Right now, your family is exactly the way it is — and if that includes a dog who thinks he's a person, he's part of the story too.
I'm a Twin Cities family and newborn photographer, and one of the questions I get asked the most is some version of: "Is it weird if we want our dog in the photos?"
The answer is always the same: not even a little. Your dog isn't a prop or an afterthought — for a lot of families, he's the one who was there before the kids, who greets everyone at the door, who's slept at the foot of every crib. If that's your family, that's who shows up on session day.
Why I welcome dogs into family sessions
I built my business around one idea: photos that feel like home. Not stiff, not staged, not missing the parts of your life that actually make it yours. For a lot of Minneapolis and Twin Cities families, that means a dog underfoot, a leash in someone's hand, or a golden retriever who insists on being in the middle of every group hug.
I come to you, I handle the chaos — kids, dogs, all of it — and I make the whole thing feel effortless. That doesn't change just because there's a tail wagging in the frame.
What a dog-friendly family session actually looks like
A few things I've learned after photographing plenty of families with their pets outdoors around the Twin Cities:
We work with real energy, not forced posing. A dog isn't going to sit still and smile on command, and honestly, neither do toddlers. I shoot in real light, in real moments — a mid-run blur, a nose nudging a baby's cheek, a dog leaning into their favorite kid. Those candid, in-motion shots are usually the ones families love most anyway.
Outdoor locations tend to work best. Parks, trails, and your own backyard give dogs room to be dogs without the stress of a studio. It also fits my style — I love finding your kind of outside, and for a lot of families, outside includes a leash.
A second pair of hands helps, but isn't required. If you have a friend or family member who can help wrangle a dog mid-session, that's a nice bonus, but I've photographed plenty of families solo with a dog in tow. I'm used to reading the room, timing the shot, and working with whatever chaos shows up that day.
We don't force it. If your dog needs a break partway through, we take one. If he's not interested in posing with everyone at once, we get some solo shots and layer him into a few group frames instead. Flexibility is the whole point.
Who this is for
If you're a Minneapolis or Twin Cities family who's been holding off on booking photos because you didn't want to leave your dog out of the picture — this is your sign that you don't have to choose. Whether it's a family session with your growing crew, or a simple portrait with just you two and your dog, I'd love to help capture that season of your life, four legs and all.
Because this season won't last, and neither will his puppy face forever.
Ready to bring the whole family — human and canine — into your next session? Book your session here, or DM me on Instagram with a photo of your good boy or girl. I want to see them before we even meet.
