Twinning pet
All guides

By Echo ·

How Do You Take Holiday Photos With Your Dog? (Including Matching Outfits)

For a good holiday photo with your dog, tire the dog out first, then shoot at their eye level in soft natural light, with a treat held just above the lens, in burst mode. If you want matching outfits, keep them simple: a bandana or festive collar for the dog to go with your sweater or pajamas. Practise for a few days beforehand, and drop the outfit entirely if your dog shows signs of stress.

Owners trying to coordinate a holiday look with their dog keep running into the same problem. As one commenter on a matching-pajamas photo put it: "How does everybody else have dogs that just wear stuff willingly? My dog spazzes out and chews it off instantly." The steps below cover both halves of the problem: getting the photo, and handling the outfit.

Step 1: Train the pose before the photo day

People who get clean holiday shots almost always practise first. Three cues do most of the work:

CueWhat it does for the photoHow to practise
Stay / waitHolds the dog in place while you frame the shotReward a "freeze" in sit, down and stand, not just sit
Look / watch meGets the dog's eyes on the cameraReward the instant they look at you. Don't let it turn into "come"
SettleA calm, relaxed expression instead of excited earsPractise on the spot where you'll take the photo

In r/dogs, one experienced owner recommends practising stay "in different positions," because a dog told to stay standing will often slide into a sit.

Step 2: Tire them out, then set up the light

Wellness Pet Food's guide to Christmas card photos says to exercise your dog before the shoot: "a panting dog is a happy dog," and a calmer one. For light:

  • Indoors: put the window in front of your dog, not behind. Skip the flash, which causes red or glowing eyes.
  • Outdoors: use open shade or an overcast day. Golden hour gives a warm holiday glow.
  • Background: keep it simple. A tree, a fireplace or a plain blanket reads better than a busy room.

Step 3: Shoot low, shoot a lot

  • Get on their level. Crouch so the camera is at the dog's eye height, and focus on the eyes.
  • Treat above the lens. Hold or squeak something just over the phone, call their name, then shoot.
  • Use burst mode or video. Owners in r/AustralianShepherd suggest filming and grabbing stills afterwards.
  • Never stop shooting. You can crop and edit later, but you can't recreate a moment you missed.
  • Multiple pets: use a tripod and the same settings for every frame. That way you can combine frames where each animal looks good, a trick shared in r/Austin.

Step 4: Matching outfits without the struggle

Outfits are where holiday photos go wrong, so decide based on your dog, not the trend.

If your dog tolerates clothing: choose soft, stretchy fabric that doesn't cover the eyes, mouth or ears. Measure neck, chest and back length, because sizing is inconsistent between brands. Introduce the outfit with treats a few days early. The AVMA's guidance is that a pet costume should fit properly, have no chewable pieces, and never block sight, hearing, breathing or movement. The pet should also never be left unsupervised in it.

If your dog doesn't tolerate clothing: don't force it. The RSPCA lists freezing, struggling to remove a costume and panting as signs of discomfort, and suggests a bandana or festive collar as a gentler alternative. You can still match: wear the sweater yourself and give your dog a bandana in the same colour.

Matching people: buffalo plaid, solid red, cream knit or forest green photograph well together and won't clash with most coat colours.

Step 5: Pick and finish the shot

Choose the frame where your dog's eyes are sharp. For a card, leave space above or beside the subjects for text. Simple crops and a gentle warm edit do more than heavy filters.

If the photo just isn't happening

Some dogs (and most cats) won't sit through a styled holiday shoot. If that's your pet, you can still take a relaxed everyday photo of each of you and style the matching outfit afterwards.

About Twinning: Twinning (twinningpets.com) is an AI tool that does this. You upload one photo of yourself and one of your pet, then pick a theme such as Christmas, New Year or Cozy. It generates a portrait of the two of you in matching outfits. The image is AI-generated, not painted or photographed. You get a free watermarked preview first and pay only if you want the HD file ($4.99 HD during the holiday promo, then $6.99). Results depend on your source photos, so it isn't a replacement for a real moment you managed to capture.

FAQ

How do I get my dog to look at the camera? Hold a treat or squeaky toy just above the lens, say their name, and shoot the moment they look. Practising a "look" or "watch me" cue beforehand makes this much easier.

What's the best time of day for a holiday photo with my dog? Soft, indirect light: open shade, an overcast day, or the hour after sunrise or before sunset. Indoors, face your dog toward a window and turn off the flash.

Is it cruel to put my dog in a holiday outfit? Not if your dog is comfortable, the outfit fits, and you supervise. Remove it right away if your dog freezes, pants, or tries to pull it off. A bandana is a good middle ground.

How do I match outfits with my dog without buying a full set? Match colour, not garment. Wear a red or plaid sweater and put a bandana or collar in the same colour on your dog.

What if my dog won't sit still at all? Take video or use burst mode and pick stills afterwards. Or photograph each of you separately when relaxed, and combine or style the image afterwards.

Sources

Questions? We're here.

Answers from our FAQ. No order actions.