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A friend asks to see your new pug you’ve been talking about more than anyone could ever tolerate. As you scroll through an infinite gallery on your phone, something's off in virtually every pic. Too much teeth. Eyes comin’ out of their sockets. Lopsided grin. It surely can’t be your lovely pug who could easily pass as Mr. Universe if he ever bothered.

The truth is, just like you and me, not every pet is camera-ready. They've got bad angles, and they fall victim to poor lightning.

But this Twitter thread is a safe space to share the most unattractive pics of our furry companions. Started by Gina Zwicky, it only permits “very ugly pictures of your pets.” As you scroll down below, you’ll realize that "very ugly" has levels of its own, which just makes it all the more hilarious.

Image credits: GinaZwicky

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Bored Panda contacted biologist Gina Zwicky, who came up with the Twitter thread. We found out that Gina finds awkward animal pictures much more entertaining than cute ones, and I can’t argue.

She believes that “Bad photos of pets are less common than cute, posed photos, especially in the Instagram era where people can make a living off professional-looking pictures.” Gina said that she doesn’t think that polished pet pics are “what most people enjoy about their own pets.”

Gina also said that her own cat makes a much more fun little furball to look at when “they’re acting silly and less composed.” So she took a pic of it, and after it turned out funny, Gina “posted it with the caption—not much thought went into it!” Soon, she realized her cat is far from the only one looking kinda off on camera, but that’s the whole cute point of it.

Not a single pet owner has signed up for a crappy picture of their beloved furball. I mean, who would ever want to stuff their phone with thousands of pics you can’t even post on Facebook without getting a fair share of remarks? Like, your pug looks like a well-maintained chupacabra.

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But that doesn’t mean you are not capable of getting that pitch-perfect shot, even if it takes practice. Bored Panda reached out to Virginie Petorin, a London-based dog photographer who runs the studio E5 Dog Photography, to find out what it takes to make your pet look attractive not just for you, but for your camera too.

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glowworm2
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is my favorite so far! Kitty looks like they're having fun!

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Virginie explained that taking pictures of animals is essentially the same as photographing kids and for that reason, “it has to be a game.”

She suggests that you “forget about posing and take your pet as it is.” Remember that pets aren’t very patient too, so you should prepare some treats and toys to keep their attention set on the shoot.

The professional animal photographer also said that English bulldogs are among the most naturally photogenic dogs, so it may be easier for them to look good at any angle.

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But let’s be real. Taking a good pic of your pet should realistically take more effort than simply pressing the capture button and hoping for the best.

Bark Post suggests trying out a couple of tricks: first, bring your dog to smile and get his attention. Then, change your camera’s perspective to fit the dog’s angle.

Another thing to remember is making sure your shutter speed is right. “Balance this out based on how much natural lighting you have available—outdoor photos with fast shutter speeds make for beautiful portraits, but indoors (with low light), you’re at a huge disadvantage.”

Lastly, remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and if your pug does indeed resemble a chupacabra after a haircut, then let it be. You still love it anyways, so who really cares?

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Kathy Baylis
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My cat Tabby insists on falling asleep right on the edge of the bed or couch, and is always, ALWAYS! surprised when she rolls over the wrong direction and has to catch herself—-or one of us has to catch her—-to keep from falling off. And she’s not the first cat I’ve had do this.

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Kathy Baylis
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While I cannot stand it when my husband snores because it’s incredibly loud and harsh, and can keep me from getting any sleep (I just escape to the guest room to sleep on those nights). When my dog or any of my cats snore it’s always at a soft low volume, which I think is the cutest thing in the world, doesn’t bother me in the least, and actually lulls me to sleep.

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