Step 1: Get in Touch

The first thing to do is to fill out the Contact Us form with your email and phone number. Once we have that information we will get back to you promptly - we like to have conversation with you right away to understand a little bit more about you and your pet, as well as answer any questions you may have. It’s usually at this point that people book and pay for the session.

Congratulations, you’re now a Naughty Mutts client and we are going to take very good care of you while we tell their story… and yours!

Step 2: Pre-Shoot Consultation

This is a very important step as it creates the foundation of the experience you will have with us. By now we already know your pet’s name, breed, age, likes, dislikes and so forth, and it’s this stage we start to really learn their story. We typically like to meet them at your home first, we let them get used to us, the sounds of the camera etc. in an environment where they are already confident. We are very careful at this stage, as with some critters their confidence can easily be shaken and above all else we need to maintain a high level of trust with them. This is also where we have a discussion on what your goals are for the session and what to expect on the big day, what kind of art you like, the colours in your home, etc. We’ll show you some samples of the various products we offer so you can start thinking about wall art, albums, gift boxes, etc. that you’d like to discuss during the viewing / ordering session.

Step 3: Session(s)

Depending on your goals, this will either be a studio session in our home studio, on-location (Indoor and Outdoor), or in some cases both.

Studio sessions offer us the most control and it’s these sessions that you see the full range of artistic expression from dramatic low key “Rembrandt” lighting to classic high key portraiture. We also have various props and backdrops to suit the season. They are typically 60 minutes long, which allows for set changes and the patience required to let your pups adjust and take breaks as needed. The studio is fully equipped with refreshments for all species, as well as access to our fully fenced yard if they need a mental break or two.

On location is an opportunity for us to truly capture your dog’s personality! We have been scouting areas in Edmonton for a while now and have some favourites that never disappoint. We know where there is safe water to play in, beautiful vistas that capture sunsets perfectly, long wavy grasses and deep forests etc. If your dog is reactive and prefers to be the only dog around, we have access to a private outdoor facility (included in your session fee) that is a wooded / open pasture. If your pet prefers to be at home, then we are happy to accommodate whatever space you have available – we can work with just about any place. We use portable off camera lighting to support these shoots, which affords us the option to have these sessions at any time of day, not just in the “golden hour” premium time slots. The on-location sessions are typically 90 minutes long. We also offer a special rate if you are interested in booking both a studio and on-location session for your pet.

Step 4: Preliminary Viewing & Final Proof

After the photography session(s) we will perform preliminary edits and send you a few sample images to get you ready for the viewing appointment. We then invite you back to the studio for the big reveal where we will help you choose the prints, digitals, and wall and desk art that you wish to purchase that day. This information is important to obtain prior to the final editing because the sizing can impact how this is done. Final edits include leash removal, painterly adjustments and complex compositing of different subjects - and boy does this ever make beautiful stuff! There can be quite a lot of work in this phase, so we ask for at least 2 weeks to finalize things before we bring you back for you final proofing (proofing can be done virtually also - but due to different monitor settings and colour profiles we don’t recommend it).

Step 5: Final Delivery

Depending on your order, it may take 3 to 4 weeks for final packaging and delivery of your order. We will inspect the final product from our premium print lab, and then deliver it to your home or office. For Out-of-Town clients we will package and mail the order to you.