Seattle Dog Portraits
Welcome!
Pets have been part of my family for over thirty years. I know how important they are in our everyday lives not only as companions, but as members of our families. And capturing their unique personalities in a fine art portrait is just as important as the images we create of those closest to us.
Got questions? To learn more about having a unique, fine art portrait created by Charles Cotugno Photography, click on the button below to schedule your free consultation.
Charlie Cotugno is a Seattle headshot photographer and a Seattle pet photographer.
“We had a session with Charlie to get a portrait of our French Bulldog. It was positive from start to finish. Our guy is a little shy and he felt comfortable right away, so he captured the personality of the dog we love and immortalized it. The resulting portrait is an actual work of art— beautifully printed on gorgeous paper. Highly recommended!”
- Cynthia Howell, Seattle Dog Trainer
About Our Pet Portrait Sessions
These are not your average pet photos. I create these portraits with a fine art approach whether in my studio or on location. Each selected image goes through a rigorous retouching process adjusting lighting, applying color grades, and making sure your dog looks it’s best. I personally print each portrait to exacting standards using a combination of the world’s finest inks and papers, producing exquisite prints that are archival for a lifetime (usually longer!) when displayed properly.
Your Questions, Answered
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We can have them created at my Seattle/SoDo studio, at a favorite location, or at your home.
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A typical dog portrait session lasts anywhere between twenty and forty-five minutes. A lot of it depends on how long it takes for your dog to feel comfortable in the setting and their level of training. We typically take a break or stop when your dog shows little interest in continuing.
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The session fee includes the photography either in the studio or on location. Images are sold separately.
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Yes. The fee is $100 per additional dog. Typically, additional locations are $50 each but may vary due to distance and other factors.
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I always recommend having your dog groomed within a few days of your session especially if they have longer hair or a style that may only last a short while. If you have a dog that doesn’t need professional grooming, please have them bathed and cleaned for their portrait session.
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Having a well-trained dog is certainly helpful. But if they can do a pretty good job with sit and stay, we can create some great images. It’s a good idea to spend about twenty minutes per day going over their commands and rewarding them with high value treats for about a week before your session.
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ItemBring those high value treats! Something really tasty they may not get on a regular basis. Cheese, bacon, beef or chicken jerky, etc., work exceptionally well. Also bring along their favorite toys as these can be comforting and help get their attention for their portraits. description
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Item descripKeep to your regular schedule with them but also give them some exercise to try to burn off a little energy. Of course, you should walk them before you leave. If your session is at my studio, walk them before entering. There is a small pet station at the entrance of the parking garage where you can dispose of any waste.tion
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Yes! I want to create images that capture the different sides of your dog’s personality.
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Of course! You are all welcome to be included in some of the portraits.
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If your dog is nervous then I would recommend a session in an area they are familiar with; your yard, a park, a trail, etc. rather than an in-studio session.
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For everyone’s safety, I do not photograph dogs with aggression issues. If a dog becomes aggressive during a session, the photography will be stopped, and the session will be ended. There are no refunds for sessions stopped due to behavioral issues.
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If we’re in the studio and you and your dog are up for it, we can get right to the selection process as soon as the photography is completed. If you feel you and your dog should leave, or we’ve had a session on location, we will set up an appointment to view and select your images either over Zoom or back at my studio.
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Selected images are offered as fine art prints and wall art starting at $399 in sizes from 8”x10” up to 40”x50” and larger. All images are printed using pigmented inks and archival fine art papers. When displayed properly, they will last a lifetime. In addition, each image includes a web resolution digital file you can share with friends and family as well as on social media.
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Yes, your selected images are fully retouched. That includes removing collars and leashes, cleaning eyes, fixing distracting hair etc. We’ll also whiten teeth if they are showing and remove distracting elements from the background.
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Yes, collections are available but may change from time to time. Contact us for the most recent offerings.
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For quality assurance, we do not release any images that have not been through the retouching process.
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Yes. Let me know what you’re looking for and I can provide you with a quote.
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Please do! You can call or text me at 425-501-9725 or email me.
Resources
Here are links to some of our favorite people and places in the Seattle area dog community.
Maple Valley
Diamond Dogs Seattle
Professional, Certified, and Trusted
Tails Dog Training
Humane, science-based training.
Pixel & Canvas
Watercolor paintings from your photos.
Follow Us On Instagram!
We love to feature portraits of all our subjects. Check out our feed by clicking the button below!
Outtakes
Think creating these portraits is a walk in the park? Check out some of the shots that didn’t make the cut!
Our clients come from all around the Puget Sound area including Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Auburn, Bothell, Burien, Covington, Des Moines, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Lakewood, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Medina, Mountlake Terrace, Newcastle, Normandy Park, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, SeaTac, Tukwila, and surrounding areas. We occasionally travel to Snohomish County, Thurston County, and Central Washington.