Anyone have any experience of taking pictures of pets? Recommendations?

I'm thinking of setting up a pet photography business - simply put, I'm thinking of going out on site (woodland area) and taking pictures of there pets for keepsakes.

Has anyone had any experience with this? Any tips? I use Nikon, what type of lens would people recommend me getting?

I have found limiting myself to pets does not bring in the volume of people nor sales. People tend to order less prints of pets. Being versitile by including families is much more lucrative. Treating pet portraits the same as people, I use a mild telephoto for compression.

I find the 35-70mm most versatile for baby and pet photography.

For pets, be sure to bring props (costumes and toys) and attention keepers (treats to use as a bribe).

My photo of a friend's bird at the link.

I'm not saying that it can't be done, but to be done well, it is as expensive and more challenging than working with people. And the pets are not going to buy their own photos.

You want a couple of good quality lenses. A wide end zoom, something like a 16-35 f/2.8 would be a good option, as would a 28-70 f/2.8. Both would be better. Get the f/2.8 lenses so you have better control over the depth of field. Since you are going to be shooting outdoors, get some reflectors as inexpensive alternatives to strobes.

Hunting dogs (if that is active in your area) would be well suited to wooded areas. To shoot household pets, you really need to go into the people's homes.

Get down on the pet's levels when you shoot. It makes for a much more interesting perspective. As with people, expressive eyes are the most important part of the shot. Get those dead tack sharp and well lit. You need indirect light for this so you don't get the red eyes common with flash photography.

1) are they well behaved pets? If not, how you going to stop them running off?
2) you can't control the weather… So what you going to do as an alternative?
3) what kinds of pets? How do you shoot a hamster or snake or something else small in a woodland setting?
4) have you Really thought this out? How far is the woodland area? How you getting there? How are your clients going to get there?
5) what photographic experience do you have? What marketing skills? What imagination/creativity do you have?
6) how much experience with the camera?

seems to me that you haven't really thought this through and put everything down…