Always have your camera with you.  An unpredictable shot can happen at any moment!  Thank goodness for digital cameras because you can take dozens of photos and pick out the best.

Early on I said to throw out the idea of pain and suffering behind chain link fence and I'm still a very big believer in that.

Give people another reason why they should fall in love with the one you are sponsoring. 

Take photos of dogs out in the play yard as they would look in someone else's yard.  Catch a mouse peeking out of a paper tube, or a ferret tied up in a knot playing.  And what's cuter than a photo of a kitten popping out of a box or cuddling with a playmate?

If it's impossible to get some free space, remember, your camera lens will fit through one of the diamonds in a chain link fence and you can still get the shot you want without the fence in the way.

Get down to the level of your sponsored pet. 

This looks much better . . .

than this.

Gladys and Libby

And of course, as this last photo shows, be careful of your lighting and flash.  Some cameras will automatically flash in the shade and ruin a good photo.  If someone is lit from behind, they become a silhouette.  And if you have Gladys and Libby - forget it.  They have to be with you and on top of you so you'll never get a good shot!

I'm not a photographer (I just play one on TV).  Kidding about the TV part.  The best I can offer you is my personal experience with animals being indoors and outdoors. A true photographer can talk forever about shutter speed, lenses, lighting, focus and pixels.  But I don't think I've done too bad all things considered, and one has to allow for a certain amount of nature to take it's course.  That is why I'm convinced that if I can do it, anyone can!  You don't need to be an expert. Heavenly Buddies is here to help you though, and we'll try our best!

That's her alright.  Shelby was a bit ditsy and that's the best photo I could get with her.  Hail the almighty digital camera!  But it also went together with her personality, which I played up to. 

To place an actual face with a story is what brings people to the shelter.  There is an undeniable reality to these beautiful souls' existence and the pain or sadness that has brought them there.

And this is where the success all starts to come together. 

People read the story and look at your sponsored pet.  Then they read more and look again.  Perhaps they look a third time but this time they are looking at themselves and wondering if this is an answer to their prayer, or even if they are the answer to an animals' prayer.