Yes, Bring the Dog
I get asked this at least once a week. Can we bring our dog? The answer is always yes. Always.
Dogs Are Family
I have two dogs: Penny Lane, who is regal and photogenic and knows it, and Chewbacca, who is a chaos machine with zero awareness of where the camera is. They are in our family photos. They are on our holiday cards. They are as much a part of documenting our family as the kids are.
So when clients ask if they can bring their dog to a session, I do not just say yes. I say please. Your dog is part of your family. Leaving them home to get "cleaner" photos means leaving part of your family out of the picture. Ten years from now, you are going to want that photo of your dog photobombing the family portrait. Trust me.
Tips for Including Your Dog
Bring the Good Treats
Not the boring everyday kibble. Bring the treats your dog loses their mind over. Cheese, deli meat, freeze-dried liver, whatever makes them snap to attention. Good treats are the single most useful tool for getting a dog to look at the camera, sit still for two seconds, or come running toward us for a great action shot.
I keep treats in my pocket during every session that involves a dog. Your dog will learn very quickly that the person with the big camera is also the person with the snacks.
Bring a Handler
If everyone in your family is going to be in the photos, bring a friend or family member who can hold the leash when the dog is not in the shot. This person can also help with getting the dog's attention, managing energy between shots, and taking the dog for a quick walk if they need a break.
For couples and engagement sessions, this is especially helpful. You want to focus on each other, not on wrangling a golden retriever who just spotted a squirrel.
Exercise Before the Session
A tired dog is a calmer dog. If your dog has high energy, take them for a long walk or a run before the session. You do not need them exhausted, just past the initial burst of excitement. A dog who has burned off some energy is more likely to sit for group shots and less likely to pull you across the meadow mid-photo.
Embrace the Chaos
Your dog is going to pull on the leash. They are going to shove their nose into someone's face right when I am about to take the shot. They are going to sit perfectly for three seconds and then bolt after a bird. All of this is great. Seriously. The photo of your dog licking your kid's face while the kid is laughing and you are trying to hold the leash is the one that captures what life actually looks like with a dog.
I do not need your dog to be perfectly trained. I need them to be a dog. The imperfect, goofy, impossible-to-control stuff is what makes dog photos feel alive.
Best Dog-Friendly Locations in Boulder
Boulder is one of the most dog-friendly cities I have ever lived in. Almost everywhere you want to shoot, dogs are welcome. Here are my favorites:
Chautauqua Park
Dogs are allowed on the trails (on leash or with a voice-and-sight tag for off-leash). The open meadow is perfect for letting a dog run while I shoot. The Flatirons backdrop makes every dog look majestic, even the ones who are rolling in the grass.
Wonderland Lake
Flat, easy loop trail with lake reflections and mountain views. Dogs love the water's edge here. Great for older dogs or dogs who do not do well on uneven terrain. Plenty of room to spread out.
Boulder Creek Path
In the summer, dogs can wade in Boulder Creek, which makes for amazing photos. There is something about a wet, happy dog shaking off next to their family that captures the spirit of a Boulder summer perfectly. The path itself is paved and easy.
NCAR Trail and South Mesa
Wide open space with room for dogs to run. These trails feel more remote and wild, which is great for adventure-style sessions. Off-leash is allowed with a voice-and-sight tag. The tall grass and mountain backdrop give photos a big, cinematic quality.
Valmont Dog Park
If your dog needs a true off-leash environment to be themselves, Valmont Dog Park is a good option. It is not the most scenic location, but the energy is amazing. Dogs playing, running, wrestling. Great for casual, action-focused sessions where the dog is the star.
Dog-Friendly Spots Beyond Boulder
I shoot across Boulder County, and there are some great dog-friendly options outside the city of Boulder:
- Great Bark Dog Park (Lafayette). A dedicated off-leash park with open space for running and playing. The energy here is fantastic for action shots of dogs being dogs.
- Louisville Community Park dog park. Fenced off-leash area with shade and open grass. A good option for dogs who do better in an enclosed space, and the surrounding park gives you variety for family photos too.
- Superior Community Park. Open fields and walking paths where leashed dogs are welcome. Nice evening light and a clean, well-maintained setting.
One thing to know: several Boulder County Open Space properties do not allow dogs at all. Heil Valley Ranch, Hall Ranch, and Caribou Ranch are all no-dog areas. Harper Lake in Louisville also does not allow dogs. I keep track of the current rules so we always pick a location where your dog is welcome.
Dog-Specific Session Ideas
Most of the time, the dog is part of a family or couples session. But I have also shot sessions where the dog is the entire focus. Here are some approaches that work:
- The adventure walk: You and your dog on a trail, doing what you normally do. I shoot from ahead, behind, and alongside as you walk together. The most natural way to include a dog.
- The portrait session: Your dog, sitting in a field with the mountains behind them, looking like the noble creature they believe they are. Works especially well with calm, older dogs.
- The action shoot: Throwing a ball, running through a field, playing fetch in a creek. These are high-energy and fun, and the photos have incredible movement.
- The family pile: Everyone on a blanket, dog in the middle, kids draped over them. Relaxed, close, and real. This works at any location with a flat spot to sit.
A Note About Penny Lane and Chewbacca
Penny Lane is my dignified one. She will look at the camera when asked, hold a sit, and generally behave like she understands she is being photographed. She is the dog I use to practice new techniques because she is patient.
Chewbacca is the opposite. He moves constantly, sniffs everything, and has never held a sit for longer than four seconds in his entire life. And some of my favorite photos are of him, because his energy is contagious. He reminds me that the uncontrollable moments are usually the best ones.
Whatever your dog is like, they are welcome. Calm, wild, old, puppy, big, small. Bring them. We will make it work. That is what I do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we bring more than one dog?
Yes. I have shot sessions with two and three dogs. It helps to bring one handler per dog (or at least one person who can wrangle while the others are being photographed). More dogs means more chaos, but chaos makes great photos. Bring treats and be ready to laugh.
What if our dog does not behave well?
That is fine. Most dogs get excited in new environments and do not listen perfectly. Pulling on the leash, jumping, sniffing everything, running in circles: all of that is normal and all of it is photographable. I do not need your dog to sit perfectly still. I need them to be a dog. The imperfect moments are the real ones.
Where can dogs go off-leash in Boulder?
Boulder has a voice-and-sight tag program that allows off-leash dogs on most Open Space trails. Your dog needs a City of Boulder voice-and-sight tag (available from the city). Popular off-leash spots include Chautauqua, Wonderland Lake, NCAR Trail, and South Mesa. Even without the tag, many trails allow dogs on leash. I know which spots work best for off-leash photography, and I can recommend based on your dog's temperament.
Photography Services
These services connect to the topics covered in this guide.
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