I absolutely love doing in-home pet photography sessions! My clients typically don’t have much of a problem choosing locations for where they’d like their sessions to happen; they’re quick to pick spots that are meaningful to them & their dogs, which is always a good idea in my book. But when, every so often, a client isn’t sure where to go or what might be the best place to visit, I’m always quick to suggest their own house!

But then, most of the time, I’m told something like “oh it’s too messy” or “I don’t have a really big house” or “we don’t get much natural light”. Well, I say, it’s a good thing NONE of those statements are problems! I work in messy houses all the time – let’s be honest, this is real life – and I focus on clients’ dogs, not the dust bunnies or piles of clutter in the corner. (I always say, as long as you’re not a contender for a future episode of Hoarders, you have nothing to worry about!) “Big” houses aren’t necessary either; I’ll just ask to shoot where your dog spends time. We don’t need 20 different sofas to take photos on! And finally, natural light is a luxury, I’ve learned. That’s why I’ve invested in a set of portable lights that I bring with me to lighten up any room! So at the end of the day, I’m happy to work in almost any house, and at home is where your dogs are most comfortable & relaxed anyway. Plus – it’s so personal! It’s your house, your dog, your life – why not document it all?

So as you can see, I have my reasons for being a big fan of in-home pet photography sessions. And when that home is in gorgeous Del Mar, with a big landscaped backyard? Well, sign me up! Haha! That was exactly the case when I met Molly the miniature poodle at her parents’ house. Del Mar has more than enough gorgeous vistas to photograph around town, but Molly’s favorite place is her own backyard! Because that’s where she gets to play fetch until she drops!

Don’t let her breed fool you: this girl is an athlete!

After we played fetch so much that it tuckered poor little Molly out, she was happy to calmly sit & pose for treats in all the pretty spots around her parents’ backyard. (we just needed to work out the tennis-ball-wiggles first!)

Molly, it was absolutely lovely to meet you & explore all the nooks & crannies of your backyard with you! Debby & Midge, I simply can’t wait to show you the rest of your photos; I’ll see you both again soon!  :)