Think of your pet as a toddler, and you'll have a good idea of how long you can keep its attention span. By taking breaks and only shooting a couple of photos at a time, you'll have a happier, more engaged pet for your photos. Set an alarm for a couple of minutes if you keep forgetting to take breaks. Most animals love treats, so now is the time to break out your pet's favorite one. Split the treats up into small bites, as you may need to bribe your animal quite a few times. Try asking someone to hold a treat in their hand near the camera. Make sure the pet knows they have it, and then have the person hide it away. This trick usually evokes good expressions from the animal, especially dogs. A playful pet will make for good photos, and using a toy will help keep your pet nearby. Grab the toy, and play with your pet like you normally would. If you have another person nearby, it might be easier if they use the toy to play with the pet while you snap pictures. Tug-of-war toys work great for dogs, and string-type toys work well for cats, as you can entice them to come over. Any toy that keeps your pet mostly in the same place should be fine. Balls don't work as well, unless someone is throwing a ball in your direction. Otherwise, the animal will be running away from you. For a dog, be very, very cheerful. Dogs love upbeat voices, especially when you're telling the dog what a good boy or girl they are! Other pets may do better with calm, almost cooing voices. You know what your pet likes to hear! Use the pet names you have for it, using your happy voice. For instance, try a cheerful but calm voice when working with cats. For birds, be very cheerful, but not so loud you scare them. Whistles may help, too! If it's not your pet, get the owner to talk to the pet instead, as they may have better luck than you. Of course, you don't want to scare your pet, but something new and exciting can make them want to see what's going on. For instance, you could have a person pop out from behind you or use a squeaky toy to make a noise. You could also try unique noises, such as finger drumming, tongue-clicking, scratching, and whistling.
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One-sentence summary -- Work in short increments to keep your pet interested. Bribe your pet with treats. Ask your pet to play with you using one of its favorite toys. Use the appropriate voice for the type of pet you're photographing. Surprise your pet so they look your way.

Transfer the buckwheat to a small bowl and cover it with water. Use your hand to swish the buckwheat around in the water. This will loosen any debris, dust, or plant matter. Skim off any debris or broken pieces that float to the top. Transfer the buckwheat to a fine-mesh strainer to drain the water. Washing will help to produce a fluffy buckwheat that also holds its shape. Place the washed buckwheat in a dry skillet or frying pan and heat it over medium heat. Continue cooking the buckwheat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until it's golden brown. Remove the skillet from the heat. Toasting brings out the flavor of the buckwheat and gives it a nutty aroma. Toasted buckwheat is referred to as kasha. If your buckwheat has already been toasted, you don't have to toast it again. Raw buckwheat doesn't smell, and is a light brown or greenish color instead of golden brown. Transfer the water to a saucepan and add the salt. Put on the lid and heat the water over medium heat to bring it to a boil. When you add the buckwheat to boiling water instead of cold water, it will help to steam it as well as boil it. When the water is boiling, remove the lid from the saucepan and add the buckwheat. Bring the water back to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and continue simmering the buckwheat for 15 minutes. You don't need to stir the buckwheat as it simmers. When the buckwheat has been simmering for 15 minutes, remove it from the heat. Leave the lid on and let the buckwheat sit for a quarter of an hour. This will give the buckwheat time to absorb any additional water that's still in the pot without becoming mushy. Remove the lid and add the butter to the buckwheat. When the butter has melted, stir the buckwheat gently with a fork. This will remove clumps and separate the individual seeds, giving the buckwheat a lighter texture. You can also use ghee, margarine, or even your favorite cooking oil in place of the butter.
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One-sentence summary --
Rinse the buckwheat. Toast raw buckwheat for about 5 minutes. Boil the water and salt. Simmer the buckwheat for 15 minutes. Let the buckwheat stand for 15 minutes. Add the butter and fluff the buckwheat.