Don’t we all want to get the best photos possible if we’re going to shelp our pups to a holiday dog photo shoot, often with Santa?

But there’s a few things to consider before heading out to get holiday dog photos. First, is the physical prep and clean up. Just like a supermodel, right? Second is behavioural – ask yourself if your dog’s temperament suits the demands of the day. Even at public holiday photo shoots that schedule time slots, there’s a crowd … usually in a small space.

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Fortunately, my dog loves chaos and fun. She’s very adventurous. Although easily stimulated, she’s up for anything – no fear or hesitation among strangers or other dogs. Festivals, crowded events, and event photos with Santa are generally a breeze from a willingness point of view. But from my point of view, primping the princess so she looks her best is a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, earthbath gave us a box of products to try. (#sponsored)

First, the pre-photo dog bath

My dog doesn’t love the bath, but she doesn’t despise it either. As a puppy, she’d jump in the tub. But now that she’s a head-strong three-year-old, she’s in tolerant mode. Unfortunately for her, she’s mostly white, so cleaning is frequent and challenging. For the brightest whitest photo with Santa, I opted to give earthbath Shea Butter Shampoo a try because the company gave us a box of products to try after I attended SuperZoo, an pet industry trade show last August.

I’ve been a fan of earthbath products for several years, because earthbath dog shampoos (affiliate) are hypoallergenic, and have no parabens, sulfates, glutens, soaps, dyes, or phthalates. As far as I know, my dog isn’t allergic to anything, but she is somewhat sensitive to almost anything she touches. This version of earthbath dog shampoo contains organic shea butter and aloe vera to soothe itchy skin, which can benefit my delicate white pup. And who wants to be itchy for Santa?

Second, the last-minute face-cleaning

Before we headed out the door to get our first photos with Santa of the season, I wiped down my dog’s face with earthbath foaming facial wash (affiliate link). My dog has the good fortune of having a half-black/half-white face: The black side is hard to light in photos, but the white side is prone to tear staining.

I’m likely going to travel with earthbath dog facial wash, because all I did was rub a few pumps all over my dog’s face, avoiding the eyes. Then I wiped it off with a slightly damp cloth. No heavy rinsing is needed.

According to earthbath, the bilberries and blueberries the foam contains have natural soothing properties, and they gently clean, brighten, and remove tear stains. I definitely found the brightening to be true (especially on the white side). Tear stains disappeared, but my dog has mild staining that I wipe regularly. I’ll likely do so more often thanks to the ease of this product.

Third, the dog eye wipes

Like many dogs, my pup gets bits of goop trapped in the corner of her eyes. (Yes, sometimes called ‘eye boogers.’). A little is common with most dogs – a lot sometimes indicates an eye infection. Either way, it doesn’t look good in photos.

So, earthbath has another product that made our photo prep kit: witch hazel and aloe eye wipes (affiliate link). Much like wipes used for people, these come in a pocket-sized container with a snap lid to keep the wipes moist. These earthbath dog eye wipes are also formulated to remove tear stains but, for my dog, the facial foam did the trick.

Also, there’s a new feature that distinguishes these dog wipes from others: a textured surface, which makes catching all the goo that much easier.

The earthbath eye wipes are also going into our travel kit, because they are useful for wiping off a whole lot of messes my high-energy pup might collide into. Note that while there are many moist wipes on the market for people, it’s best to only use those specifically formulated for dogs on our canine companions.

Finally, the big moment: the photo

My pretty but chaotic high-energy dog did alright at the brewery, which was set up for doggie photo shoots that morning. Late November we headed to the dog-friendly Clifford Brewery on Nash Road in Hamilton, Ontario to get photos taken with Father Christmas – this time donned in a red Santa suit. (In previous years, he’s had a more mystical presence in shimmering silver).

The three-day event was a fundraiser for Ladybird Animal Sanctuary, which happened to rescue my cat Daisy.

Although my pup is overly excited, and the squeaking toy used during each photo shoot caught her attention each time, I’m fortunate that she loves this kind of socializing. Her cup of confidence spillith over.

However, not every dog loves this kind of attention and crowded space.

Before you go to a holiday dog photo shoot event

Here are some considerations before taking your dog to a congested pet photo session where they’re destined to meet up with other people and pups.

Is your dog good with other dogs and people?

Most photo shoots with Santa events take place in tight quarters with many people and pets lined up for a few minutes in front of the camera. Understanding your dog’s limits is crucial. If your pup becomes stressed or anxious, especially while waiting, a break might be in order. Santa photos should be a positive experience – for some dogs, this is an overwhelming experience.

Is your dog reactive or obedient? 

Photos with Santa (or any other character) are usually male. Some dogs are more uncomfortable with men. A person is helpful with a dog like mine, who needs to be held in all the excitement. Other dogs won’t respond well to being held by strangers. Other photo shoots are in ‘holiday settings,’ so this can work better – if your dog responds to ‘sit’ and ‘stay.’ My dog and I are still working on that.

Is your dog exercised and empty?

Before heading to the Santa photo shoot, give your dog a good exercise session (without getting dirty). A tired pup is a well-behaved pup, and exercise helps to release excess energy, reducing some restlessness during the photo session. Take your dog for a brisk walk or engage in some playtime before they meet Santa – having done potty several times before getting too excited is, clearly, a good idea too. Nice not naughty is the goal.

Ready to go? Here’s an extensive list of the best holiday dog photo shoots in Ontario, must fundraisers for resues. If you want to go to light shows, here’s a list of dog-friendly options across Canada.

Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria. Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!