Let’s be honest: your dog is going on the holiday card. They’re the most photogenic member of the family, and if everyone else is getting dressed up, they obviously need a coordinating sweater. The catch? Christmas doesn’t arrive on schedule in the Bay Area. The tree farms may not be open yet, the neighborhoods with the good lights don’t transform until after Thanksgiving, and the nearest snow requires a road trip. Meanwhile, your card deadline is sprinting toward you.
Luckily, you have a dog photographer who loves solving exactly this problem. 🙋🏻♀️
Holiday Minis Are Here
Want it done without the planning? Book a short and sweet session at Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland on select weekday mornings.
$350 gets you the session plus 2 hi-res images made for your holiday card. A little posing, a little wandering, and a whole lot of telling your dog how cute they are. Quick turnaround, because your dog’s PR team (you) has deadlines to meet. Dates are select and spots are limited, so once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Prefer San Francisco or something completely different? Custom sessions are available too.
A Very Bay Area Christmas
Who decided Christmas needs snow? Or wool coats? Or a perfectly decorated tree farm? In California, we make up our own rules.
Last year I photographed a family who wanted cozy, festive, and very Christmas, but early enough to use on their cards. So we went to Joaquin Miller Park early in the morning, brought a blanket, put on sweaters, and let the fog do the rest. The forest already felt wintery, the fog made everything soft, and the whole thing felt like Christmas. Just... ✨Bay Area Christmas✨. Prefer sunshine? Put your dog in their cutest holiday outfit and photograph them on a beach while everyone back home scrapes ice off their windshields. A little jealousy is festive!
Either way, skip the generic setup. Nobody *needs* fake trees or a giant plastic santa lurking in the background. The goal is a photo where someone looks at it and thinks, Yep. That’s so them.
When to Book (Earlier Than You Think)
For cards, October and early November are the sweet spot. You get the session done before the holiday chaos, have time to pick favorites and order, and still end up with photos that feel festive in December. Waiting until the two weeks before Christmas, when everyone suddenly remembers the dog needs a card, is how people end up crying over shipping deadlines.
The easy timeline: book now, shoot before November 19, order cards by December 1st. Cards start at $75 and you can design and order them right in your gallery, so once you’ve picked your favorites, you’re nearly done.
Where to Take Dog Holiday Photos in the Bay Area
For an East Bay session, think forests, parks, and waterfront spots that already feel cozy and wintery, like Joaquin Miller Park. For a San Francisco session, think foggy mornings, beaches, and that slightly cinematic quality the city produces without even trying (Crissy Field is a good example).
Have a different place in mind? My custom sessions are built for exactly that. And if your dog gets nervous somewhere new, we’ll pick a quiet spot and take it slow (here’s how I work with shy and reactive dogs). Sometimes.. the perfect place is home!
What to Bring (and What Not to Stress About)
Bring the sweaters, the blanket, and the ridiculous dog accessory you couldn’t resist. That’s about it. I’ll find the good light, tell you where to stand, and keep an eye on your dog, and if your dog decides the shoot would be improved by sniffing a bush for seven minutes, we’ll work with that too.
The best photos aren’t the ones where everyone is trying very hard to look like they’re having their photo taken. They’re the ones where everyone is admiring their dog and completely forgot we we're taking pictures.
Holiday Gifts for the Dog People on Your List
Holiday mini clients can add cards (from $75), ornaments ($45), and small prints ($75) to their order. For the grandparents, aunties, uncles, and sitters who love your dog as much as you do (and keep asking for more pictures), there’s a bundle: 2 small prints and 2 ornaments for $200.
Shopping for someone else? Browse wall art and gift cards in my store. A custom piece of wall art is the perfect present for the dog person who has everything except a good photo of their dog.
FAQ
When should I take holiday card photos with my dog?
Earlier than you think. October and early November are ideal, so you have time to choose favorites and order cards before December gets loud.
Can we do Christmas photos in the Bay Area without snow?
Absolutely. Fog, forests, beaches, and golden light all photograph beautifully, and a cozy blanket and Christmas sweaters do the festive work. Personally I love a good sunny beach photo too, let's make your family outside of California jealous ;)
What if my dog is shy or doesn’t love new places?
That’s kind of my specialty. We’ll pick a quiet spot, move at your dog’s pace, and bring lots of treats.
Do you offer digital files, prints, or albums?
Yes! My special holiday mini sessions include two digital files, but after any shoot you are able to pick digital images, wall art, prints, tabletop pieces and albums.
Bring your dog and your Christmas personality, and I’ll handle the location, the light, and the timing.
We’ll make it cozy, festive, a little ridiculous, and very, very you.
