Clever Pet Photos

10. Focus on your pet’s eyes so they come out sharp. Other details are not as important.

9. Use natural light, rather than indoor lighting and a flash, to capture the most detail.

8. Take a lot of pictures. You may end up with the perfect shot — except it’s blurry. Or your thumb might get in the way. If you take several photos in rapid succession, you’re likely to end up with one photo that looks better than the rest.

7. Have a pose or a setting already in mind. If you’re just taking random pictures, you may not find anything especially interesting. But be flexible — while you’re shooting for that perfect shot, you’re bound to snap something great that wasn’t planned.

6. Play with your pet, or have someone else play with them. The more relaxed your pet is, the better the picture will be.

5. Pick your timing. If you want your pet to lie back and relax, catch them just after a nap. If you want an energetic shot, take it in the middle of your pet’s playtime.

4. Surprise can really help. Get your camera all set up and get comfortable, then let your pet play for a few minutes. Then, have someone behind you whistle or call their name to surprise them so they will turn toward you.

3. Position yourself on your pet’s level. If your pet is on the floor or on the ground, get down on your belly so your photo won’t look like you were towering over them.

2. Portray your pet’s personality. If you have a lazy cat, snap a picture of him yawning. If you have a dog who thinks she’s a person, get a shot of her sitting in your chair.

1. Be patient. Remember, animals don’t understand what you’re doing. If you keep trying, you will eventually get a good shot you will be happy with.