Including Your Fur Baby in Your Newborn or Family Photos at Home

Including Your Fur Baby in Your At-Home Newborn or Family Session

Because your story isn’t complete without them.

At-home sessions are all about capturing the love, connection, and beautiful messiness that make your family yours and for so many of us, that includes our fur babies. Whether your pup was your first baby, your loyal shadow through pregnancy, or now the curious new big sibling, they absolutely deserve a little space in the frame.

At Stills by JP, I’m here to document the whole story of your family, just as you are. Including your pup isn’t a complication, it’s an opportunity to capture even more of what makes your home feel full and loved.

Fur Babies = Family

Our dogs are with us through so many life seasons. They keep us company in the quiet, make us laugh when the days are long, and love us (and our babies) unconditionally. When we invite them into our family photos, we’re saying: you’re part of this, too.

Some of my favourite images are the quiet ones a dog curled up beside the bassinet, a gentle sniff on soft newborn skin, or simply sitting close as you hold your baby on the lounge. It’s these real, unscripted moments that say the most.

A Calm, Natural Approach

You don’t need your dog to be perfectly trained, I certainly don’t expect them to sit and pose. My approach is gentle, flexible, and always calm. I work around your pet’s energy and personality, capturing little moments as they naturally unfold.

We might include your dog for the beginning of the session and then let them relax in another room. Or they might quietly hang nearby and pop in and out as we go. Either way, it’s all easy and relaxed.

A Few Simple Tips

To help everything flow:

• A short walk or playtime before the session can help your dog settle.

• Have treats or their favourite toy close by, I’ll use what works best.

• Let me know a little about your dog beforehand. Are they gentle, shy, bouncy, extra cuddly? That helps me plan.

  
  

Some Favourite Fur Baby Moments

These are the stories I love to tell — all the hearts that fill a home.

A quiet cuddle and a soft paw — nothing posed, just the beauty of being together.

Two fur babies front and centre — curious, close, and completely part of the moment.

That loyal gaze — part of the family, part of the story.

These moments often become treasured images a glimpse into the quiet bond already forming between your newest family member and your most loyal one.

Let’s Tell Your Full Story

When you look back at these photos years from now, I want you to remember what this season felt like the cuddles, the chaos, the quiet in-between moments… and the soft paws or wagging tail that were there through it all.

If you're in the Sutherland Shire and thinking about an at-home newborn or family session, let's chat about how we can include your whole family fur babies and all.

Ready to book your session? 

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