Photos by Jessica France & Nikki Antoine
lients care about how their dog smells and feels after a grooming appointment, but they often notice what their dog looks like first. A well-groomed dog is already a walking advertisement for your work. And since photos last long after dogs get dirty all over again, groomers can take advantage of this by building a library of images to showcase their best work and share with clients.
Capturing good photos doesn’t have to be time consuming, but it does take a little practice to get the best shot. High-quality photos stand out on social media, but it’s not just about how they look on your business pages. Clients are likely to share pictures of their own dogs on their pages, too. This is a good way to introduce your work to more people and, more importantly, clients will have a polished picture they feel good about sharing.
Not every dog will be a good fit for a mini photo session, though. Clients might choose not to have their dog’s photo taken or shared. Then there are the dogs that are too nervous about the process.
Emily Shannon, a professional pet stylist in Alexandria, VA, explains that it’s essential to understand the needs of the individual pet: “I don’t take pictures of all of my clients, as my main concern is how the dog on my table is feeling,” she says. “If they are nervous, anxious, and just trying to get off my table as quickly as possible, then I won’t take pictures.”
By paying attention to the body language of dogs, Emily can assess if the dog is experiencing stress: “If they are being goofy, silly, relaxed, calm, or just being plain cute, then I will take out my squeaker toy and phone camera to try and capture what I see,” she adds.
“We take pictures to celebrate the transformation, the joy, and the bond between pets and their people.”
“I find it helps to grab their attention by squeezing a toy, using higher-pitched noises, or saying familiar keywords,” says Jessica. “Sometimes even holding an object that’s theirs, like their collar or leash, gets them to perk up or tilt their head just right for a cute photo.”
Jessica explains that taking photos isn’t just for the salon, but for the clients too: “It allows owners to see different haircut styles and point out what they like or don’t like, which makes communication much easier,” she adds.
Emily notes that sharing photos with clients is meaningful beyond capturing the grooming style: “These pictures have been amazing to show my clients, especially after the dog has passed away,” she says. “We can usually laugh and reminisce of their time spent with me in the salon.”
“In fact, several clients have printed the pictures we have sent them and put them in a frame,” continues Nikki. “Taking a great photo really elevates us in this business, as many new clients have remarked they never received this level of service from their previous groomer.”
To take a good photo, groomers should ensure the background and the surface the dog is on are clean and free of hair. It does take practice to figure out the best way to take photos that show off the dog’s grooming, so experiment with different angles, backgrounds and light. Some groomers take photography workshops or classes to learn the best techniques.
Uploading photos is another time-consuming process. It’s important to keep files organized if you want to use the same photo more than once. Create an easy-to-navigate system for maintaining the digital images. Using folders and consistent file names can make it easier to pull up pictures as needed.
For groomers who decide to take photos of their work, those photos must represent their skill, professionalism and commitment to their clients. A bad photo might say even more than a good one. With a little bit of planning and figuring out what works best, groomers can capture pictures they will be proud to share.