Event & Trial FAQ
How does our club hire you as the official photographer for an upcoming trial?
I would love to work with your club! Please reach out via my contact form with your event dates, the venue location, the type of trial, and the estimated number of entries if possible. From there, we can discuss my availability and any particulars that need to be discussed and established.
Please note that I do require an exclusivity agreement for all club events. Out of professional courtesy, I never shoot at a trial where another official photographer is working, and I require the same in return - meaning no other professional or for-profit photographers may shoot the trial alongside me.
Can I hire you to do a private portrait session of my dog during a club event?
To ensure I provide the best possible coverage for the host club and all of the exhibitors, I do not take private portrait bookings during active trial hours. However, I am always happy to schedule a dedicated portrait session with you on a different date.
If you are just looking for a simple photo of your dog with their new title rosette, I am happy to snap a quick photo and upload it with the rest from the trial if I have time during a lunch break or at the end of the day.
How long does it take for trial galleries to be posted?
I know exhibitors are dying to see their photos the second they step out of the ring! My goal is always to have the fully culled and lightly color-corrected galleries uploaded within a 1-2 weeks after the event concludes. However, depending on the size of the event, how many entries there were, and what my existing workload looks like, I may need more time. I will always announce on the Full Stride Photo Facebook page the second they are live.
How much editing do you do to trial photos?
Due to the sheer volume of photos taken at a trial (can easily be thousands in a weekend!), event photos are culled, cropped, and lightly color-corrected, but they do not include heavy retouching or leash and collar removal. These photos are left mostly natural.
Pet Portrait FAQ
How does booking and payment work?
Contact me through the form on my website. I will reply as soon as I am able and we will start a dialogue. You tell me what you're looking for, we'll discuss availability, locations, special requests, and pricing.
In order to secure your date on my calendar, I require a signed contract and non-refundable retainer (amount varies by package). The remaining balance is due prior to our session. For the "Grow With Me" puppy package, the payments are broken down into manageable installments before each of the three sessions.
How far do you travel?
All of the private, non-event services I offer include round-trip travel up to 35mi from Toms River, New Jersey. I am happy to travel nearly anywhere in the state of NJ and will entertain out-of-state locations on a case-by-case basis.
For locations beyond 35 miles, a travel fee of $0.70/mile applies to the extra distance round-trip.
For example: If a location is 65 miles away (30 miles beyond the free radius), the fee would cover the 60 extra miles round-trip ($42).
I will always provide that exact fee up front when discussing the location where the photo session will take place, so there are no surprises.
Where do sessions take place?
Portrait sessions take place at beautiful outdoor locations in the area. You and I will work together at the time of booking to find a spot that feels perfect for your dog, their personality, and the vision you have, whether that is a quiet, shaded trail, an open field, or a sunny beach.
Please note that out of an abundance of caution, I will not host sessions at dog parks or busy off-leash dog beaches.
Note: if we select a park or beach that requires a commercial photography permit, that fee will simply be added to your final invoice. I will always make you aware of that cost during the process of deciding on a location, so you can choose a different location if you prefer.
Does my dog need to be well-trained or able to be off-leash?
No, not at all! A little obedience training is certainly helpful, but not at all required. It can be useful for certain common poses but I'm happy to work with your dog and take what they are willing to give us.
Most of the dogs I photograph are leashed for their safety, and because most photography locations are subject to leash laws. I am able to edit out leashes in post. Leash removal (and collar removal, if desired) are included in the standard editing. For the best final result, I do strongly recommend using the thinnest possible leash and collar, as thick ones - especially on fluffy dogs - can be very challenging to seamlessly edit out.
Please note that I will not attempt to remove a harness in editing. You can bring your dog to the photo session in a harness, but the harness will remain in the final photos.
Can I be in the photos?
My specialty and passion are strictly in canine photography, so your dog will always be the main focus of my lens.
However, the bond an owner shares with their dog is an important part of their story, and if reflecting that bond during our session is important to you, then I will gladly include up to two humans in a handful of photos. I would love to capture your special connection with your best friend, but please keep in mind that I am a canine photographer, and the session itself - and the vast majority of your final gallery - will be dedicated to celebrating your dog.
Please let me know at the time of booking if you would like to be in any photos with your dog, as well as if there are specific poses or types of photos you would like to take with them.
Can my bring my other dog?
Yes, however - working with two dogs requires additional time, handling, and editing to do justice to both dogs. If you would like to include a second dog, please disclose that at the time of booking. There is an additional fee of $150 to add a second dog to your session. This extends our time together to 90 minutes and upgrades your package to include 15 high-resolution digitals.
Two is the maximum number of dogs that can be booked in a single session. You will be responsible for handling both dogs, so please bring an extra set of hands with you.
What should I bring?
Come with your dog dressed in a simple flat collar and leash. Thinner is easier to seamlessly edit out, especially on dogs with a lot of coat. Bandanas and other cute clothing/accessories are fine as long as you are fine with them in the final images. Walking harnesses are very challenging to seamlessly edit out, so I do not do it. If you bring your dog in a harness, the harness will stay in the final photos. They rarely look good, so I recommend against it. Occasionally I have thin show-type slip leads available to borrow for the session, but not always.
I also strongly recommend bringing a toy they will work for (a tug, a ball, whatever) and/or treats to keep their attention. They do not need to have extensive obedience training, but sometimes it's helpful to have something to help motivate them or catch their eye. An extra long leash can also be a good idea, particularly if you want more active shots.
If it's hot out, bring water for yourself and for your pup. Their photos will come out much better if they are cool and comfortable!
What happens if it rains on the day of our outdoor shoot?
If the weather looks terrible (heavy rain, extreme heat, or unsafe driving conditions), we will reschedule your session to the next mutually available date at no penalty to you.
Overcast conditions provide the best, softest lighting for outdoor photos. I will not reschedule for misty rain, drizzle, fog, or light snow.
Breeder & Kennel FAQ
I have a litter on the ground. What are your biosecurity protocols?
I live with two house dogs of my own, and while they are current on vaccinations and do not frequent groomers, boarding kennels, dog parks, etc. they do occasionally go to dog shows or sport trials, so 100% zero-exposure isn't realistic. However, I take your whelping room biosecurity very seriously and take strict steps to mitigate risk.
When you book a litter session, your kennel is my very first stop of the day - I literally will not even stop at Wawa for gas or a Sizzli on my way, let alone anywhere with dog traffic.
I arrive in freshly laundered clothes, bring fully sanitized camera gear, and will change into a clean, dedicated pair of shoes right when I pull onto your property. I am also more than happy to follow whatever hand-washing, sanitizing, or foot-bath protocols you require before I step into your puppy area.
Can I use the photos from my kennel session in magazine ads or on my website?
Yes, please do! All breeder & litter packages include a Limited Promotional Release written into the contract you sign at the time of booking. This gives you the right to use the images you purchased on your kennel website, social media, stud ads, litter announcements, and in print magazines like The Canine Chronicle, Showsight, or breed-specific publications. I just ask that you credit Full Stride Photo in print, and you cannot sell the images to third-party commercial brands.
We don't have a beautifully manicured property or a fancy kennel building. Is that going to ruin the photos?
No! Not at all. Having a beautiful backdrop is certainly a boon, but we can find the best spot you've got and work with it. Smart camera work can melt a background away beautifully and a little editing in post can help remove distractions, too. Remember - we are shooting the dogs, not the landscaping!
How does payment work for the Litter Milestone package? What if the breeding doesn't take or we lose the litter?
I strongly recommend booking early to make sure you get the dates you want. This may mean booking as early as when pregnancy is confirmed!
I require a flat $250 retainer to book your dates in my calendar. Once the puppies are all safely earthside and we have a final headcount, the remaining balance ($50 per puppy + any travel fees) is calculated. That remaining balance is split into two equal payments, due 24 hours before each photo session.
I know, unfortunately, that breeding can be unpredictable and sometimes heartbreaking. If the breeding does not take, or the worst happens and the litter is lost, your retainer is 100% refundable, or we can happily roll it over to a future litter. You have enough to worry about, losing your photography retainer shouldn't be another cause for stress.
When should I schedule my Litter sessions for?
As written, 4 weeks and 8-ish weeks (or whenever your breed typically does evaluations prior to placement) are the recommended ages to capture two different phases of early puppyhood, but honestly, it's completely up to you.
If you want to add a third session to have me to come out when the puppies are 10 days old and put them in a wicker basket with a knitted blankie and tiny flower crowns, I'm absolutely here for it. If you only want evaluation photos at 10 weeks old and nothing else, we can build a package around that.
What kind of editing do you provide for kennel sessions? Can you change X?
I remove collars and leads, crop, adjust lighting and color balance, and remove background distractions.
I can remove small cosmetic blemishes, eg. minor saliva stains, dirt spots, small healing wounds, etc.
I absolutely will not edit anything that changes your dog's overall color, markings, structure, or outline, by request or otherwise. My goal is to take accurate photos that honestly represent your dogs as they actually are.