It's often said that pets and their owners can start to look alike, but these adorable photographs take the old mantra to a new extreme. They are the work of Svetlana Valyiskaya (27), from St Petersburg, who snaps pets in everyday poses in her spare time from her job as a commercial photographer. The vibrant costumes and scenes, which Svetlana designs herself, have made the photos a hit in her native Russia – and it's not hard to see why. She said: “I really love animals, they are loyal, faithful and true and always interesting to work with – plus they never criticise the photographs afterwards”. (Photo by Svetlana Valyiskaya/Mercury)

A follower of the Afro-Brazilian religion Umbanda pays tribute for Iemanja, goddess of the sea, in Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil December 29, 2017. Hundreds of practitioners of Brazil's Afro-Brazilian Candomble and Umbanda faiths have gathered at Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach to honor Yemanja. Worshippers were mostly dressed in white as they launched their offerings to Iemanja: small boats with flowers and bowls with candles and fruits. (Photo by Ricardo Moraes/Reuters)

Filipino villagers escape to a safe area as the Mayon Volcano erupts anew in the town of Daraga, Albay province, Philippines, 23 January 2018. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) agency on 22 January raised the alert level for the Mayon Volcano amid fears of a bigger eruption over the next few hours or days. (Photo by Francis R. Malasig/EPA/EFE)

Filipino firemen extinguish a burning vehicle during an earthquake preparedness drill in Makati city, south of Manila, Philippines, 22 June 2016. Thousands of people participated in the Metro Manila earthquake drill to prepare residents of nearly 12 million for a feared magnitude-7.2 quake that could kill thousands and displace millions, Emerson Carlos head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said. Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to seismic shifts that spark earthquakes and volcanic activity. (Photo by Francis R. Malasig/EPA)

An Israeli tank moves into position in the Israeli controlled Golan Heights during fighting between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad and rebels in the Druze village of Khader in Syria, Tuesday, June 16, 2015. As many as 20 members of the Druze minority sect were killed last week, the deadliest violence against the Druze since Syria's conflict started in March 2011, sparking fears of a massacre against the sect. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

An Afghan girl who practices taekwondo poses for a photo in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, October 31, 2022. The ruling Taliban have banned women from sports as well as barring them from most schooling and many realms of work. A number of women posed for an AP photographer for portraits with the equipment of the sports they loved. Though they do not necessarily wear the burqa in regular life, they chose to hide their identities with their burqas because they fear Taliban reprisals and because some of them continue to practice their sports in secret. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Emergency personnel respond to the scene of a train derailment in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on Wednesday, July 24, 2013. A train derailed in northwestern Spain on Wednesday night, toppling passenger cars on their sides and leaving at least one torn open as smoke rose into the air. Dozens were feared dead, with possibly even more injured. (Photo by Antonio Hernandez/AP Photo/El correo Gallego)

Nasar, an Arabian horse, stands in the office of doctor Stephanie Arndt at her home on February 19, 2014 in Holt, Germany. Fearing for the horse's safety, Mrs. Arndt brought the horse into her house during the Xaver heavy storm back in December, and the horse now wanders through the house daily, inspecting details and looking for snacks. Mrs. Arndt says she doesn't mind, and though the horse never spends the night, it does occasionally take a nap in the house. (Photo by Patrick Lux/Getty Images)