I was perfectly happy snapping pics of Bodie with my iPhone until this offer popped into my inbox: A 30 minute mini-session with Fetchlight Pet Lifestyle Photography, right on my doorstep for $75. It got me wondering – How would Bodie look photographed with professional lenses and lighting? What modelicious poses would he conjure in the hands of an experienced dog-wrangler?

Could a pro snapper get my restless dog to hold his position – as opposed to launching into a face-contorting scratch-a-thon the minute the camera was raised?

My curiosity was piqued so I booked a slot. First came the questionnaire – inquiring if Bodie is an introvert or extravert, whether he has any treat allergies and what photographer Jen can do to make the shoot ‘super fun’ for Bodie. Already I feel we’re in good hands. She asks what kind of image we’re hoping for and which ones we like best from her website portfolio. Which gives us a lovely excuse to peruse lots of shots of pets showcasing their distinctive personalities.

And then the Big Day arrives…

After taking Bodie for a vigorous run on the beach to make sure he won’t be too fidgety, I give him a nice Tea Tree & Aloe Vera shampoo, more of a token gesture as he inevitably drops down and rolls in an oil slick on the way to the car. Nearing our beachside meeting spot I feel mildly nervous, wondering how Bodie is going to behave. He’s so over me taking pictures of him you can almost see the boredom in his eyes – that’s when he deigns to open them. Fortunately photographer Jen Bergren has come kitted out with all manner of treats and attention-grabbing tricks.

She looks like a tall mermaid with her wavy waist-length blonde tresses and instantly brings out the bewitched sailor in Bodie.

I particularly like the alert head-cock she conjures with the little plastic squeaker removed from a toy. (This is a really good tip since you’re not waving a huge furry dragon, for example, which the dog might then lunge at – the squeaker stays concealed in the palm of her hand.)

She continues to hold Bodie’s focus by presenting a series of ever-more delicious morsels. She says she opts for ‘high-quality, natural treats, usually grain or wheat-free – the stinkier, the better!’ She also recommends human food like string cheese and bacon, if that is safe for your dog to eat. ‘And peanut butter is a great aid in capturing funny tongue photos for Tongue Out Tuesday on Instagram (#to)!’ I get to see this in person as she lets Bodie lick from a disposable spoon. Soon the black stripes on the underside of his tongue are immortalized on film. Along with some exaggerated comedy yawns and MGM lion-style fang-baring that fully showcase his skew-whiff teeth. Bless.

Jen pre-scouts all her shooting locations so she can work out the best backgrounds and lighting ahead of time. ‘Carefully planning out the details you can control makes up for the things you can’t – like what the dog is going to do at the shoot, since you can’t direct most of them like you can humans!’

She gets a lot of extra pet behavior experience volunteering for dog and cat rescues. And then of course there’s her own dog Tawny (#tawnyfoxdog on Instagram) – a blazing orange beauty from Aussie Rescue. (You can see some of Tawny’s fabulous shots along with 7 Tips for Pro Dog Pic Tips here.)

I wonder how the process has changed for her since she first started out casually photographing co-workers pets? ‘I think I am more comfortable adapting to different pet personalities now and I don’t beat myself up if the first thing I try during a shoot doesn’t work.’

It’s certainly all about experimentation – we’re constantly switching positions and poses. ‘I aim for a lot of variety,’ Jen explains, ‘alternating action shots from different distances and angles, with resting photos when the dogs are tired of running – so sitting, laying, standing, close-ups, again all from different distances and angles.’

I’m starting to see the work involved, and not just for Bodie and Jen… When we relocate from a grassy bank to a heap of giant rocks it is my job to crouch low behind the boulder Bodie has chosen to perch on so I can hold his leash and be sure he doesn’t bolt. (Jen has switched his heavy green cord for a long, spindly affair which a) gives him more freedom to roam and b) is easier to Photoshop out of the final image.)

As we’re the last session of the day and the sky is turning an atmospheric mauve, Jen keeps shooting. These are my favorite shots of Bodie and unlike anything I myself have captured. I can see how the big silver reflector helps bounce the sunset gold back onto Bodie’s face and fur – when I’ve tried shots like this in the past he’s ended up being more of a silhouette. All the while Bodie stays present and engaged and, best of all, smiling. I actually think he’s enjoying this.

Better yet he gets a Going Home Present of a bag of Five Paws treats. Personally I need a cocktail – all the non-stop play and re-positioning is surprisingly exhausting. (How do people do this all day with toddlers?) But of course it was all worthwhile – I mean, will you look at this face?

READ JEN FROM FETCHLIGHT’S TIPS FOR TAKING PRO DOG PICS

EVEN BODIE HAS HIS UN-PHOTOGENIC MOMENTS…