If you’ve never had a portrait session for your pet, you might be wondering how I manage to get their attention and capture those perfect moments. Well, let me tell you, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve!

My top go-to? The sounds I make with my own voice. Over the years, I’ve perfected an arsenal of noises that can stop dogs (and even their owners) in their tracks. Some of these sounds are so convincing they leave dog moms and dads doing a double take! They’ve become second nature to me now, I don’t even realize I’m doing them anymore. I’ll admit, in the beginning, it felt a bit awkward, and I definitely had a “what am I doing with my life?” moment. But hey, it works!

Beyond vocal tricks, I have a trusty lanyard packed with game calls; everything from deer and elk to squirrel and bird calls. Some of these sounds are downright obnoxious, but they get results. I also have an ever-growing collection of squeakers, salvaged from all the toys my dogs have “de-squeaked” over the years. (And... it is recycling) Of course, there’s always the classic word triggers, “walk,” “treat,” “cookie,” “car ride.” These magic words often light up a dog’s face in an instant!

Every now and then, I’ll meet a particularly focused dog, like a hound or a sporting breed, whose nose is glued to the ground. In those cases, I’ll enlist the owner’s help to stand behind me and grab their attention—teamwork makes the dream work!

I once worked with a particular Foxhound on several occasions. She can be incredibly focused, especially during an outdoor business portrait session with her and her handler. (Fun fact: she’s a trained scent dog that hunts bedbugs!) To get her to look at the camera, we had to resort to using the squeal of the Edmonton LRT train as a distraction. It was an unusual trick, but it worked!

When it comes to horses, it’s a whole different ball game. Horses tend to respond more to visual cues. I’ve used everything from cat toys to plastic bags on a stick (yes, really). Having someone in the distance to catch their eye also works wonders. Horses, in a way, remind me of cats, you just have to experiment and see what piques their curiosity.

At the end of the day, every pet is unique, and figuring out what works is part of the fun. Whether it’s a squeaker, a strange noise, or a little teamwork, I’ll do whatever it takes to capture your pet’s personality and charm!

 If you have wondered about anything else, please check out the FAQ section at the bottom of my "ABOUT" page.