Capturing Couple’s Love and Adventure On Folly Beach With Beloved Dogs

How I helped a joyful couple overcome their apprehensions about photographing their beloved pets on the beach.

📸 As a family portrait photographer, each session brings a unique blend of excitement and challenge. Recently, I had the pleasure of capturing the joy and chaos of a couple with not one, but two adorable pups. Windy and Bobby were looking for quick, casual family portraits and loved the notion of Folly Beach as their backdrop.

🐶 When the couple initially reached out to me, they expressed some concerns about bringing their furry companions along. They worried the dogs wouldn’t cooperate or focus long enough. However, I assured them that with a bit of planning and patience, we could make some magic happen.

🦴 I advised the couple to bring along plenty of treats to keep the dogs engaged. We also discussed incorporating movement into the session to allow the dogs to release all that extra energy between poses (moving between backdrops). A location like the Lighthouse Inlet County Park gave us plenty of room to roam about without crowds and other dogs — so everyone could feel comfortable in their surroundings.

✨ Despite the initial apprehension, the session turned out to be a joyful experience filled with laughter and cuddles. With a combination of posed portraits and candid shots, we captured the affection between Windy, Bobby, and their beloved pups. As the sun dipped lower, we wrapped up the session with hearts full of love and paws full of sand. We kept our session short and sweet and after about 30 minutes of good behavior, the pups were free to enjoy a refreshing dip in the ocean.

🐾 For anyone planning a photo session with their dogs, my top tips would be to come prepared with treats to keep them focused, and to choose a location where they can feel relaxed and at ease. With a little planning and a lot of love, capturing timeless moments with your furry family members can be an unforgettable experience.

DETAILS
When — September 2023
Where — Folly Beach
Session — Updated Family Portraits