Pet photographers usually have to be ready to get down and dirty on the ground – unless you're putting your pet on some kind of podium. "You should be on the floor, with the lens at or well below the eye level of the dog," the photographers at The Tog Spot write.
Terri J. recommends getting closer to your pup instead of using the zoom function if you don't want to lose close-up portrait quality. The focus point should be your pet's eyes; they are, after all, the most expressive part of a pet's face. "This will help draw attention to their emotions and make the photo more captivating," according to Terri J.
If you're not going for a funny blurred picture, use burst mode. You'll have a bunch of shots to choose from and, hopefully, no blurry pics. Professional photographer Laurie Clouthier told the AKC that this is a great way to capture your pet mid-movement. "There’s nothing like an action shot of your dog in motion, doing their favorite thing," she said.
Situate yourself 40 yards (about one meter) away from your pup on the ground and call them over. "The success ratio is often low in this type of photo as there are so many variables like focus, movement, and expression. But when you get it right, the shot will be priceless," Clouthier says.