I find that taking pictures of my own pets is easy, as I am around them all the time and know their moods. But, if you are photographing others pets, you may need to spend some time with them so they become comfortable in your presence.

Taking pictures outside in the natural light is good, if you do the shoot in the early morning or later in the afternoon. Blazing mid-day sun isn’t the best time for a shoot. If you shoot inside, a natural light source (window) is best.

Make sure you get your photos while at eye-level with the animal. This gives your photos a pets-eye view of the world and is much more appealing.

Choose backgrounds that aren’t too busy or cluttered so the focal point is on the pet.

Try to catch them off guard for some fun shots, or use the action/sports mode on your camera to catch them in action.

If the pet is shy and runs from the camera as soon as you bring it out, try to lure them out with a favorite toy, leaving the camera in plain sight. After a while, they may just forget about the camera entirely.

Have fun and experiment with various poses, angles, lighting and backgrounds, you’re sure to get a good shot!