You belong in these photos. The awkward part is just the way in.
Somewhere in the first few minutes of almost every session, someone says it out loud.
“I’m not photogenic.”
“I never know what to do with my hands.”
“This is all for the dog. I’ll just stay out of the pictures.”
That last one stops me every time. Not because the dog shouldn’t be the star. He should. It stops me because you are the other half of this story.
Here is the good news. You do not need to know how to pose. You need a dog you love, a photographer who knows how to put you at ease, and a little time to forget the camera is there.
Why Do I Feel So Awkward in Photos With My Dog?
Because almost nobody has ever been taught what to do in front of a camera except hold still and smile. That is the whole problem.
Most of us carry a stash of terrible yearbook photos and stiff family pictures where we felt anything but relaxed. So when someone points a camera your way, your shoulders rise, your smile freezes, and your brain asks what on earth to do with your face.
Here is what I tell every client. Awkward is normal, and it has nothing to do with how you look. It is what happens when a person is asked to perform. Natural comes from the opposite place. It comes from feeling connected, relaxed, and present, and nothing gets you there faster than the dog standing next to you. Your dog does not care what your face is doing. They care that you showed up.
Do I Really Need to Be in the Photos With My Dog?
Yes. A portrait of your dog and a portrait of your life with your dog are two different things, and you only get the second one if you are in the frame.
I am the photographer in my house, so I know exactly how easy it is to stay behind the camera. Maddox was my soul dog for almost thirteen years. He passed in April 2024. When I think about him now, I don’t reach for the frames where he was posed. I reach for the ones that hold what it felt like to be loved by him.
The lighting will matter less than you think. The two of you in the same frame will matter more.
How Do I Feel More Comfortable in Front of the Camera?
Start with these three things. They are what I come back to at nearly every session.
Keep moving
Stillness is where awkward lives. Walk slowly with your dog, tuck your hair behind your ear, shift your weight from one foot to the other. Small movement gives a session energy and keeps it from feeling posed.
Love on your dog
Your dog is your comfort zone, so lean into it. Scratch behind the ears. Snuggle in close. Let them lick your face if that is your thing. These in-the-moment exchanges are what make a portrait feel real, and they are often the ones that end up on the wall.
Breathe
Take one slow, deep breath. It drops your shoulders, softens your face, and brings you back to the moment. It helps your dog relax too, because they read you better than any camera ever will.
What Happens at a Session if I Still Feel Awkward?
Nothing goes wrong. That is the part I most want you to hear. Sessions are dog led, and I plan for about 60 to 90 minutes with no hard limit, so nobody is racing a clock to look comfortable. I guide you with gentle prompts and natural movement that feel more like play than posing.
Most people arrive unsure. By the time we are done, they have forgotten the camera was ever there. If you want to see how a session unfolds from the start, the Experience page walks through it.
Dog and horse portrait sessions
If you've been staying out of the pictures, I'd love to help you step back in.
Tell me about your dog or horse. We'll figure out the rest together, no posing lessons required.
Jennifer Wakefield Canine & Equine Photography is a fine art dog and horse portrait studio in Newport, near Emerald Isle, on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, and available to travel.