As we slowly make our way toward spring; and into the busy season for outdoor photo sessions, I thought this would be the perfect time to share some before-and-after moments.

As you know, I’m all about safety first. I always try to choose the quietest locations possible for photo sessions, and I strongly encourage keeping your dog on leash. The last thing you want is to be enjoying those special moments only to have your dog take off after a squirrel or another dog. And if your dog is reactive and you need to move out of a situation quickly when another dog approaches, being on leash makes that much easier. I’m a reactive dog owner myself, so I completely understand that sometimes you just need to scram for a bit.

Below are a few examples of images straight out of the camera alongside their corresponding retouched versions. As you’ll see, some edits are very straightforward and simple... most sessions are exactly that. Occasionally, though, there’s a bit more to remove than I’d like, and the edit becomes more complex. Often it’s because the moment itself is too perfect to interrupt, so I simply leave you where you are. Other times, it’s because there’s nowhere safe or comfortable to move you due to the location. I never want to force you into a puddle or a prickly bush just for the sake of the shot.

Little secret, I always curse at myself after those moments resulting in complex retouching. Haha. I try really hard to get it right in camera because sitting at my desk is not the fun part of my job.