When considering including your furry friends in a family or engagement session, there are a couple of things to think about when looking for a dog-friendly photo location here in New Jersey. How do they do with distraction? Should the location be quiet? How mobile are they? What is their energy level? Since these locations are dog friendly, many other dogs may be there, which may be something to consider when choosing a location.
Dogs are such a big part of a family, it’s hard to think about not including them in a family or engagement session. If you’re at all nervous about having your photo taken, dogs have a way of making you at ease when the camera comes out.
Regardless of location, I always suggest bringing along a dog wrangler (parent/friend/sibling) who can be in charge of hanging onto your dog when we aren’t specifically using them for a photo; or taking them for a walk when we’re finished with them; or dangling a treat above my head to get them to look in the right direction. Did you think all those photos were of perfect angel dogs? We had a little help behind the scenes.
So without further ado, here are my top 5 choices for dog-friendly locations in New Jersey!
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Colonial Park
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Colonial Park in Franklin, NJ is a county park perfect for those that want to take advantage of the abundant greenery, flowers, and architecture for their session. Some areas like the Rose Garden doesn’t allow fido inside, don’t worry, there are so many other great locations outside of it. The surroundings have just as much to offer with the canal and bridge just at the end and some abandoned farm buildings near as well. This is definitely a location that can get busy during peak season so it’s best to shoot at an off time. Once we get fido in some shots, we can head to the Rose Garden, just us.
A tired dog makes for happy humans, so feel free to run out their energy beforehand at the nearby dog park.
Old York Cellars
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Old York Cellars is a winery located in Ringoes, NJ primed and ready for your session. Gather up a picnic basket and grab a bottle (or two) of wine of Old York’s finest for a session with a beautiful vineyard landscape. From their patio you can look down at the rows upon rows of grapevines which lead down to a lake at the base of the property. The space offers different kinds of interest depending on the season. In late fall, the rows of dried corn husks make for a beautiful place to shoot; in the summer we’ll get an appearance from the lush grapes growing right on the vine, and perhaps even a visit from the horses from the farm next door.
This might not be a great option for dogs who eat everything off the ground (think puppies) because of all of the grapes that may have fallen off the vines (grapes are poisonous to dogs). Remember, this is truly a working farm/vineyard.
Round Valley Recreation Area
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Round Valley Reservoir is located in Clinton, NJ and is most known to boaters, but is a great dog-friendly choice for a photo session location in New Jersey. It has a number of different landscapes from rocky shorelines to wooded forests, trails, docks, and of course the largest water bowl your dogs have ever seen. It’s a pet’s paradise, especially if they’ll enjoy swimming afterwards (if you can handle the wet dog smell on the car ride home).
So many couples and families tell me they enjoy being outdoors and would love to capture that in the photos. Round Valley Reservoir is the perfect place for it since it is easily accessible and has beautiful views. Depending on time of day, this can be a good place for a distracted dog. Certain off-peak times can be very quiet and serene because of the stillness of the reservoir.
Natirar
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Natirar is a 404-acre property located in the hills of Somerset County in Peapack/Gladstone, Far Hills, and Bedminster. Miles of trails, open fields, and the North Branch Raritan River give us plenty of variety of scenes to choose from. It’s a very common place to find people walking their dogs, so your pet will have plenty of things to sniff. If your dog is trusted off leash, this is a perfect place with all the open space for fetch. If this is a place you already happen to bring your dog, the familiarity of the location may help your pet to relax and actually pay attention to that treat dangling above my head.
Your Home!
Choosing your home for your session is the perfect choice for those who want something a little more personal. The thought of bringing the pets to a park might be a deal breaker. Having the session at home will make it possible to include them in as few or as many as you’d like. It’s also a great choice if your dog is older and maybe not as mobile as they used to be. If you have other pets at home, like cats or even chickens, this is a great way to include them as well!
If you’re not sure if your home would be photogenic enough for a session, reach out to me and we can talk about the specifics.
Overall, when looking for a dog friendly photo location in New Jersey, just remember, the location is just the background and the photos are really about the people and the pooches. As long as it’s a space where your dog can feel comfortable, the photos will capture the true personality of your pet and undoubtedly be worthy of your living room walls.
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