We all know that our pets are family, but it can be hard to capture their true character in pictures. We want to show you how you can get the best shots of your pet and their holiday spirit, so let’s dive right in! Here are 5 tips to get awesome Christmas dog pictures.
Playtime During Your Christmas Pictures
Play with your pet. This is the easiest way to get them excited and happy for the shoot. Bring along their favorite toys and make sure you bring a leash or harness, as this can help keep them calm and focused on you during the photo session.
Also it’s easier to let them be themselves! Don’t try to force your dog into poses they wouldn’t normally do — that will only cause stress and create a less than ideal outcome for everyone involved (and it may also result in an upset pet).
Instead, try capturing photos of your fur baby at its happiest moments—when it gets excited about something specific like going outside or playing with another animal/person they like playing with… just being themselves is all we need!
Plus, if you’re doing Christmas family photos, playing with your pet is a great way to get adorable Christmas dog pictures!
Plan Ahead For Your Pet Christmas Photos
Once you’ve got your pet and location, it’s time to get down to business. The first thing you need to do is make sure that your pet has been fed and is finished with their business! If they’re hungry, they might get distracted during the shoot—which means no cute Christmas photos with your dog.
Feed them at least 1 hour before the shoot so they’ll be full enough not to wonder off while you’re trying out different pet Christmas photo ideas with them!
Another tip is to use treats—wisely. Treats can be helpful in getting your pet’s attention, but don’t overdo it or they might get too excited and uncooperative! Have a few on hand to offer as rewards for good behavior, but give them sparingly so they stay focused on the task at hand.

Get Holiday Costumes For Cute Pet Pictures
If you’re feeling festive, why not dress up your pet in something to match the holiday? It’s a great dog Christmas photo idea. And they’ll love having a special outfit just for the holidays.When you put on a costume, it’ll make sure you’re both in on the festivities.
If your pets aren’t too keen on dressing up, that’s okay! You don’t have to use a full costume, maybe include a tiny hat or festive toy instead. You could even add a little bow-tie to bring out your pet’s ultimate cuteness.
The best part? You can post those on social media so everyone can see how cute your Christmas family photos are!


Shoot Your Pet Christmas Photos When They’re Comfortable
The most important thing to remember when photographing your pet is to make sure they’re comfortable. If you’re trying to get a picture of your pet and he’s not interested, don’t force it—just try again later. You’ll have much better luck getting photos of them looking at the camera if you can get them into a good mood!
When shooting with your pet, there are many things that can help ensure their comfort level: treat rewards (if they like treats), playing with them beforehand so there’s lower risk for the zoomies, keeping things quiet and calm around them…these all make for more relaxed photos.
It’s also helpful to have someone experienced with working with animals for professional Christmas family pictures. Not only will this reduce stress for both your pet and yourself but it will increase the likelihood that you’ll get great results!

Thinking about professional pet photography for the holidays? Click here to learn more about RTW Photography!
Capture Your Pet’s Personality
If you want to get the most out of your experience and capture some truly memorable photos, make sure you capture your pet’s personality. This can be as simple as getting them excited about something.
From there, use that emotion to set the scene! You could even make it look like they’re excited to decorate the Christmas trees or open presents! The best Christmas dog pictures really capture your fur baby’s personality.

Conclusion
We hope that this post has helped you to get the best photos of your pet for the holidays! With a little planning and lots of patience, you can create ‘pawesome’ holiday memories with your fur baby!