Worried about your dog being off-leash?

A common concern is people wanting to keep their dogs leashed for an outdoor photoshoot. That’s smart because, in addition to leash laws, dogs are much safer on a leash. There are many distractions at the park; squirrels, bunnies, bikes, other dogs, and even disgusting things like goose poo. I get it because my dog is the most distracted of them all. I keep him on a short leash so he doesn’t get into trouble.

Dog leash removal

Even though it may appear that dogs are off-leash in my photos, it’s usually because I’ve removed them in post-production. Here are a few examples of leashes I’ve edited out of photos.

I can even retouch out harnesses if the dog’s fur is one color. Brindle or multi-colored fur is more difficult, but could still be possible if we take a reference image so I know what the fur behind the harness looks like.

It always looks more natural if a photo doesn’t need excessive retouching, I’ve developed some tricks to hide the leash in the first place. One way is to position the leash so it falls down the back of the dog and along the ground. This has the added benefit of hiding dog tags. Since the leash attaches to the tag ring, the dog’s rabies tag is out of view when you place it in the back.

Another tip is to remove the tags and put them in your pocket until we’re done taking photos. I’ll walk you through all these tips at your photoshoot. All you need to remember is that the leash and tags can be hidden.

FYI- I do not allow e-collars at photoshoots.

If a dog is getting photographed with its family, I have them sit on the leash. That way, they can pet and interact with their dog without having the end of the leash in their hands. In this photo, Alice’s family is sitting on her leash. She would have been safely tethered if a squirrel or other distraction had appeared.

Let me handle your dog leash removal in Photoshop! Your friends will never guess your dog was safely leashed at his photoshoot. They will simply see that your dog is so well-behaved!

Just Because You Can Fix It, Doesn’t Mean You Should.

For example, I’ll mention, “In a perfect world, the leash won’t be wrapped around your hand five times.” I realize that’s not always possible, but it’s still a good goal.

Editing isn’t just about efficiency. Decisions still matter. An artist instinctively knows how an image feels, not just how it looks. Maybe the better question isn’t whether something can be fixed, but whether it even needs to be. We’ve all seen enough impossibly perfect holiday cards. Maybe real will be the next trend. I hope so.

Lately, I’ve been leaving the leash in more often because it can be part of the story. In this photo, the leash helps show the action of a boy running with his dog.

The slippery slope of Photoshopping people’s bodies and faces

I have a love/hate relationship with Photoshop when it comes to retouching people. It’s an incredible tool, but it’s also helped create unrealistic beauty standards that leave people feeling “less than,” and I fear AI will make it even worse.

I often hear, “You can just Photoshop that out, right? or “Can you take 10 years/10 pounds off?” They are half-joking, but not really.

I routinely remove dog leashes, but I’m not sure how far to go with reshaping people’s bodies and faces.

Normally, if it’s temporary (i.e. acne), I’ll fix it. If it’s part of who they are (i.e. Cindy Crawford’s mole), I’ll leave it. I like to use a light touch. For example, maybe I’ll do a little teeth whitening and get rid of flyaway hairs. I know a lot of people secretly wish for a virtual face lift. I’m not getting any younger either. I get it! But I don’t think it’s healthy to look plastic, either.

I can retouch out leashes and harnesses on cats too!

Fully-fenced private locations

If you want a leash-free session, I have a few private property locations where we can enjoy exclusive access. Some are fenced, so your dog won’t need a leash. There’s a small fee to rent them, but it might be worth it if you want your dog to run free.

Head over to my contact page, or check out my style of photography on my dog portfolio.

About Karen Hoglund Photography