Real Tips From A Yorkshire Wedding Photographer
I’m a Yorkshire wedding photographer, and anyone who knows me knows how much joy our furry friends bring into a day. My own pooch, Tilly is the reason I get it completely. She’s a little terror sometimes, but she’s also the reason I understand why a couple would want their dog there on the biggest day of their lives. Wanting them part of it isn’t a nice extra, it’s genuinely important, and it’s one of my favourite things to photograph.
That Mischief!!
Funnily enough, Tilly’s the reason I’m always on the lookout for these moments. The second a suitcase comes out, she’s straight in it, fully convinced she’s coming with us. That’s exactly the kind of cheeky, funny little moment I love catching. So when there’s a dog at a wedding, I’m quietly on the watch for those same cheeky, personality filled moments.
How I Photograph Animals At Weddings
This is the geeky, behind the lens bit. There’s an old line that you should never work with animals and children, and whoever said it clearly hadn’t tried getting a spaniel down an aisle in a straight line. Animals move with total unpredictability, fast, and you genuinely never know what’s about to happen next. None of that shows up in the final photo, but it’s exactly why the years behind the camera matter. Knowing your camera inside out, and being able to shoot on instinct rather than stopping to think it through, is what actually gets the shot. My settings are changing constantly, how I’m focusing, my shutter speed, all of it, and it’s not something a guest ever notices. It’s just always going on behind the lens.
Dogs move before you’re ready, every time. I shoot at a fast shutter and pre focus on a spot the dog’s about to move through rather than chasing focus on the fly. Burst mode does the rest. I’ll also ask for anything loud, mic calls, clapping, sudden music, to hold off while the dog’s around. A quiet toy squeak works far better than a room full of people shouting a name at once.
Horses at Weddings: Why Dogs Aren’t the Only Four Legged Guests
Dogs aren’t the only four legged guests I’ve photographed either. Why stop there? I once shot a wedding where the bride, Jade, arrived at church on her horse, absolute showstopper of an entrance, guests were still talking about it at the evening do. And then there was Francesca, one of my favourite couples’ horse, who casually ate the corsages while everyone was posing for photos. If your dog isn’t the only animal you can’t imagine the day without, horses at weddings deserve just as much thought and just as many photos.
Get Your Dog’s Wedding Portraits Done First, Not Last
Weddings are a lot for a dog, whichever part of the day they’re there for. I’ve learned not to leave the dog’s photos until last, hoping for a quiet moment that never really comes. As soon as the dog arrives, whether that’s for the ceremony or just the drinks reception afterwards, I try to get their photos done early while they’re still fresh and happy to cooperate. Two hours into canapes and chatter, most dogs have had enough, and it shows in the photos.
Have Someone Your Dog Trusts As Their Chaperone
If the person the dog trusts stands next to the couple calling their name, the dog looks at them, not the camera, and you end up with a lovely photo of a dog looking slightly off to one side. I always ask that person to stand just behind me instead, toy or treat held quietly at my eye line. The dog’s gaze lands on the lens, which means it lands on the couple’s faces in the photo.
Give Your Dog A Wedding Day Base, Not Just A Lead
A dog’s own bed or blanket, tucked just out of frame, gives them somewhere to reset between shots. It smells right, it’s familiar, and it saves everyone chasing a loose dog round a lawn. I’ll send the dog back to it the second we’ve got what we need, and it keeps things calm for everyone, dog included.
Being Realistic About Dogs At Weddings
Being Realistic About Dogs At Weddings
Some dogs take crowds and chaos completely in their stride. Others really don’t, and that’s completely fine. If your pooch isn’t at their best around chaos and crowds, it’s worth being honest with yourself about that early on. A wedding throws a lot at a dog that’s totally outside their normal world, new people, noise, smells, hours of it, and that can be genuinely overwhelming for a dog who isn’t used to it. Sometimes the kindest thing is for them to stay home and just be part of the day in spirit. There’s no wrong answer here, just the right one for your dog.
If you do want your pooch there, a bit of planning goes a long way. Think about timing, who’s looking after them, and where they can retreat to if it all gets a bit much. Get that right and the rest takes care of itself.
If you’re planning a dog friendly wedding in Yorkshire, I’d love to hear about it. Tilly says hello, and she’s already jealous.
