Soul Touched by Dogs

Welcome to the Soul Touched by Dogs
Podcast, the show for dog lovers who

see dogs not as toys or tools, but
wise souls worth our respect and care.

I'm an Herrmann, and I'm your host.

I talk to poor some humans, people who
do great work for dogs and their people.

So come and join us for
today's conversation.

Anke: Hello and welcome, Nicole.

I'm very happy to have you here.

Nicole: Very happy to be here.

Thank you for the invitation, Anke.

Anke: My pleasure.

And we have a delightful topic today.

So before we dive in, let people know
where in this lovely world you are

and what's your business with dogs?

Nicole: Absolutely.

Um, so I am the Vice President
of Growth and Strategy for

George Street Photo and Video.

Personally, I love dogs.

I have two myself and my
fur babies, as I call them.

And, um, but at the photography
company, we are working with,

uh, mostly wedding couples.

And we are always working
with them with dogs.

animals.

You know, many people, they're
part of the family, like my

dogs are part of my family.

And so people are bringing them
to their big day or as part

of their engagement session.

And so we are constantly working with
our photographers and with their dogs

to make sure that all of the couples
have everything that they need.

Anke: I love that.

I just love that.

And you know, when, when I think of
weddings with dogs or, you know, animals,

but we're talking about dogs here.

When I think of weddings and wedding
photos with, with, with dogs, I always

think of the funny ones where, you know,
the dog like photo bombs or, or steps

on the dress or, you know, it's funny.

So, so what is something that people,
because I mean if you love your

dog, obviously you want the dog
to be part of the wedding, right?

So what is something that, you
know, you wish people knew?

What is something that people kind
of often maybe don't consider?

Nicole: Well, there are two things, Anke.

And the first thing is making
sure you know your dog.

You know, so you had mentioned
about the photobombs.

Some of the very best photos are
when the dog takes this picture.

The show, you know, they are there, they
are doing what they, what they want.

We've seen where, you know, all of a
sudden in the middle of the vows that,

you know, the, the dog decides, alright,
I'm gonna be mom and dad during the Vs.

And they'll jump on top.

And so that's amazing shot and
has everyone, you know, fully

with themselves and laughter.

And so it has some of the,
most of, the, most of the.

I'm sorry, I don't know
if you can cut that out.

Um, most of the, um, it has, you
know, seeing all the dogs, you know,

jump up with their parents and what
it really helps to do is to make sure

that, you know, they're capturing
the true essence of the couple

and the dog and the relationship.

Or we'll have, some of my favorite photos
are when the dog actually sits on the

dresser, the veil, and just decides
that they're going to sit there the

entire, you know, the entire ceremony.

We have it where the dog is supposed to
be walking down the aisle but decides

to take a detour, you know, so those
are some of the very best moments.

So just remembering your dog is the dog
and, you know, as much as they're part

of the family, they may take the show.

The second piece is that, um, Really
making sure that, you know, again,

with the knowing your dog, your dog
may, may not do well with cameras,

may not do well with a large audience.

So most importantly, making
sure that you're doing something

that's workable for your dog.

And with that, um, you know, I
have some, you know, very specific

recommendations, something that I
personally had to make that decision

with when I got buried as well.

And so, you know, with, with that,
Keeping in mind that if your dog

doesn't do well with groups, you
might have to find an alternative

to have them be part of the wedding.

That might mean engagement
session, might have a pre session.

It could also be, you know, maybe
the day before the wedding where

you take some photos with your
dog so that you can capture, you

know, capture your dog with you.

It could also be where maybe
you have photos of your dog

as part of, you know, of that.

We've seen that in lieu of, um,
party favors where somebody might do

a donation on behalf of their dog.

So maybe they do it to a
pet charity of their choice.

And instead of, you know, giving
the caramelized apples at the

end of the day, you know, they've
done a contribution instead.

So there are many ways to really
bring in your pet, whether they

can be there physically or not.

Anke: I love that.

I think that opens up a whole new, you
know, because, you know, I don't know,

like I, I host a lot of like classes and
summits and quite often when I see what

people are worried about, the way people
are asking, a lot of it is like, you

know, my dog's anxious, my dog's reactive.

So, you know, like dragging them to a
big party is probably not the best way.

And I love like to almost like
get away from like looking

at the dog as part of it.

As a way of like, how can we
include the dog, and it doesn't

necessarily mean physical presence.

Nicole: Exactly.

I love

Anke: that.

Nicole: So, with my personal story,
I had a hundred pound Roddy, and

she was sweet as sweet as can be.

She, her name was Estelle, and
Estelle did whatever she wanted to do.

Estelle was a terrified, terrified camera.

And so I knew I really wanted her to be
part of the wedding, but I knew that I

had to make some very specific decisions.

So I actually had a family
friend stay with Estelle.

So Estelle could be at the site and,
but you know, no cameras around.

I made sure that I had her with me, um,
you know, while I was getting ready.

And then what, what we do is anytime
we were going to bring out the

cameras, we would move her aside.

Um, and then during this, uh, during
the reception, What we did was

we had, um, we asked what all the
photographers while they were eating

to please keep their cameras down.

And so she made a guest appearance and I,
and I made sure like ahead of it, I had

somebody announce like, please no cameras
because she would panic and take off.

That was how we terrified cameras.

And so she came in, she had her cute
little bow that matched my dress and

she came in, we did a loop around.

She said hi to the people,
you know, she was fond of and

then she exited, but that was.

That was, you know, how I was able
to bring her in, knowing that it

was either a stealth or having my,
you know, my wedding photograph.

And so those are decisions you
have to make, because if the dog

isn't going to feel comfortable,
why put them under that pressure?

Anke: Yeah, yeah.

I mean, I'm totally fascinated
by the idea of like, do you kind

of have an idea of what about the
camera would be so scary for the dog

Nicole: I think that she, I don't
know exactly, to be honest with you.

I adopted her when she was six, so I
think that it was something ahead of,

you know, her being part of my life.

But, um, you know, I know that
there was one time that there

was a flash and that scared her.

So I don't know, every time she
saw the camera, maybe she, you

know, related it to a flash.

Anke: Yeah, that, that,
that would make sense.

I mean, what, what's the
funniest story like you've seen?

Like, you know, I don't know,
like I've sort of seen some funny

videos, but, but what's the funniest
thing that you've witnessed?

Or like, what are the photographers
that you're working with?

Like, what's the funniest thing?

Nicole: One of the fun, I mean, there
are many, many funny ones, but one of

the funniest was when, um, the, um,
the, you know, so the dog, instead of,

like, walking slowly down the aisle,
decided to run, you know, so the,

and there was a little child holding it,
so the, the child is also running with

the dog, you know, so the two of them
are pretty much just, you know, beelining

for, you know, for the, for the groom,
in this case, and so, Um, you know, just

hurried and then, you know, and then the
whole time it was just, the doc just kept

You know, I don't want to say acting up,
it was just simply being them, you know,

and so, you know, there was, you know,
the running and then, you know, sitting

on the dress and then, you know, jumping
up and just not, you know, walking back

down the aisle ahead of the professional.

So, you know, they really, you know,
stole the show, but it was really

funny and the couple was so delighted,
you know, delighted about it.

So, just having everyone, you know,
laughing and You know, you know,

engaged with, you know, with the
dog, but it was, it was really quite

funny to see the whole thing happen.

It breaks the ice for sure, right?

And everyone

Anke: was light hearted about it.

I mean, is this something,
have you had people that would

say, well, let me practice?

With the dog, like, is that a thing?

Nicole: Well, they always, you know, we
always recommend that, you know, ahead

of the, ahead of the day that they do do
a rehearsal, a rehearsal of some sort.

Um, but you never know what's
going to happen in the moment.

Anke: I'm always too worried if, like,
if I'm sort of thinking of, like, my

lair, you've got to pour, you've peed on.

Nicole: I haven't seen that.

And that, but that is a good point
Anke, you probably want to make sure

the dog relieves themselves ahead
of, you know, of the party, you know.

Anke: Leo certainly would have
like stolen food off the table

like that, especially when, when,
like, he was, Like, that's him.

And he would have, he would have,
like, he was small, right, but he would

basically go and he'd get away with it
because he was, like, he was the master

of stealing food when nobody is watching.

So, like, he, he would, he,
he knew how to not get caught.

I guess, you know, when I found
him, he'd spent some time in the

street, so he figured that one out.

So he would jump on the chair,
which gave him access to the table.

And then he'd give you the innocent
face when he's like, well, I'm small.

Like I can't possibly snip off the table.

I, he probably would have wiped out.

Nicole: I haven't seen a dog steal
the cake, but that's, I could, I

could potentially see that happening.

You probably want to be mindful
of just kind of watching.

When the cake comes out, for sure.

Anke: Oh, that's funny.

So do sometimes people do
special shoots with the dog?

Nicole: Yeah, we, we highly recommend it.

One of the most popular and great ways
to include the dog in a, if you do

want them to be part of the day or not,
you know, just kind of depending is to

have them be part of your engagement
photos, so your save the date photos.

Like, you know, there are so
many wonderful props, like my

humans are getting married.

Or, or, you know, she was mine
first or she said yes, or he,

you know, and he said yes.

So having, um, it's a really fun way to,
you know, to have that be part of the

introduction of your, of your, you know,
wedding day so that everyone knows and

making sure that it's part of the family.

And we've even seen where a common
pose is that the couple will be

sitting in the, in the background and
the dogs will be in the foreground.

And so the focus is more on
the dogs and their signs.

And then the humans are in the background,
you know, so it's just, it's really cute.

It depends on how you want it,
but we recommend, um, doing that.

You can also do a pre session,
like the day before your wedding,

maybe on the rehearsal day.

Or, you know, post wedding as well, um,
because, you know, there are just many

ways that you can bring it in, but I
do think that, you know, letting your

dog have, have the dog's personality,
your personality being there and being,

allowing the family as a unit to be
seen in the, in the photos is such,

such a wonderful idea, whether it's
the wedding day, pre or post wedding.

Anke: Yeah, I love that.

So, is there something specific, like,
like the photographers, like, do they

need some sort of special training or
does somebody, you know, like, what is

it that they will need in order to pull
this off as opposed to a normal wedding?

I'm thinking, you know, like reining
in puppies and, like, speaking of

the wedding guests, it's probably
already a chunky job, right?

But so, What's an additional,
you know, like, what does

it mean for a photographer?

Because I would imagine, I don't know,
like, that's, that's, is that a thing?

Like, if, if somebody goes to a
photographer, like, hey, I want wedding

photos, will there be some who go,
no, no, no, I don't do dog stuff?

Or like, is this something that
every photographer just kind of does?

Or like, what's, what's
your experience there?

Nicole: There are some photographers,
you know, where they don't

feel comfortable with dogs.

And so, um, you know, in the case of
our business, we just make sure that.

That is known, and we make sure
that the couple knows that.

But most, most of our photographers, and
most photographers I know personally,

are happy to capture the dogs, and
I think it's more about just kind

of really being able to have those
candid, photojournalistic moments of

capturing what's so, because that's
what you're going to get with your pet.

Like, your, your pet may never
sit and look at the camera.

That may never happen, you know?

But it's more about two with a couple
bringing things that work for the dog.

So maybe the dog has a favorite treat
that will help the photographer out.

There might be toys that will
help with the dog, you know,

being engaged in the moment.

So the, many of our photographers
will actually use those or suggest to

the couple ahead of time, make sure
you're bringing some of the favorites,

make sure that you have, we always
recommend having a handler that's

available too, because the photographer
is trying to take the photos, but

you have somebody else who's holding.

You know, holding the toy and speaking it.

You always

Anke: see that, yeah.

On Instagram sometimes, you know,
there's like Instagram accounts where

photographers, where they take you
know, like, new photos for the shelter,

you know, for the adoption photos, and
there's always the photographer and

somebody else is holding the treat, right?

Nicole: Yes, exactly.

Because it's, you know, it's
impossible to do all, all things.

So really having someone there to
help support, you know, family friend

or a, you know, maybe you have a
pet sitter or pet, a dog walker.

So having someone there to
help support, but treats, toys.

Bones What?

Whatever, whatever the dog, again, knowing
your dog, what, what does your dog like?

What is gonna help support your dog
to be successful at the photo shoot?

Along with, along with you.

But what we found mostly is that
people seem to be even more relaxed

when their pet is with them.

You know, because, you know, people
get shy in front of the camera.

So when you have a pet, people laugh.

People are enjoying, there's a calmness
or, or maybe not, but it's, you know,

all things and, uh, really capture
some wonderful, wonderful shots.

Anke: Yeah, I can totally see that,
you know, because I think your mind's

also a little bit off your own, like,
you know, you kind of look at what

the dog does and whether the dog's
okay and whether the dog, you know,

to make sure the dog isn't doing what
they're not supposed to and whatever.

So I think it just takes
your mind off, you know.

Nicole: Exactly, yeah, it helps to relieve
the stress and then also to When you

have somebody who's there to help, you
know, handle the dog, then you also have,

you're able to get shots of the two, you
know, the two of you, plus the three or

four or five of you, depending on how
many, uh, dogs you have at one time.

But this allows for
everything to go smoothly.

So that's, that's another
recommendation I have.

And then, you know, if your, if
your dog is also, you know, just

afraid in general too, you may
have, have some of those shots, but.

You know, having those in the distance
with the photographers in a distance.

So you can still incorporate your,
you know, your pet and as part of

your family, but it could just be done
in a way that works for all of you.

Anke: Yeah.

I mean, you were just saying like
one dog, like, have you ever had it?

Like, you know, wedding, like with
more, I mean, I have more than one

dog, so that would be hilarious.

Yeah.

Nicole: Yeah.

I mean, we, we haven't really seen
it with three or four dogs, you know,

and we've had, we've had really fun
photos from the distance where the,

The couple is actually walking the dog,
but the dog actually starts to run.

This is during an engagement session.

And so you see the couple kind of, you
know, you know, jotting down, but it's

really, it's a really Fun photo, you
know, it really showcases the family.

And, um, and so again, those
are some of the best shots, is

when your dog takes the stage.

I love

Anke: it, I love it, you know,
because at the end of the day that's

like just real life and, you know.

Nicole: It's so true, right?

It just showcases what, you
know, the real, the real life

Anke: moments.

I love it.

I love it.

So where can people go and, um, you
know, find a photographer that does a

good job with the dog and find out about
you and, you know, your company or work?

Where, where can people go?

And maybe stalk you on Instagram to

Nicole: get

Anke: a good laugh.

Nicole: Well, we love that.

Um, so it's georgetreetphoto.

com is our website.

And then our Instagram handle
is at georgetreetphoto.

Anke: Cool.

So obviously it's kind of, it's
going to be in the show notes

and above or below here directly.

So easy to find.

Nicole: Wonderful.

And we do have a lot of articles
about, you know, with bringing

your dog to your photo shoot.

So checking out our blog is a great way.

And also on our Instagram.

Anke: Love that.

Love that.

Thank you so much.

This is so much fun.

And I think it's just

Nicole: such

Anke: a beautiful idea, right?

I think it's just gorgeous.

So thanks for coming and, you
know, sharing all these tips.

So we're prepared.

Thank you so much, Anke.

Thanks so much for listening.

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And if you know a pawsome human
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Email me at Anke.

That's A N k E at Soul
touched by dogs.com.