It’s the time of year that people dust off their cameras to take a family photo to send as a Christmas card. More often than not, the family pet is a part of the picture and many times the featured star!

Unfortunately, most dogs and cats (or other furry friends) do not just sit calmly and wait for us to capture their inner heart through the photo lens. I have been taking pictures of family pets most weeks for the last few years as a freelance photographer and have learned a few tricks in the process. Hopefully, these hints will make the photo shoot a little easier.

By the way, if you decide to dress your pet in a holiday costume, do so several times before the photo shoot to give him a chance to get used to the outfit.

A digital camera will save you a lot of time and money, especially when shooting pets. There’s nothing like seeing the pictures immediately and even if you have to take 100 pictures to get one good shot the cost is nil. Since most consumer cameras are of the “point and shoot” variety, I would suggest that you take the picture outdoors so you don’t have to experience the flash delay. It is so aggravating to have your dog perfectly framed only to have him look away just as your flash goes off.

Think about the look you want to achieve and select your location appropriately. Choose an area where your photograph will be enhanced by your surroundings and does not detract from your picture. Carefully choose the lighting that you’ll need and remember that bright light is not the best. Shoot either early morning or late afternoon during the twilight hour to give you beautiful light, but always watch to keep your shadow out of the shot.

Once you’ve selected your location and your lighting is right, how do you get your dog or cat to look at the camera? If possible, have someone stand right behind you, or close beside with a yummy treat or favorite toy. It’s still a tricky process if your pet doesn’t know the command “stay,” especially for a dog. You may want to practice this command before the day of the shoot.

If treats and toys don’t capture their attention try whistling, barking, meowing, bird calls or any other weird noise that immediately grabs their attention and curiosity. Be ready with the camera because these candid moments don’t last long!

When a posed portrait fails, encourage your pet to play. It will help him to relax and you can get a really cute shot this way.

Lastly, practice makes perfect and thanks to digital cameras you can practice as often as you like. Also, patience is a virtue when shooting animals. Plan to edit through many, many images to get the perfect shot. Taking photos of your pet can be a fun hobby and provide great ideas for Christmas presents such as coffee mugs and coasters, calendars, tote bags and of course, greeting cards. The creativity is completely in the eye of the photographer and an expensive camera is not necessary. Experiment with angles, locations and lighting, and with a little patience and perseverance you will get the perfect pet picture.