How to take better photos of your pets
This article offers practical advice for pet owners looking to improve their smartphone photography skills. It emphasizes that while professional gear is useful, the best camera is the one you have on hand, and provides tips for capturing better images of fast-moving pets.
Why it matters
As pet photography becomes a staple of social media culture, these tips help casual users improve their content creation using existing hardware.
Like the pets of any self-respecting millennial, my cats have their own Instagram account.
Noodle and Loaf — aka Carb Cats — aren’t exactly celebrities. But they are used to having their photos taken a lot. Between their Instagram account, my regular need to test smartphone cameras, and the fact that they are two adorable idiots, I’ve taken on an unofficial household role as pet photographer.
I know I’m not the only one. It’s become standard practice to maintain a camera roll full of blurry bleps and dozing dogs. But pets are rarely easy to photograph. They’re usually small, fast, and don’t take direction well. Here are a few ways to improve your odds.
The hardware
[Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/000188830002.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
[Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/image_4.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
[Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/000241660009.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
[Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/84320005.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
[Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/84320004.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
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