There are few endeavors more challenging than trying to photograph your pet. Even if you can get him to sit still long enough to snap the shot, the result just never seems to capture that unique personality or the qualities that make your pet so endearing.

We'd all like to have at least one great photo of our pet - whether it's for the mantle, a wallet or the family scrapbook. So, the editors of Between Friends decided to seek professional help from professional photographer Jeff Moore.

Moore, who specializes in photographing animals and children, offers the following suggestions for getting better quality pictures of our best friends:

Lighting is key
Moore recommends shooting outdoors, but advises avoiding midday - especially during the summer months because of harsh shadows. "Early or late in the day is best. I like to shoot an hour before sunset, or an hour after sunrise because the light is so warm and pleasing light." Moore also suggests using your flash, even when shooting outdoors. It adds sparkle to your pet's eyes.

Spend time on composition
When you look through the lens to frame your shot, study the background as well as your subject. Keep it clean and simple: a solid color wall, a row of bushes. Get rid of background clutter that distracts from your subject - like that rake or garden hose (unless, he says, your dog has the hose in his mouth and is spraying water around the yard!) Moore likes his background slightly out of focus so that his subject dominates the image. You can accomplish this by making sure your pet is not too close to the background.

Find the correct exposure
If you have an all-black or all-white dog and your photos lose the detail in your pet's face, the problem is exposure. The solution, explains Moore, is to "trick" your camera.If you use a manual camera, you can make some adjustments to correct this problem by overexposing the film if your dog is black, and underexposing it if your dog is white. It also helps to avoid strong contrast between your pet and the background (for example, a black dog in front of a white wall).

Reflect your pet's personality
"I always try to capture the pet's personality. If you have a dog who is always moving, you shouldn't try to pose him in a sit-stay," says Moore. However, if the dog is running around, you'll need to use a faster shutter speed to stop the action. Capturing action also requires some patience. "If you know your dog likes to kiss the baby, you have to be ready for that to happen. Be patient, keep your finger on the shutter and then shoot a number of exposures quickly or you may not capture the magic."

Have patience and use lots of film
Don't expect to get a great photo with just one shot, says Moore. Take your time and shoot the entire roll. Most professionals look for just one great shot from a roll of 36 exposures.

It's also important to learn from your mistakes. Once your film is developed, study each shot and think about how you could improve it. Different background? Better lighting? Moore also recommends using a professional photo lab where you can talk to the lab technician about how to improve.

If after trying all of these tips, you're still dissatisfied with the result, you may want to seek out a professional, who has the metering and lighting equipment to get it right. Moore suggests looking for someone who has specific experience working with pets. "It takes a lot of patience to get good photos of pets," he says. "Take the time to shop around and find someone who loves animals and knows how to work with them."

You can also check out the Community Events section of this website. Special pet photo day events around the country are posted in the calendar for time to time.