Engagement Session with Dogs: French Bulldogs, Wildflowers & Golden Hour
Two French bulldogs, zero chill, and the best golden hour we’d seen all September. That’s how this engagement session with dogs started, and it only got better from there. We met this couple near the Olbrich Botanical Gardens on Madison’s east side. The wildflowers were at peak bloom. The greenhouses were doing that overgrown, slightly wild thing that photographs so well.
Let the Dogs Set the Pace
We always start pet-friendly sessions the same way: let the animals run the show for the first fifteen minutes. It takes the pressure off the couple and gives us real, unscripted moments. These two Frenchies delivered. Head tilts, full sprints through the grass, a synchronized stare at the camera that we couldn’t have directed if we tried.
The couple couldn’t stop laughing, and that energy carried through every frame. We pulled in close for the dog portraits because those little faces deserved their own spotlight. One fawn, one black. Both absolutely certain the camera was there for them.
As the sun dropped lower, the session shifted. The dogs settled. The couple leaned into each other, and the light turned warm and golden against the old greenhouse glass. We shot wide to pull in the architecture and the wildflowers, then moved in tight for the quiet moments. That shift from playful to intimate is something we live for. You get range, and the gallery tells a fuller story.
The coneflowers and dahlias gave us color we didn’t even have to look for. She grabbed a handful of wildflowers mid-session, completely on her own. The resulting images felt effortless. That’s the kind of moment we can’t manufacture. We just have to be ready for it.
We ended in the dahlia field with the dogs back in the frame. Full circle. If you’re thinking about including your pets in your engagement photos, do it. They’re part of your family. Leaving them out means missing some of the best, most genuine moments you’ll get. Check out more of our work in the couples photography portfolio.
Can I bring my dogs to an engagement session near Olbrich Botanical Gardens?
Absolutely. The area around Olbrich has open fields, walking paths, and garden backdrops that work beautifully with pets. We recommend having a friend or family member on hand to wrangle the pups when you want a few photos as just a couple.
How do I book a couples session with dogs through Twig & Olive?
Reach out through our contact page and let us know about your pets, your favorite locations, and what time of year you’re thinking. We’ll build the session around all of it.
