Shih Tzu Puppy Portraits: Pet Photography Posing Ideas in a Seattle Hydrangea Garden

At the very end of January, I adopted Milkshake from Little Dog Pet Rescue here in Seattle when she was three months old. Every month I try to do a photoshoot with her so I can make an album of her first year with me. This is my first time adopting a puppy; my previous two dogs were adopted as seniors. For her nine-month photoshoot, I decided to do the session in a beautiful hydrangea garden just outside of Seattle, where I also did my first photoshoot with Bumblebee (who was also a Shih Tzu!) in the same dress.

These photos might spark inspiration for how to photograph your own dogs, including posing ideas. My go-to has been to put Milkshake on a chair from my outdoor dining set. I love the faux bois style and how it looks very earthy and patina, so it fits in with the garden seamlessly. There was also a petite stump tucked under a low hydrangea bush that I popped Milkshake on. I love how mossy and earthy it is, it looks like she's in a fairy garden.

All of these images were shot with the Nikon Z9 and the Nikkor S 85mm f/1.2 lens. One of the most important things for pet photography is to bring someone along who can squeeze the squeaky toy to get your animal's attention and give them treats.