I was so excited to meet up with Alissa and Clark for their fall mini session in Lafayette!

This year, I offered two mini session days at Fairfield Lakes Park, a gorgeous location on the east side of Lafayette. Fairfield Lakes had the perfect fall colors on its trees, awesome weather, and a warm sunset. Lots of families were enjoying the sun and fishing.

Clark was happy about the weather too, and loved to sniff around the field. Clark is a sweet beagle, and it’s obvious he adores Alissa. And peanut butter. 🐶

I actually met Alissa a few years ago when she tagged along for her friends’ photo session, where she held onto their dog between photos, carried a bag of extra outfits, and was in general a trooper. It was so great to see her again and an honor that she wanted photos with me too!

In case I don’t say it enough: get professional portraits taken with your dog! I’m a huge dog person myself (both a person who loves dogs hugely, and who loves huge dogs). Their love is so incredible, and their lives aren’t long! You will be so glad to have professional pictures with your pup. You have a chance to book your fall mini session in Lafayette in 2022! Reach out for details here.

Keeping your dog happy for your fall mini session in Lafayette

These are some of my favorite tips to keep in mind when including your dog in your photos:

• Consider bringing a friend or family member. A mini session is a great length for photos with your dog! If you’d like any photos alone during that time, it’s a great idea to bring along another person. They’ll play with and handle your pet when we’re done with that portion of photos.
• Have a nice, neutral collar and leash ready for photos. Most locations require you keep your dog on leash (and it’s usually a good idea no matter where we are). I recommend bringing a collar and leash that have a similar aesthetic to your outfits. Leather always looks wonderful (for example, this one!), and dark neutral colors are a good choice too. Bright colors or bulky retractable leashes can be distracting.
• Bring treats and toys! This may seem like a no-brainer, but can be easily forgotten in all the excitement. Treats and toys entice your dog to look at the camera, come in handy for posing, and are a great way to reward them and help them relax between photos. (Clark loved peanut butter especially! Alissa had small individual peanut butter packs)
• Have water for your pup. Especially in hot weather! Their comfort is crucial. We have one similar to this for traveling with our dogs.
• Pack some dog poop bags. Yep, it happens. We’ll leave our location in the same condition we found it, so be prepared to clean up after your pet.

It was so fun to hang with you for the evening, Alissa and Clark!