Old Town Alexandria Engagement With a Dog: Paul + Kristin

Mantas Kubilinskas

Apr 9, 2019

3 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

Couple standing in a patch of sunlight with long shadows behind them

Engagement Photographer

Black-and-white close view of a black dog being stroked by a seated person.

Paul and Kristin are beyond than happy couple. They smile and laugh a lot. As well they adore dogs and all animals in general. I was excited to take their engagement session pictures on one cozy warm Summer day. Each time I get the requests to take the pictures of the engagement I have a chance to witness the connection between two happy people and it‘s always fascinating! This time we‘ve truly had fun with this joyful couple and their cutest dog ever. Please contact me if you want to get the engagement session taken in any place of the world, I will be glad to help you!

Black-and-white portrait of two people embracing beside water.

Old Town Alexandria

Two people standing together in sunlight beneath a dark overhang.

Old Town Alexandria is one of the most adored engagement session places ever. Who can argue with that when there are plenty of sightseeing cruises and romantic strolls, as well as ghost tours and so much more.

Black dog on a leash in the foreground with two people out of focus beneath a bridge.

Explore more engagement photography by Mantas Kubilinskas.

Black-and-white view of pigeons flying over a parked car and a street.

See another old town alexandria photography story.

Black-and-white photograph of two people standing outside a brick storefront.

Including a dog in an engagement session

Two people crouching beside a black dog in front of a doorway.

Bringing a dog into an engagement session can make the photographs more personal and also gives the couple something natural to interact with. Old Town Alexandria works especially well because there are plenty of walkable streets, textures, and quieter corners.

How to keep the session moving

I usually photograph the dog early while everyone has energy, then mix in couple-only portraits as we continue walking. That keeps the session flexible and avoids asking the dog to stay engaged for the entire shoot.

How to plan a session like this

Start with the experience rather than a long list of poses. Choose one or two visual priorities, build the route around the best light, and leave enough time to walk, talk, and settle into the session. When several locations are involved, fewer stops usually create a stronger gallery because there is more time to photograph what is actually happening.

Give the dog a part in the story, not the whole job

Paul and Kristin brought their dog into an engagement session full of laughter. That works best when the animal is allowed to be an animal, not expected to look at the camera on command for an hour. A walk, a quick pause and the small ways a couple interacts with their dog can say more than a perfectly aligned group portrait.

If you want photographs of just the two of you, bring someone your dog already trusts to take over for a short stretch. Check leash requirements and the rules for each location before the day, and choose a route with enough space for other people to pass. Water, breaks and a realistic session length matter just as much as outfits.

I usually start with easy movement so nobody feels they have to perform. We can make a few intentional frames with all three of you, then let the focus shift back to your connection as a couple. The result should feel like an afternoon you would recognize, not a dog-photo assignment with an engagement session attached.

What helps photographs feel natural

You do not need to know how to pose. I give simple direction when it improves the composition, then let movement and conversation take over. Comfortable shoes, an outfit you can move in, and a little flexibility with timing make a bigger difference than trying to reproduce photographs from someone else's session.