everything you need to know before you book
If your questions isn't here, get in touch - I'm happy to talk it through before you commit to anything.
The Session
Before anything is confirmed, we have an initial Photography Consultation to get to know each other. We talk about your dog – their personality, their needs, and what brought you here, and I walk you through how my Sessions work, what to expect, and what you’ll walk away with. It’s a chance for both of us to make sure it’s the right fit before any commitment is made. If it is, you’ll receive a Proposal to review and sign, and once your Session Fee is paid, you’re officially a Malone Photography client.
After booking, you’ll get access to Behind Your Experience – the client only section of my website, where you’ll find the Location Guide and everything else you need to start preparing for your Session. Then, a couple of weeks before your Session, we’ll have a Planning Consultation. This is where we get into the specifics: confirming your location, talking through any moments or images that matter to you, and discussing the kind of artwork you’re thinking about for your home. This ensures I can walk into your Session knowing exactly what I’m capturing images for.
The Session Fee is $300 and is paid in full to confirm your booking. It’s not a deposit – it’s the fee for your Session itself. Once it’s paid and your contract is signed, your Session is locked in. The Session Fee is separate from your Collection, which you choose after your Gallery is ready.
It depends on your dog. If they’re high energy and you’d prefer fewer action shots, some off-lead play or a walk beforehand can help them settle – though if you’re happy for me to capture them getting that energy out, that’s completely fine too (I actually really enjoy action photos!).
For dogs with longer coats, a tidy-up groom in the week before makes a noticeable difference in photos. White dogs and dogs prone to tear staining are worth a fresh bath as close to the Session day as possible.
Once you’re booked, you’ll also have access to training resources in Behind Your Experience if you’d like to work on anything with your dog before we meet.
Yes. If there’s a particular pose, activity, or environment you’d love included, let me know during your Planning Consultation so we can choose a location that’s best for this. If something comes to mind on the day, bring it up – if we can work it in, we will.
Not a problem. Many of the dogs I photograph are on leash the entire Session (including the photo at the top of this page), and you’d never know it from the final images. I’ll guide you on how to position the leash so it can be removed in editing wherever possible. During editing I’m able to remove most collars and leashes without you being able to tell the dog was wearing either of them.
Natural light is my primary tool and the foundation of how I work. I plan Sessions around the best available light for each location, and the time of year. In situations where the light needs a little support, I have equipment to maintain the quality you’d expect.
Reactive and Challenging Dogs
Reactive dogs are a speciality, not an obstacle. Sessions are designed around the dog’s needs from the start – we discuss your dog’s triggers and thresholds during the Planning Consultation, and choose a location and time that gives them the best chance to settle and relax. I’ve worked with dogs who arrived muzzled and left muzzle-free. The environment, timing, and my approach all work together to ensure they feel safe and can enjoy the experience of being a model superstar.
I actively manage this. If an off-lead dog approaches, I intervene. If someone tries to interact with your dog uninvited, I redirect them. Your dog’s space is protected throughout the Session – that’s not an afterthought, it’s part of how every Session runs.
If at any point in time (even if I’m taking a photo) you see something that makes you want to create space. Do it. I’ll then intervene to ensure you get the space you and your dog deserve.
But I also have multiple locations where this is pretty much guaranteed to not happen.
Honestly? Most people expect a photoshoot. What they get is more like a walk with someone who happens to be taking photos.
Most dogs take a little time to settle into a new environment with a new person, and that’s completely fine – we don’t rush it. There’s decompression time built in so your dog can sniff, explore, and find their feet before we get into anything. By the time we’re in the flow of the Session, most dogs have forgotten I’m even there (or they just want me to join the fun). That’s usually when the real moments start happening.
What surprises most people isn’t the photos – it’s how much fun the Session itself is. One client told me she trusted she’d walk away with beautiful artwork, but she hadn’t expected the Session to feel like such a good day out. That’s the goal every time.
The Gallery and Collections
Your gallery is typically ready within 4-6 weeks of your Session. You’ll receive a message the day after your Session while the images are being prepared, and a notification as soon as your Gallery is live.
If there’s anything that may cause a delay (e.g. illness, travel or an unexpected life event) I’ll let you know as soon as possible, including a new estimate for when it’ll be ready.
Once your Gallery is ready, you choose the Collection that suits you. There are three tiers – Companion, Beloved, and Heart Dog, each including a set number of digital downloads and credit toward artwork. You select your Collection first, which gives you full Gallery access, and then choose which images you’d like as downloads and which you’d like as artwork.
You’ll have 1 month to choose your Collection, and then 1 month to decide which images you want as digitals and artwork. If you’re working through a decision, that’s fine – just be mindful of the expiry date, as Galleries aren’t kept open indefinitely.
Artwork
Artwork options include framed wall art, albums, and memory boxes. All framed pieces arrive ready to hang – there’s nothing extra to source or organise. The specific options and sizes available are outlined in your Client Experience Portal once your Session is booked, and again in the Store in your Gallery.
An Artwork Consultation is a guided conversation to help you choose the right artwork for your space – the right pieces, the right sizes, and how everything will work together in your home. It’s included in the Heart Dog Collection and with all album purchases. For anyone ordering a gallery wall or larger pieces, it’s strongly recommended that you have one so I can help you select the best images and frame options.
If it’s not included in your Collection, you can also purchase and book one separately.
A Memoir Album is a traditional album with premium touches such as embossing of text on the cover, a silk ribbon and the album lovingly wrapped to protect it in it’s box.
A Vogue Album is a more modern, Vogue magazine style (hence the name) album. We can design the cover with a photo from your Session and text of your choice – and we can add text within the album to tell your dog’s story with a mixture of images and text.
Pricing and Payment
Yes – your Collection is a separate investment, chosen after your Gallery is ready. Collections start at $800, with a minimum total investment of $1,100. Pricing for artwork and albums is outlined in your Client Experience Portal.
Depending on what you choose to purchase you may have an additional amount to pay when ordering your artwork. For example, in the Companion Collection you get $750 of print credit – if you purchase a 20x30cm Marilyn frame valued at $890, you’ll need to pay an additional $150 to complete that purchase.
Afterpay is available for both the Session Fee and Collection purchases. In some circumstances a personal payment plan may also be available for Collections – this is something that can be discussed after your Planning Consultation.