I would like to start my own pet photography business but I'm a little worried that I can't capture good photos of the pets! What can I do to become better at pet photography? Do I need squeaky toys, or treats? Are there any pet photographer that can give me advice? I would also like to see what other photographer have to offer. Can I see your pet photos? Give me a link to them, please! :-P

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I am not a photographer , but i do photograph my cat a lot , and i let my cat do whatever she wants, and eventually i manage to get a couple of decent shots. I think that to be a pet photographer you have to love animals, and get along pretty well with them , and you have to be able to sell yourself, and probably go to photography school . Here are some of my favorite shots of my cat: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13606906@N04/2096733042/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/13606906@N04/2139390988/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/13606906@N04/2096759220/ Good luck !

A good start is to start thinking of the animals as small children. They both usually have small attention spans, so figure out a way to keep them focused. (treats, toys, visual cues - laser pointers are very handy). Also, familiar items will help keep them focused..i.e. favorite toys, blankets ect. Be prepared to go to the owners homes as well since some animals simply cannot leave their homes due to excitability. Portable studio of some sort and much patience will get you far. Good luck!!

the most important factor I have established is the animal is comfortable in the environment the images are being taken in. Remember, all animals, pets as well as wild, need to feel secure before they can do anything else. If you have a noisy, unfamiliar environment, the animal will be skittish and cannot focus on what you want them to do. Let them become familiar with the environment, before you even start the photographic process.

practice practice practice... did i mention practice?