It's Not What You Think. It's Better.
You have probably been imagining something stiff. Something staged. Your dog sitting perfectly while someone with a camera says look over here forty times and hopes for the best.
That is not what this is.
A session with me feels more like a really good afternoon with your dog. There is wandering. There is sniffing. There is your dog doing whatever your dog does, and me quietly finding the moments that make you catch your breath when you see them later.
I have been photographing dogs in Columbus for over fifteen years, and the one thing I know for sure is this. The best portraits never come from perfect behavior. They come from dogs who feel safe enough to just be themselves.
So here is what actually happens. All of it.
First, We Talk About Your Dog
Before I ever pick up a camera, I want to hear about your dog. Not the Instagram version. The real one.
The one who steals socks. The one who is afraid of the vacuum but will fight a leaf to the death. The one who leans into you so hard you almost lose your balance, because that is how they say I love you.
We will have a short phone call where you tell me everything. What lights them up. What makes them nervous. Whether they warm up to strangers in two seconds or two hours. I want to know the expressions that make you laugh, the habits that drive you crazy, and the quiet moments that make your chest ache a little because you know they will not last forever.
All of that shapes the session. The location we choose, the pace we set, the way I approach your dog when we finally meet. Nothing is random. Everything is built around who your dog actually is.
We Pick a Place That Feels Right
Columbus is full of beautiful spots, but beautiful does not matter if your dog is overwhelmed.
Some dogs come alive on the trails at Scioto Audubon, where the scenery feels wild and the space lets them breathe. Some dogs are happiest at Highbanks Metro Park, moving through soft light and open fields at their own pace. Park of Roses in Clintonville is stunning when the light is warm and golden, and it gives us endless variety without ever feeling rushed.
For dogs in Dublin, there is something almost storybook about the covered bridges and quiet streets. Powell and Worthington have their own hidden corners with gentle trails and beautiful light.
And sometimes the best place is your backyard. The spot where your dog already feels like the world makes sense.
We decide together. I will always steer us toward what is going to make your dog the most comfortable, because comfort is where their real personality shows up. You can see how different locations feel in the portfolio.
Then We Just… Hang Out
This is the part that surprises everyone.
When we meet at our location, I am not in a hurry. The first thing I do is get on your dog's level and let them decide what to make of me. Some dogs are all in immediately. Some need a few minutes. Some need a walk around the block before they are ready to acknowledge I exist. All of it is fine. All of it is part of the process.
I do not force moments. I wait for them.
Your dog wants to wander into a patch of sunlight and lie down? That might become the portrait that makes you cry. Your dog is glued to your side and will not stop leaning into you? That is connection, and it is gorgeous. Your dog spots a squirrel and loses their entire mind? I am already shooting.
The session lasts about ninety minutes, but it never feels like ninety minutes. It feels like a walk with your best friend where someone quietly captured all the things you never want to forget.
Your Dog Does Not Need to Behave
I really need you to hear this.
I have photographed dogs who ate grass for twenty straight minutes. Dogs who barked at every single jogger. Dogs so shy they spent the first fifteen minutes hiding behind their person's legs. Senior dogs who could only walk a few steps before needing to rest. Puppies who treated the entire session like a personal obstacle course.
Every one of those sessions produced images that made their owners emotional.
Because the magic is never in the pose. It is in the tilt of their head when they hear your voice. The way their ears go soft when they finally relax. The look they give you that says you are my whole world, the one you see every day but have never been able to capture on your phone.
I know how to find those moments. I have spent fifteen years learning how dogs communicate, and I read your dog's energy the same way you do. That quiet understanding is what makes this different.
Your dog just needs to be themselves. That is where the magic lives.
If you want to know more about how I work with dogs of all personalities, read about my approach here.
After the Session, the Emotional Part
About two weeks later, we sit down together for your image reveal. I walk you through your full gallery of edited images on a large screen, and this is where most people are not prepared for what they feel.
It is one thing to see a snapshot of your dog on your phone. It is something else entirely to see their personality, their soul, their specific way of being in the world captured in a portrait that looks the way loving them feels.
I have watched people laugh, go completely quiet, and reach for tissues all in the same appointment. There is no rush. You get to sit with it.
From there we design together. I help you figure out how these images want to live in your home. There are beautiful options from wall art to albums to fine art print sets, and I walk you through everything so you can choose what feels right. The best way to explore those is a quick phone call where we can talk through what you are imagining.
You can also browse the product options here.
The Questions Everyone Asks
What if it rains on session day?
We always have a backup date ready. Ohio weather does what it wants, and I will never rush your dog's session because of a forecast.
Can I be in the photos too?
Please. Some of the most meaningful portraits I have ever taken are the ones where your hand is resting on their head, or they are leaning into you, or you are both just existing together. Those are the ones you will treasure most.
What should I wear?
Simple and comfortable. Neutral tones photograph beautifully. I send a style guide after our planning call so you do not have to overthink it.
Can I bring more than one dog?
Absolutely. Multi-dog sessions are some of my favorites. We just give every dog their own time to shine.
What if my dog is reactive or needs to stay on leash?
Completely welcome. Many of the dogs I photograph stay on leash the entire time, and you would never know it from the final images. Safety always comes first.
How far in advance should I book?
Spring and fall fill fastest in Columbus. If you have a season in mind, reaching out a few months ahead gives you the best options. Here is more about how sessions work.
If You Have Been Thinking About It
I hear this all the time. I thought about booking for months before I finally did it. And then, almost always, the next thing they say is I wish I had done it sooner.
Your dog is not going to be this version of themselves forever. The gray creeping around their muzzle. The way they still bounce when they see you come home. The look they give you when they think you are not paying attention but you always are.
All of it is worth preserving. Not someday. Now.
The first step is just a conversation. No commitment, no pressure. Just you telling me about your dog, and me telling you how we can turn that love into something you will have forever.
Claudine Kosier is the photographer behind Simply Dog Photography, creating modern, soulful dog portraits for devoted dog parents in Columbus, Dublin, Powell, Worthington and surrounding Central Ohio communities.
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