The Scruff Life Experience

Not at all! Most pets I photograph stay on-leash during their sessions, and that’s perfectly fine. This is often due to leash laws in the state, regional, and county parks where I typically work. I’ll guide you on how to hold the leash in a way that makes it easy for me to edit it out of the final images. This approach ensures your pet stays safe, we follow park rules, and everyone enjoys a stress-free session—a win-win all around! This topic is covered in more detail on my blog.

Absolutely! As part of the planning process, you’ll gain access to my comprehensive location guide, featuring over a dozen hand-picked spots across the Twin Cities. The guide includes helpful details like permit and parking info, descriptions of each location, and sample photos showcasing them in different seasons.

I’m always updating the guide with new options, so even returning clients can discover fresh and exciting settings for their Scruff Life Photography experience!

Scruff Life Photography is based in Forest Lake, MN, and serves a 30-mile radius. Sessions within this area do not incur travel fees. For locations beyond the 30-mile radius, a travel fee will be applied based on the additional distance. Please contact me for a customized quote!

Absolutely! When you book a session with me, you’ll receive a style guide packed with helpful tips, and I’m always happy to assist with outfit ideas tailored to your session. The most important thing is to wear something that makes you feel confident and like yourself! You might also want to consider the colors in the setting—like yellow sunflowers or white snow—and I can help you choose colors that complement both the landscape and your pet. Together, we’ll find the perfect look!

Absolutely! While dogs are my most frequent subjects, I love working with all kinds of animals. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing cats, horses, rabbits, and guinea pigs—and I’m always excited to expand my experience with other animals. If you have a unique companion, I’d be thrilled to capture their personality!

Not at all! Many of the pets I photograph need some time to get comfortable, and that’s completely normal. Session timeframes are designed to be flexible, allowing space for gentle introductions and adjustment. My top priority is creating a safe and enjoyable experience for both you and your pet. I aim to capture authentic images that reflect the happy, relaxed pet you know and love—not one feeling stressed or uneasy.

Absolutely! I have plenty of experience working with reactive dogs and their owners. The key is selecting the right location and timing the session for quieter moments of the day. As a reactive dog mom myself, I completely understand the challenges and anxiety that can come with outings. I bring the same mindfulness and care to our session as I do when I’m out with my own dog. My priority is creating a calm and stress-free experience, so we can capture beautiful images you’ll cherish. Read more about my experience as a reactive dog mom.

Before your session, I’ll send you a detailed email with everything you need to know, but here are a few quick tips:

• For you: Being well-rested and choosing your outfit ahead of time can help you feel more relaxed in front of the camera. During the session, try not to worry too much about your pet’s behavior—I’ve seen it all and am fully prepared to handle whatever comes our way!

• For your pet: Make sure they’ve had their usual amount of exercise—enough to take the edge off but not so much that they’re completely worn out. Bringing their favorite treat or toy is also a great way to grab their attention during the session.

I also put together a blog post to share some of my favorite tips on preparing for a great pet photo session.

Of course! The Celebration Package is available whenever you feel the time is right. While it’s not always possible to plan these sessions far in advance, capturing your pet while they’re still active and enjoying life can make the experience even more special. Whether your pet has years ahead or you’re treasuring your time together now, this package is here for you.

Post-Session Proofing: After your session, I will carefully select and lightly edit photos for your proofing gallery. This gallery will include a few fully edited images to see what the result will be. You will select your favorites from the proofing gallery to be included in your fully edited final gallery.

Final Editing Process: Once you've finalized your selections, I will put your final images in the queue for editing. This is where I complete the editing process for each of your images, removing any distractions and bringing the photo to life. The timeline for final editing depends on the season and my current workload, but you will receive an estimate from me.

Your Online Gallery: After the final editing is completed, you will receive a link to your gallery of fully edited images. You will have access to download the images in both high- and web-resolution, as well as order a wide variety of physical products from within the gallery store. Your gallery will be available for one year, but I do recommend downloading your images and saving them to your computer and to a cloud storage service, so you never lose them.

Yes! Your private, online gallery includes a web store that links you directly to some of the best professional photo labs in the United States. You'll have access to photo prints, framed prints, canvases, albums, calendars, and more all from within your online gallery. This ensures that you are ordering products from the best labs and you're using the highest quality image files to do so. Win-win!