How To Get A Good Photo Of Fido On 'Dress Up Your Pet Day' 2018

Playing dress up may not be your pet's favorite thing in the world, but be honest, it's one of yours. And you're not alone. There's actually an entire day dedicated to dressing your cat, dog, bird or lizard to the nines so you and your neighbors can parade your well-dressed pets around town together in all their glory.

That's right folks, Jan. 14 is National Dress Up Your Pet Day. We're celebrating by giving you the chance to show off. Email us a photo of your pet's best dressed-up look to submissions@patch.com along with your name, town and a brief caption for a chance to see your pet featured on Patch. (Local fame and fortune for Fido, to follow.)

Whether it's a head-to-paws costume or a tasteful bow tie, there's no wrong way to dress up your four-legged friends. But we know it can be tricky to get a good picture of your handy work. To help, we enlisted zulily's Lead Editorial Photographer Sean Gumm for some pro pointers. He photographs over a 100 animals a year and here are his tips on how to get a good photo of your pet:

Don't be afraid of outside light: If you're shooting outside, try to place your pet in a shaded area, as direct sunlight can make your pet look greasy, while distracting shadows can obscure important features.

Get Low: Get down to your pets’ level and frame tightly in on their face, then focus in on their eyes for maximum impact.

Use Burst Mode: Use your camera’s "burst mode," which takes multiple pictures in a row, as your pet wiggles about. Later you can scroll through and find the perfect shot.

Acclimate to the Environment: After choosing a great location for your shoot, give your pet a few minutes to get comfortable and relax a bit (let them get their sniffs out!), especially if it’s a location they’re not familiar with.

Got all that? Try Sean's tips for yourself, then email us your work at submissions@patch.com along with your name, town and a brief caption. Because let's be serious: If you don't get a good photo of your pet all dressed up, did it ever really happen?!

Email us your best dressed-up pet photo here

Related: Shop Our Favorite Pet Costumes On Amazon

Photo: Silvia Izquierdo/AP

Note: By submitting a photo you are granting Patch permission to publish that photo on all of its domains and outlets.