Thinking about including your dog in newborn photos? If your dog was your first baby, there’s a pretty good chance you can’t imagine your newborn session without them.
And good news: you don’t have to.
One of my favorite things about offering in-home newborn photography is that we’re photographing your family exactly as it is during this season. And for a lot of families, that includes a four-legged family member who has absolutely no idea why everyone suddenly keeps calling this tiny, noisy human “the baby.”
Your dog belongs in your family photos, too.
Your Dog Can Be Part of Your In-Home Newborn Session
One of the biggest advantages of an in-home newborn session is that your dog gets to stay in their own environment.
There’s no loading them into the car, bringing them somewhere unfamiliar, or expecting them to behave perfectly in a brand-new space. We can let them wander in and out, take breaks, sniff me and my equipment approximately 400 times, and join us when they’re ready.
And please, please do not clean your house within an inch of its life because you’re worried about me seeing pet hair.
I have two dogs and four cats.
I know pet hair.
I know the sound of nails clicking across the floor at the exact moment we finally get the baby settled.
I know someone will probably bark at the Amazon driver.
I know there may be a tennis ball in the middle of the nursery floor.
None of this bothers me.
Your home does not need to look like nobody actually lives there before I arrive. We’re creating photographs of your family, not conducting a home inspection.
You Know Your Dog Best
Every dog is different, and I will always take your lead when it comes to yours.
Some dogs immediately want to know everything that is happening. Some are obsessed with their new baby. Some couldn’t care less. Some are nervous around new people. Others are convinced I have arrived specifically to visit them.
You know how your dog reacts to strangers, how they respond to your baby, what makes them nervous, and when they’ve had enough.
We’ll work with that.
If your dog needs ten minutes to get used to me before we start, that’s fine. If they need to stay in another room while I photograph the baby and join us later, that’s fine too. If they need treats, breaks, a leash, or another adult nearby, we can work around all of it.
There is absolutely no expectation that your dog needs to sit perfectly beside the baby and stare directly at my camera.
Actually, I’d usually rather they didn’t.
Safety Comes First When Including Pets in Newborn Photos
As adorable as newborn-and-dog photos can be, safety will always come before the photograph.
I will never put your baby in an unsafe position just to get a cute photo with your dog.
That means I am not going to pose your newborn on top of your dog, tuck the baby between a dog’s paws, or create an image that requires us to trust that an animal won’t suddenly move.
Even the sweetest, calmest, most trustworthy dog is still a dog. And a newborn is tiny, unpredictable, and brand new to them.
Instead, we create photographs that allow your dog to be included while keeping everyone comfortable and safe. That may mean your baby is securely in your arms while your dog sits beside you, or your dog is near the bassinet while a parent is right there.
Sometimes the safest photograph is also the sweetest one.
Your Newborn Session Isn’t Only About the Baby
Here’s something people sometimes don’t expect: while your baby is safely sleeping in their crib, bassinet, or basket, I may photograph you with your dog, too.
Because this season is a transition for them as well.
Your dog may have been your baby for years before you brought this new little person home. Suddenly the routines are different, your attention is divided, and there are new smells, sounds, toys, blankets, and tiny socks everywhere.
So we give them some attention.
I may have you sit on the floor and love on your dog. We might let them climb up beside you on the couch. We may photograph Dad scratching their ears or your dog following you into the nursery.
Those little interactions help your dog relax, but they’re also part of your family’s story.
And sometimes they end up being some of my favorite photographs from the entire session.
What If My Dog Is a Little… Chaotic?
Welcome. 😂
Your dog does not need to be perfectly trained to be included in your newborn session.
They can be excited.
They can bark when I arrive.
They can refuse to look at me.
They can walk away halfway through a photo.
They can decide the exact spot I want them to sit is apparently lava.
I am very used to working around animals and general household chaos. Between my own two dogs, four cats, three kids, and years of photographing families in their homes, it takes quite a bit to faze me.
We don’t need your dog to perform. We just need to give them opportunities to be part of what’s happening.
Sometimes that results in the classic photograph of the whole family cuddled together.
Sometimes it’s a quick nose sniffing the top of baby’s head while you’re holding them.
Sometimes it’s your dog curled up at your feet while you rock the baby.
And sometimes they’re lying in the background looking deeply inconvenienced by this entire situation.
All of it counts.
Preparing Your Dog for Newborn Photos at Home
You really don’t need to do anything elaborate before I arrive.
If your dog has a lot of energy, a walk or some playtime before the session can help. Having a few favorite treats nearby is always useful, too.
But please don’t stress yourself out trying to make your dog behave differently than they normally do.
My goal with an in-home newborn session with your dog isn’t perfection. It’s to document what your family feels like right now.
Baby included.
Dog included.
Pet hair included.
A little chaos included.
Because someday, when that tiny newborn is suddenly a big kid and your beloved dog is no longer following you from room to room, I promise you won’t be looking at these photographs wishing there had been less fur on the couch.
You’ll just be really, really glad they’re in them.
About Kate McCord Photography
Kate McCord is a Central PA newborn photographer specializing in relaxed, baby-led newborn photography both in-home and throughout the Harrisburg area. With hundreds of five-star Google reviews, years of experience photographing newborns and families, and a house full of two dogs, four cats, and kids of her own, Kate is a baby lover and pet lover alike. She knows that the furry members of your family are family, too.
If you’re interested in booking an in-home newborn session where you can relax, stay in your own space, and yes, include your dog, I’d love to photograph this season for you. View my newborn session options and book your due date here.
Want to Read More?
Wondering what your house needs to look like before I arrive? Spoiler: definitely not perfect.
Read next: Prepping Your Home for Your In-Home Newborn Session for everything you need to know about getting your space ready, finding the best light, and what you absolutely do not need to stress about before your session.
