Taking pictures of our pets comes second only to photographing children in terms of popularity, so some basic tips can go a long way. Understanding digital cameras and their various settings is important, but it’s not as vital as knowing and anticipating what your pet can do – or will do! Whether it be a cat, dog, rabbit or even a ferret, this basic guide will go a long way to helping you get the cutest images of your pet.

Shoot candid pet photos and be patient

Chances are your pet won’t fully co-operate with your picture-taking efforts. So the best bet is to take pet photos when they don’t expect it rather than asking them to “sit” or “stay”. Wait until they are sleeping, resting or playing for the best results. It will come down to the obedience of your pet as well. A hyperactive animal is never going to stay still long enough for a posed shot whereas a well-trained dog probably will. Patience is certainly a virtue when taking photos of pets as well. If it’s not working for you this time, try again later. Animals are naturally curious as well so this can often work in your favour. Don’t get angry or impatient with the animal, who most likely thinks your picture-taking is all part of a game.

Get down on their level

Impressive images often call for a little sacrifice, and in the case of pets it can mean getting down and dirty. Sit, kneel or lay down on the ground so you are at eye level with your pet, depending on their activity. The results will be far better than standing over the animal and shooting down on them. There will be times, however, where changing the perspective can have a creative effect.

Take lots of pet photos

Most brands, such as Canon cameras, have a continuous shoot option that will fire off multiple frames in quick succession, meaning the chances of getting the right shot increase markedly. It can also lead to great sequences of shots. Resist the temptation to delete images off the camera when taking lots of pictures though. Wait until you have downloaded them onto your computer before embarking on a cull – ordinary images can become great pictures with some work using a photo editing program.

Focus on the subject

The pet is the star of the photo so consider the composition of the image. Avoid distracting backgrounds and foregrounds that draw the focus away from the animal. Close-ups usually make the best pet photos but be aware of what parts of the animal you get in the frame. Sometimes chopping off an ear can ruin what would otherwise be a perfect portrait. Take multiple photos and change angles for different results.

Avoid using the flash

Bombarding your pet with the camera’s flash is likely to lead to shadows and uneven lighting, ruining what would otherwise be a cute picture. Choose somewhere with lots of natural light, or preferably head outdoors for your pet photos session. Hitting the animal full-on in the face with flash may make them a little unhappy as well!