What’s the best age to photograph a puppy?

Young dogs are always adorable, so there’s no perfect age. Having said that, I’d probably avoid the “teenage” time (6-9 months) when some puppies suddenly develop very long legs and seem to have no idea what to do with them.

If you want those classic baby-puppy photos, I especially love three different stages: around 8 weeks, 3–4 months, and around their first birthday.

8 weeks: Baby Puppy Photos

There’s something pretty special about photographing a puppy during those first days at home. You’re documenting a dog who is just beginning to become part of your life.

Puppies grow fast, so if you want to remember what your dog looked like when you could carry them around with one hand, this is the time. Don’t worry about getting perfect portraits. I’ll work with whatever your puppy gives us, including naps, exploring, and plenty of puppy chaos.

3 to 4 months: My Favorite Age for Puppy Photoshoots

This is my favorite age. They’re still ridiculously cute, but they’ve grown enough that their personality is starting to show. They’ve also had some time to bond with you, which gives us more opportunities for photos that show the relationship between you.

I’ve photographed many puppies and they’re all adorable! Here are some of my favorites from my years as a puppy photographer in Denver.

Beagle Puppy

This is Bailey, and this might be one of my all-time favorite puppy photos. The vintage Bel Air belonged to my car mechanic, and no, it didn’t actually run. See the gray car in the background? It didn’t run either. Good thing that wasn’t red because we couldn’t move it.

The teal you see on Bailey’s tag wasn’t actually the color of the tag. It was reflecting the teal from the Bel Air, which was a happy accident. And her expression? I was making all kinds of ridiculous noises behind the camera to get her attention.

English Bulldog Puppy

Gatsby was only 8 weeks old when we ventured out to Cheesman Park for his puppy photos. The family had an older dog that we planned the photos around, and Gatsby was a surprise addition to the family …and the photoshoot!

“She made the entire process very easy. She was very responsive to all of my questions and ideas. Although there were many moving parts during the photo session, she remained patient and made me feel comfortable.”

Kelly G.

Poodle Puppy

Marcella was just four months old when she joined me for a adventure photoshoot at Loveland Pass. It turned out to be a pretty great way to introduce a puppy to mountain adventures.

To make it easy, Dan and I picked them up and drove up to the trailhead (He grew up in Denver, mountain roads don’t faze him). Everyone was back home by mid-morning, just in time for a puppy nap. My client says it was worth the early alarm.

Those purple flowers are fireweed, blooming along the trail. And yes, Marcella the puppy was safely on a harness and leash the whole time. I removed them in editing.

“Marcella was only four months old—energetic, curious, playful, serious one moment and completely silly the next. The photo shoot itself was so much fun, and Karen has such a wonderful way with animals that Marcella was completely engaged with her (and with her husband, who was there to lend a hand wrangling one crazy enthusiastic puppy!). I remember thinking throughout the morning, I cannot wait to see what Karen is capturing.

And somehow, even though I already knew how talented Karen was, the photographs exceeded my expectations. She captured every side of Marcella’s young personality—the focused and thoughtful little girl, the playful puppy, the happy-go-lucky goofball, and everything in between. When I look at those photographs, I don’t just see a beautiful poodle. I see Marcella.

That’s Karen’s gift. She has an extraordinary eye for light, setting, composition and those fleeting little expressions, but even more importantly, she seems to understand that the animals we love aren’t simply pets. They have personalities and quirks, and they occupy enormous places in our lives. Somehow, she manages to preserve all of that in a photograph.”

Sarah H.

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.

“I couldn’t believe the beautiful photographs she was able to get even though my wild little puppy did not want to cooperate pretty much the entire shoot.”

Rayner M.

Border Collie Puppy

Spell was born during the winter and it even snowed during her photoshoot. We took a few quick photos in a vintage truck and then went inside to a heated photo studio that we had rented.

We made an acrylic block from Spell’s puppy photoshoot.

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!

We took advantage of when Desmond, the lab puppy, fell asleep to get this creative shot. He literally fell asleep on her back. So cute!

I love the quiet moments at the end of the photoshoot. I tend to loiter when I’m putting my camera away. Often, people relax when they think we’re done. Their animals often pick up on that and relax too!

Boston Terrier Puppy

Bozley, the 3-month-old Boston Terrier puppy, was very sweet. 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.

If you’ve been thinking about photographing your new puppy, don’t wait for the perfect age. Pick the stage you most want to remember. They’re only that age once.

“This is honestly one of the most worth while experiences and I have the pictures to prove it!”

Angel P.

Boxer Puppy

Sage the Boxer puppy looks picture-perfect in her bandana.

One trick I’ve learned over ten years of photographing dogs is that if you put dogs up on something—like a bench or rock—you have a better chance of them standing still for a split-second longer.

Sage the Boxer loved her boy and felt comfortable in his arms. I directed him to put Sage’s paws over his arm. It helped hold her still and made her look extra cute.

This family got a boxer puppy and a yellow lab puppy at the same time! Here’s a peek at their photo album so you can see both.

First Birthday Dog Photoshoot

Don’t worry if you missed the puppy photos and your dog is already one. By a dog’s first birthday, they’re usually better trained and a little easier to pose.

Luna, the golden retriever was a year old at her photoshoot. Her family didn’t think she knew commands yet, but it didn’t matter.

No matter what age you choose, I can create beautiful, lasting memories of your new puppy! If you have a new puppy in Denver and want to photograph this stage before it disappears, contact me to get on my schedule.

About Karen Hoglund Photography