I have a son. And yes, he is a cat, and his name is Louie, and he is a giant. But he is my child, and I love him so so much. That being said, he is a little Houdini who likes to pull tricks and be an escape artist, and he is a black hole that is impossible to photograph.

Since we’re all about to be home with our family and family pets and no doubt trying to capture their adorable faces, let's quickly go over some tips and tricks for pet photography.

Bribery works

If your four-legged friend isn’t sitting quite still enough for the camera, it may be time to break out the treats and make them the happiest pets alive. I also recommend holding their favorite toy up by the camera to get them to look in that direction. Especially with cats dangling their favorite toy behind the camera and taking the photo right as they reach for it works like a dream. Especially if you get a holiday-themed toy, like one with a jingle bell on it, that shot will definitely be one for the Christmas cards.

Add props to go all in on holiday cheer and costumes aren’t fur everybody

While props can work on every pet, costumes don’t always follow the same rule of thumb. And listen, I am as obsessed as everyone else is with putting dogs in holiday sweaters. It’s so funny and so adorable. And don’t even get me started on reindeer ears. But sometimes, our pets can put up a fight to all this cheer and try and wriggle out of their getups or out of our arms. Louie regularly tries to remove his halloween bat wings, so I feel you.

However, it’s important to remember that a cute, blurry photo of your pet might just be the move, and it’s better than no photo at all or making your four-legged friend uncomfortable. Candid photos of pets are just as beautiful!

Be color conscious

As I mentioned, I have a cat who just absorbs all the light in the room. He is a void. If you have a similar problem, I recommend placing your cat against a solid, light-colored back so they stand out. Then, have them look towards the light source so it catches their more colorful eyes. And if your cat is a lighter color, try to contrast that by placing them against a darker background so they really pop.

The view from the floor

Remember when taking photos of your pet that they are several feet below you. In order to avoid distortion (and scaring them), get down on their level! This helps with being able to capture what they really look like, and gives you the ability to get better angles. Plus, I don’t know about your pets, but Louie really prefers the high ground. I think it makes him feel in charge!

Another way to make sure you capture the most flattering angles is to have a family member (or yourself!) hold them on your lap, which also can put your pet at ease. Above all else, try to have fun and get in the festive spirit! Huddle around the fireplace with your four-legged friends in your best holiday outfit, and smile for the camera. Don’t worry too much about the results!