I’ve photographed many puppies and they are ALL adorable! I’ve never met a puppy that wasn’t stinking cute. Here are some of my favorites from my years as a puppy photographer in Denver.

Maltese Puppy

Frances, the Maltese Puppy (photo at top of page), was once described as a “Q-tip,” and I suppose there is a resemblance! She posed on a simple Adirondack chair on her back porch. You don’t need a fancy house or special furniture for a pleasing pet portrait.

Beagle Puppy

We took Bailey’s photos in a vintage car. Pretty cute!

English Bulldog Puppy

Gatsby was only 8 weeks old when we ventured out to Cheesman Park for his puppy photos.

Boston Terrier Puppy

Bozley, the 3-month-old Boston Terrier puppy, was very sweet and didn’t nip like most puppies. However, he did enjoy charging at me to lick my face and liked playing tug-of-war with my camera strap. Oh well, that’s a small price to pay for getting my puppy fix. He was as soft as a feather and weighed about as much.

Kuvasz Puppy

It’s a lot of pressure to come up with the perfect name for a puppy. After all, you will say a dog’s name a million times during their lifetime, including literally yelling it out the back door. Bleu’s new family struggled to agree on a name for the 8-week-old until they were inspired by the color of his collar. His breeder had put different colored collars on each puppy in the litter so she could tell them apart. You guessed it… His collar was blue.

Now that Bleu is full-grown, he’s well over 100 pounds and still just as cute!

King Charles Spaniel Puppy

When I met Chelsea, she was nine weeks old and only weighed 4 pounds. She has black and tan coloring. King Charles have silky coats that come in 4 colors – Blenheim (chestnut and white), Tricolor (black, white, and tan), Ruby (solid red) and Black and Tan.

Golden Retriever Puppy

Roo did a very pretty sit-stay on the red chair. At only 11 weeks old, she was already a supermodel! This red chair is a very popular prop for puppy photo shoots since it shows the pup’s scale. A full-grown golden retriever wouldn’t fit in the chair, but a baby golden will.

Corgi Puppy

Just when I thought puppies couldn’t get any cuter, along came Clementine. She was an 8-week-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. I love how she’s standing at the edge of the kitchen steps, checking out me and my camera.

Silver Lab Puppy

It’s always an exciting day when a puppy joins his new family. I was lucky enough to document Desmond on his second day home. Like most puppies, he was racing around at the speed of light or sound asleep. Puppies are either on or off!

French Bulldog Puppy

When I photographed her, petite Avery was 11 weeks old. I love how she peeked around the grass. The tall step makes her look even tinier.

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What’s the best age to photograph a puppy?

Each age has its own charm, so there’s no perfect age. Having said that, I’d probably avoid the “teenage” time (6-9 months) since growing pups can look a little gangly.

Here are some pros and cons of lining up a photoshoot at eight weeks, three to four months old, or waiting until their first birthday.

Newborn Puppy Photoshoot

Pros:

• Honeymoon Phase: Capture those precious first days at home.
• Tiny Size: Puppies grow fast!
• Unique Shots: I can suggest creative poses and settings that are better than your typical cell phone shots.
• Relax: I’ll handle the technical aspects of the shoot, allowing you to relax and enjoy your puppy. You can even get in the frame for photos together.
• There’s no time like the present! You can’t go back in time if you realize later that you should have gotten a puppy portrait.

Cons:

• Naptime: Tiny puppies might get easily distracted or need a nap. Puppies are usually on or off, but I’m patient!
• Vaccinations: Puppies aren’t fully vaccinated at eight weeks, which could be risky if the photoshoot is in a public place. I usually do “puppy’s first day home” sessions at your home to minimize this risk.

3 to 4-month-old Puppy Photoshoot

Pros:

• Still Super Cute: Four-month-old puppies are still in their adorable stage, with lots of playful energy.
• Connection: Older puppies already have a bond with you.

Cons:

• Training: At this age, puppies aren’t fully trained and have shorter attention spans. Everyone will need to be more patient.

First Birthday Dog Photoshoot

Pros:

• Better Trained: By their first birthday, dogs are typically better trained and can follow commands, making posing easier.
• Calmer: Adult dogs tend to be calmer than puppies, allowing for more creative shots.

Cons:

• Life gets busy: It’s hard to predict what factors might come into play by next year.

No matter what age you choose, I can create beautiful, lasting memories of your new puppy! Head to my contact page to get on my schedule while they are still young pups.

About Karen Hoglund Photography