Whether you’re taking photos of your own pets to get admirers on Instagram or you’re volunteering at an animal shelter, you may be wondering what your photos need in order to stand out. Here’s a few elements to keep in mind for every animal photo you take:

Expression – Animals are very expressive! That’s part of why we love them! If the animal you’re photographing doesn’t want to be in the photo or isn’t comfortable with you, it’s going to be easy to tell. Make sure you take your time and get the animal happy and comfortable before taking the photo.

Attention – Not all photos have to have the animal looking directly at you, but in general if you can get them looking as close to the lens as possible, that’s what’s going to get people who look at your photos to feel like they know your animal. Consider having your treat, toy, or other attention-grabbing item directly next to your lens.

Pose – Don’t take a photo of an animal that’s hunched over or facing away from you. If it’s a portrait, get the animal to sit up nice and straight. Otherwise, see what cute behaviors you can capture in your lens.

Lighting – The key for lighting is to make sure you get all the detail. Don’t lose details in dark areas to shadow and don’t lose details in light areas to blowing out highlights. Post-processing software like Lightroom and Photoshop can help if you make a mistake, but it’s always best if you can get it right directly in the lens. Also, make sure there’s light catching in the animal’s eyes! Bright eyes are one of the biggest wins you can get!