Have someone help you. When photographing pets, two humans are often better than one. Have a friend dangle toys or treats above your head while you shoot. Or, have them hold your pet's chest when trying to get a full body shot. Enlist someone your pet knows and is comfortable with. Pets can sometimes get nervous around new faces, and this won't help when you are trying to capture personality.

Make sure your pet is in a comfortable environment. Like with unfamiliar people, pets can also get nervous in new environments. Or, if your pet is the more adaptable type, new places can distract him and you won't be able to get his attention in order to photograph him. The best solution is to photograph your pet in a place they are used to, so that they are neither nervous nor distracted.

Pay attention to lighting situations. Avoid low light when photographing indoors. When photographing outside, avoid taking pictures during sunrise or sunset, as this can cause harsh shadows on your pet.

Avoid using flash if possible. Not only can flash create glow eye on your pet, but it can also eliminate detail.

Take a lot of pictures! The more you have to choose from, the more likely it is you will be happy with the photo you decide to use.

Shoot from different angles. Shoot from above, below, from the side. The angle can have a lot to do with the feel of a photograph, so try experimenting!

Try exercising your dog before shooting. If you are after a fun, happy pose, try taking your pup for a jog around the block. Not only will it put your dog in a good mood, but also panting makes dogs appear to be smiling.

Positioning your pooch. Keep in mind the Noblepets attire you selected and try to postion your pet in the same pose. Do you want your pet to be looking straight on or would you rather capture a three-quarters shot? When opting for three-quarters, be careful that it doesn't end up looking more like a profile shot. This can sometimes happen when one eye is nearly missing from the shot.

Lighting is everything. Try to take the picture in a well-lit area, such as outdoors, especially on a bright overcast day, or in a sunlit room. Keep the sun behind your back and watch out for shadows (especially your own)! Make sure your pet is comfortable in the environment. If they are calm it will be much easier to capture the expression you want.
Get their Attention. Capturing emotion is what you're going for, right? Make silly noises to get their attention or have a friend assist you with a squeaky toy to perk up your pup's ears. Make sure your pet is comfortable in the environment. If they are calm it will be much easier to capture the expression you want. Take lots of shots! The more you have to chose from, the better chance you have of getting that one shot that really captures your pet's personality.

Avoid Red eye. When using a flash to photograph your pet, their pupils will often turn a glowing shade of red or blue. There are various levels of "glow eye," and some are easier to fix than others. To avoid glow eye all together, try taking your pet's photo without a flash. If you are working indoors and have to use a flash, do not worry! Take a look at our examples of glow eye above to see when we mean by different levels of glow eye. Sometimes, just the pet's pupil will be glowing. This is easy to fix because the pupil area is defined and easy to darken. If, however, your pet's entire eye is glowing and there is no indication of a pupil, you might want to try and re-shoot. It is important for us to know what color your pet's eyes are. We will do our best if that is the only picture you have to choose from, but eyes are a very important part of your pet's appearance, so try to get a defined pupil.

A tip for photographing black pets: Dark colored animals are hard to photograph. Black pets can often end up looking like solid black shapes. When photographing dark colored animals, put your pet in or against a light area such (white wall or in a brightly lit spot outside). Try to avoid using flash, as it will blow out a shot.