm window -- ideally during portraits, before the reception gets loud -- and have your dog's handler keep them in a quiet area until that moment. Don't let everyone pet the dog for an hour before the shoot. Save their energy.
If your dog is refusing treats or ignoring the usual cues, that's a signal they're already past their threshold. Try to find a quieter corner and give them a few minutes to reset before trying again.
Get their attention -- then stop.
"In my opinion, less is more," Gamand says. "If your dog is a goofy extrovert, by all means, go nuts. Otherwise, you might want to start with your voice only. Whisper, talk calmly, use your dog's favorite words."
"Don't underestimate the power of a sigh. Sometimes, it's all it takes to get the perfect photo."
At weddings, people tend to go overboard -- squeaking toys, waving treats, making increasingly desperate noises. The dog's head goes all over the place, their eyes follow the motion, and you end up with a dog who looks manic rather than majestic. Brief the people around your dog on this: one person handles attention-getting, everyone else stays still and quiet.
Gamand also suggests sound: "Consider playing soundtracks from your phone -- singing birds or whining puppies." It sounds strange, but a phone playing birdsong can get a dog's ears perked and their focus sharp without sending them into a frenzy.
Get down to their level.
"Drop down and photograph from the dog's eye level," Gamand says. "That means you will be on your knees or belly a lot. By photographing from a lower angle, we give the dogs a true opportunity to shine and to step into their own power."
This is the single most reliable way to get a portrait that feels like the dog is a full participant in the photo rather than an accessory. A shot taken from above looks like someone holding a dog. A shot taken at eye level looks like two equals standing together.
Make sure your photographer knows this is a priority. Some photographers are comfortable getting on the ground; others need a nudge. Show them this piece if that helps.
If your dog has black fur, plan for it.
"Black pets are notoriously difficult to photograph," Gamand says. "Black fur requires more light, and it can be difficult to capture the features of a black pet. Your best bet is probably to take your dog outside and photograph them in a shaded area."
For a wedding, this means making sure the dog portraits happen in soft, open shade rather than direct sun or dark interiors. Midday sun creates harsh shadows that are especially brutal on dark fur. Golden hour -- the hour before sunset -- is ideal for any dog portrait, but especially a black dog. If your wedding timeline allows it, plan the dog photos for that window.
Tell your photographer ahead of time if your dog is dark-coated. A good photographer will adjust their exposure and potentially use a reflector or off-camera flash. It's not a problem -- it just requires a small amount of preparation.
Brief your photographer in advance -- in writing.
This is the step most people skip. Gamand's process works because she thinks about the shoot before she arrives. For a wedding, that preparation has to come from you, because your photographer has fifty other things to manage.
Send your photographer a short note before the wedding: your dog's name, what commands they know reliably, what gets their attention, what stresses them out, and which two or three spots at the venue you want dog photos taken. Include a photo of your dog so the photographer already knows what they're working with.
Three sentences is enough. Most photographers will be grateful.
When the dog can't make it to the photos
Sometimes the timing doesn't work out, the venue has restrictions, or your dog is better suited to a quiet home than a reception with 120 guests. That doesn't mean they're absent from the day.
A hand-illustrated portrait of your dog on the cocktail napkins, drink stirrers, and frosted cups at the bar puts their face in every guest's hand all night and in every photo from the reception. No sit-stay required.
See how In Every Chapter designs the full bar set around a single illustration of your dog -- napkins, stirrers, and cups as a cohesive set.
About the Expert
Sophie Gamand is a French photographer, artist, and rescue advocate based in New York. Her Pit Bull Flower Power series went viral and has helped place hundreds of homeless dogs into families. She has won multiple awards for her dog portraiture and has been featured in The New York Times, Time, and National Geographic. Her work centers on the idea that a good photograph can save a life. sophiegamand.com
