If you truly love your pet (and most dog owners do, of course), having nice pictures of them is a must. But hiring a professional pet photographer isn't always an option for people. You might think you don't have the right equipment or possess the necessary skills to do you doggo justice.

However, professional photographers say that owners can take just as stunning and as personal pictures on their smartphones. And you don't have to be an experienced professional to do so – you just need to have a few tricks and tips up your sleeve. Time to make your pup a true Instagram star!

The first thing to consider is lighting. Natural lighting is almost always your best bet. What's more, it can be really in tune with photographing your pup in nature: don't pets always look the best when they're surrounded by spring flowers, autumn leaves, or snowy tree tops in winter?

Professionals say that the best time to photograph outdoors is golden hour. That's the period of time either shortly after the sun comes up or just an hour before sunset. If that's not an option, choose the shade. And if you're indoors, make sure your pet is facing a window. Unless, of course, you're aiming for the questionable quality aesthetic on purpose.

The background matters too. It doesn't have to be perfect, especially if you're not going for a polished photo. Still, a good pet portrait should be clutter-free. "Coffee cups, cell phones, computers, phone chargers and other household items can all be distracting," photographer Terri J. writes on her blog.

If you're photographing outdoors, such unwanted distractions would be garbage bins, other people and other pets. You should even clean up the natural surroundings if it fits your vision for the photo. That means removing sticks and leaves from the ground. That way, your pup is the only object in the photo that draws the eye!

Pet photographer Allison Mae writes that a good way to check if there are any distractions in the background is to hold your hand at arm's length where the shot will be and see if anything else but your hand draws unwanted attention. She also recommends finding a background that contrasts the color(s) of your pup's fur. That'll make them stand out even more!

Here's one more tip for those who are just as unsavvy with phone photography as I am – control the exposure! This is a must for owners whose pets have dark fur, as the light sensors in the phone's camera can have a hard time determining the correct exposure. "Tap the subject of your photo so that a sun icon appears. Drag the toggle up to increase the brightness or down to make it darker," Allison Mae recommends.

Pet photographers usually have to be ready to get down and dirty on the ground – unless you're putting your pet on some kind of podium. "You should be on the floor, with the lens at or well below the eye level of the dog," the photographers at The Tog Spot write.

Terri J. recommends getting closer to your pup instead of using the zoom function if you don't want to lose close-up portrait quality. The focus point should be your pet's eyes; they are, after all, the most expressive part of a pet's face. "This will help draw attention to their emotions and make the photo more captivating," according to Terri J.

If you're not going for a funny blurred picture, use burst mode. You'll have a bunch of shots to choose from and, hopefully, no blurry pics. Professional photographer Laurie Clouthier told the AKC that this is a great way to capture your pet mid-movement. "There’s nothing like an action shot of your dog in motion, doing their favorite thing," she said.

Situate yourself 40 yards (about one meter) away from your pup on the ground and call them over. "The success ratio is often low in this type of photo as there are so many variables like focus, movement, and expression. But when you get it right, the shot will be priceless," Clouthier says.