First things first - clean your camera lenses! They are probably covered with fingerprints or in my case, Murphy fur. Use a soft cloth like microfiber or flannel.

If you plan to print your photos or submit them for a contest like Pet Idol, change your camera settings to take the highest jpeg or png resolution possible . On the iPhone go to settings, camera, format - choose ProRaw and set Camera Capture to most compatible, which is generally jpg.  On an Android phone, set ProRaw or High Resolution as the format. There are so many models of smart phones out there, it is best to check your manual or the internet to see how to make changes on your specific model.

Light is the most important element of photography. Use it to your advantage by having the light or sun at your back. That will light up Fido or Fifi’s face and put a twinkle in their eye.

To make sure your pet is the main thing in focus, tap on his or her face on the phone screen. A little square or circle will pop up. Next to that, you may see a sun icon - you can slide that up or down to adjust the exposure - making your image brighter or darker. That exposure adjustment is very helpful if you have a dark pet like a black lab. Without the focus and exposure point selected, your phone will try to balance the light of the whole image rather than making sure the most important part is exposed correctly.

Shoot in natural light whenever possible. If you are photographing indoors, try to use the light from a window rather than lamplight. The colors will be more natural.

Get on the same level as your pet. Sit, squat, or lie on the ground or ssit on a log or rock. Your pet will look their very best that way.

If you are taking photos with your phone for the Pet Idol contest and calendar, turn your phone sideways and take them in landscape mode.​