Try not to use a flash. It washes out the interesting shadows. However, you may need to use a flash on a black pet.
If you have a well-lit sofa or chair by a window, that's a good spot.
If you take the photo outdoors, morning or evening light is best.
Do you want just his/her head and upper body, or a full-body? Sometimes a sleeping pose is nice. A pet photo can be taken as he/she hangs out a car window. But don't worry too much about the background. I can paint it any color you wish. For children and pets, be sure to get down on their level. If you have a digital camera and don't mind taking lot's of shots, you can just point and shoot without aiming. This is especially helpful when photographing a small dog on the floor.
Simply holding the camera and shooting a bunch of pictures can produce a masterpiece, and don't worry if it's crooked. Some will be blurred, some will be cock-eyed, but it's a good way to get a more candid shot, without arousing your pets' suspicion. If the camera is held out away from you, he won't pay much attention to it.
Artwork and photos sole property of artist or client and may not be reproduced. Copyright 2008