Saskatoon Engagement Photos with your Dogs: Montana and Michael (and Marshall’s) Summer Engagement Session

Ten years. School, careers and career changes, long distance, births and deaths, buying a home, welcoming their dog Marshall into their lives. Growing up together, growing together. And now, marriage! Michael popped the question to Montana in a romantic proposal at the skating rink near their first home. Then they tied the knot this winter at a destination wedding in Puerto Vallarta, surrounded by family, friends, sunshine and good times!

Marshall is obviously a big part of Michael and Montana’s lives, so of course they couldn’t envision their engagement photos without him! We chose a beautiful location overlooking the river where Montana, Michael and Marshall like to go for walks. Marshall was pretty stoked that his humans came to his photoshoot too. As you can see, he certainly did his best to keep them from stealing the show!

Given that I’m a fellow dog lover, I totally understand wanting to include them in your engagement photos! Likewise, we included our dog Poppy in our own engagement photos. And now that’s she’s gone, they’re undoubtedly some of our most cherished photos.

If you want to bring your dog to your session, my number one tip is to always plan ahead with your photographer. Additionally, here are a few more tips for ensuring memorable and stress-free Saskatoon engagement photos with your dogs!

Tips for Engagement Photos with Dogs:

1. Choose a pet-friendly location. Opt for a quiet spot that allows dogs, ideally one where there aren’t a lot of other dogs or major distractions. Also, plan to arrive early enough for them to explore and tire them out a bit beforehand.
2. Bring treats and toys. Keep your pup engaged and happy throughout the session by bringing along their favorite treats and toys. This will help maintain their attention and enthusiasm for those authentic and adorable photos!
3. Bring an extra pair of hands. Your dog doesn’t need to be in every shot or stay for the whole session. Furthermore, it’s a long time to expect them to behave. Bring them at the start and have a friend or family member on standby to take them home.
4. Keep it tidy. Consider using a neutral colored leash if possible (less distracting in photos). Additionally, don’t forget the lint roller and poop bags!
5. Let them be dogs! Just like you want to be yourselves in your photos, let your dog be themselves too! So don’t expect perfect behaviour – go with the flow and embrace the unexpected moments that come with working with animals. Relax, have fun, and enjoy your time together!

Saskatoon engagement photos with dogs by Copperblue Photography and Design. Saskatoon photographer specializing in couples and engagement photography, grad photos, and wedding photography. Serving central Saskatchewan and beyond.