Many of us share our lives with our pets and often they become part of the family. So it is little wonder we want to take photographs of them. But if you find you don't get the results you want here are 8 great tips for better pet photographs.

Tip one: Get down to their level
All images were taken by the author, and are available at www.lynnegarner.com.

It may seem pretty obvious but most of us are taller than our pets. Well unless you have a horse, so we tend to look down on them. However looking down on them can lessen the impact of your photographs. So if you want to add that little extra get down to their level. If on the other hand you have a mouse/hamster etc you can bring them up to your level. Place them on a table and really get a rodents eye view. However remember to have someone with you to ensure they keep away from the edge. The shot below shows how much impact can be achieved if you are willing to get down to their level.

Tip two: Composition
Framing is an important part of getting a shot that is pleasing to the eye. We often take a photograph and just place the subject matter in the middle. Think about placing them to one side or in the foreground of the shot. This can often create an image that is nicely balanced; see my article '11 tops tips for better photographs.'

Tip three: Focus and subject position
It is also important to get the focus of the photograph correct. One trick is to use a facility many cameras have which allows you to lock the focus. This is achieved by placing the main subject in the middle then pressing the shutter down half way. At this point many cameras will give a beep; this is telling you the focus is now locked. Still holding the shutter button down move the camera, so to the subject is in the position you want. Now press the shutter fully to take your photograph.

Tip four: Sharp focus
As already mentioned focus in a photograph is very important and when it comes to photographing faces aim to focus on the eyes. If you find it difficult then one option is to set the camera's focusing on infinity, in this way everything will be in focus. This option is often shown on the dial of your camera as a hill/mountain or a tree.  However for a photograph which really focuses on the subject then set to portrait, often symbolised by a head. This will allow you to have the face and head in focus whilst the background is out of focus making the background less distracting.         

Tip five
Most pets have their own idiosyncrasies and catching them in the act can create some fun photographs. So next time you hang up the Christmas decorations make sure you have that camera ready. Also catching pets interact with other pets or members of the family can produce some entertaining photographs.

Tip six: Slow shutter speed
By slowing down the shutter speed we can create an image which gives a sense of movement. The one draw back with slowing down the shutter speed is the camera not only will record the movement of your subject but also any movement you make. One solution is to place the camera on a tripod or any flat sturdy surface.

Tip seven: Panning
Another way to capture movement is to do something called panning. This is ideal for those with fast running canines. Encourage someone to get your pooch to run across you (perhaps by thwrowing a ball) as they do follow with the camera and when ready press the shutter. What should happen is your dog will be frozen in time and the background will be a blur, giving a great sense of movement. For more information on this read my article ‘capturing movement in your photographs.'

Tip eight: Continuous shoot mode
If you have the continuous shoot mode on your camera you will find this is also an ideal setting to get to grips with. The trick with this setting is to place your pet at one side of the frame (running in) or at the top of the frame (running towards you) and keep the camera still. I would never have been able to catch this shot without continuous shoot mode!

Hopefully armed with these tips you'll start to capture images of your pets you can be proud of.

All the photographs included in this article were taken with the kit below:

Canon 400D
Tamron 80-210 zoom lens