Pet photo contests are a great way to make extra money and even though I don’t have any real photo talents, I do have an adorable dog that is more than willing to pose whenever the time calls for it.

Here are a few tips to increase your chances of winning:

Enter. And Enter Often.

Photo contests are notorious for having a small amount of entries compared to other contests. It turns out that most people aren’t that interested in spending time to enter contests that require more than a name and an email address. That’s where you and I can take advantage…

Scout the Past Winners

It’s important to get an idea of what the judges are looking for before you submit your photo. Some contests tend to prefer cutesy pictures, like the one to the right of my dog Franklin, while others prefer more professional looking pictures like the one below of my parents’ dogs.

If it’s a monthly contest, you can look back at the archives to see what types of pictures have performed well with the judges.

Create a Voting Army

A lot of photo contests are decided by the photo that receives the most online votes, so do your best to tip the scales in your favor. Strike an agreement with your friends and family that you will help vote up their picture if they help vote up yours.

Here are a few of the best 2011 pet photo contests to help get you started…

1. Martha Stewart Halloween Pet Contest  - Top Prize: $200 Pet Gift Cards

Martha Stewart’s website also hosts a monthly contest. This month the contest is Halloween themed so you will to send a picture with your pet in full costume.

2. Purina Monthly Photo Contest – Top Prize: $500 Amazon Gift Card

Purina hosts a different theme every month and September is “Most Talented Pet Month.” A $500 Amazon gift card will go to both the cat owner and the dog owner that submits the photo which receives the most votes by Purina website goers.

3. Fresh Step’s YouTube Contest – Top Prize: $500 Cash 

This one is for you cat lovers. Fresh Step, the kitty litter company, is hosting a contest where entrants have been asked to upload a video to the Fresh Step YouTube page of your cat being silly. The winner may also be offered a role in an upcoming commercial.

4. World’s Ugliest Dog Contest – Top Prize: $1,000 Cash

Probably the most famous dog contest and the one to enter if your pooch is less than photogenic. The contest takes place at the Sonoma-Marin fair in California every summer.

Good Luck Penny Hoarders!