Make Your Monterey Pet Photography Session an Adventure!
One of my favorite things about photographing pets is that you don't always have to plan a traditional photo session. Sometimes the best photos happen when you're simply doing something you already love together!
Monterey is such a fun place to explore with your dog, whether you're looking for a relaxing beach day, a little adventure, a good meal, or something completely different from your normal walk around the neighborhood. And when you turn those activities into part of your photography session, your pup gets to be themselves while we capture all of those fun, candid moments along the way.
If you're looking for dog-friendly activities in Monterey, CA or fun things to do with your pet during your pet photography session, here are a few of my favorites! And if you're looking for ideas for what to bring along, check out my pet photography props and essentials guide for even more inspiration!
Something Calm & Relaxed
Not every dog needs a big adventure to have an amazing photo session! If your pup is happiest sitting beside you, getting a treat, wandering around town, or simply enjoying some quality time together, a slower-paced activity can be just as fun. These are some of my favorite ideas for creating relaxed, everyday moments during your pet portrait session.
Grab a Pup Cup at Mad Dogs & Englishmen
Mad Dogs & Englishmen Coffee Bar
Why not treat your pup to something special during your session? Grab yourself a coffee and let your dog enjoy a pup cup before continuing your adventure around Carmel. It's such a simple activity, but those little everyday moments can make some of the sweetest photos. Your pup gets excited about their treat, you get to laugh at their messy face, and we can capture all of those little interactions that feel natural and true to your relationship.
Go Shopping Together at Diggidy Dog
If your dog loves being included in everything you do, why not take them shopping during your photo session! Let them help you pick out a new toy, treat, collar, or something else to take home before we wander around Carmel together. It gives your pup something to focus on while we capture all of those little moments that happen naturally.
Grab Breakfast at Wave Street Cafe
Sometimes a photography session can be as simple as grabbing breakfast together! Wave Street Cafe in Monterey has pet-friendly outdoor seating, making it a fun spot to bring your pup along for breakfast or lunch. Enjoy a coffee, grab something to eat, and let your dog hang out beside you before heading out for a walk along the waterfront. This is such a fun option if you want your photos to feel a little more like your actual life. We can capture your pup sitting beside you, sharing a little snack, enjoying the sunshine, or inevitably trying to steal your food.
Have a Beach Day
The beach can be calm, too! If your dog would rather sit beside you and watch the waves than sprint through the sand, we can slow things down and capture those quiet moments together. Bring a blanket, sit in the sand, watch the waves, and let your pup hang out with you. Sometimes the simplest moments create some of the sweetest photos.
Something Adventurous
If your dog is the type who is always ready to go somewhere, sniff something new, or find the next adventure, let's lean into that! Your pet photography session can be an experience you actually do together instead of simply walking around and posing. These ideas are perfect for energetic pups and anyone who wants their pet portrait session to feel a little more adventurous.
Bike Around Monterey with Your Pup
If your dog loves going for a ride, this is such a fun way to turn your photo session into a little coastal adventure! Mad Dogs & Englishmen offers dog-friendly sidecar rentals in Carmel and Monterey, so you can cruise around together while taking in the sights of the Monterey Peninsula. There's something about getting your pup into a bike cart that instantly creates fun, playful photos. You can ride together, stop along the way for photos, and let your dog take in all the sights and smells of the coastline.
Go for a Hike at Rip Van Winkle
If your dog would rather trade the beach for a good sniffing adventure, a hike at Rip Van Winkle Open Space in Pacific Grove could be the perfect fit. The wooded trails give you a completely different backdrop from the coastline, with Monterey pine, Monterey cypress, and oak trees surrounding the trails. It's a great option for dogs who love to explore, sniff everything they possibly can, and lead their humans on a little adventure! For photos, I love locations like this because you don't have to do much at all! Let your dog wander, sniff, run ahead, or stop to investigate something interesting while you follow along together. Those natural moments are exactly what we're looking for!
Take Your Pup Paddle Boarding
For the more adventurous, water-loving pups, let's take your session onto the water! If your dog is comfortable around water, paddle boarding together can make for such a unique pet photography session! Imagine your pup sitting at the front of the board while you paddle along the coast, stopping to take in the scenery before eventually making your way back to shore.
Run, Play & Explore at the Beach
If your pup lives for zoomies, fetch, and splashing in the waves, let's make the beach their playground! Bring their favorite ball or toy, let them run through the sand, play in the water, and explore while we capture everything as it happens. You don't have to worry about getting your dog to sit perfectly still or look at the camera the entire time. Some of the best photos happen when they're simply just having fun!
The Best Pet Photos Happen When You're Actually Having Fun!
At the end of the day, you don't need to plan some huge adventure to have an amazing pet photography session. Some of my favorite photos are simply you walking with your dog, playing with them at the beach, exploring somewhere new, or laughing when they do something completely ridiculously cute or funny. The best activities are the ones that already feel like you.
Whether your dog is happiest running through the sand, sniffing through the trees, riding around in a bike cart, sitting beside you at a cafe, or tagging along while you explore Carmel, I'm here to document all of those little moments that make your relationship yours! And don't worry, I'll still do my best to capture that picture-perfect photo of them looking at the camera, too! The candid, playful moments and the classic portraits mixed together are what make a gallery feel complete to me!
So grab your dog, pick something fun to do, and let's turn an ordinary day together into a pet photography session in Monterey that actually feels like you!
