Tips to improve cat photography skills
With our feline companions being such an important part of our lives, it is only natural for us to want to capture and cherish every little moment spent with them.
But cats being unpredictable creatures with a mind of their own, often choose to be uncooperative when faced with the camera of our phones. We have all had our fair share of experience to know that our sassy felines do not really bother with commands unless there is something in it for them.
Needless to say, photographing our cats at CatSmart has not gotten easier over time. Some tricks would work on certain days and not on others hence, it would be good to have a few back-up plans to fall on.
So, here are some CatSmart tried and tested tips which worked for our kitties and they might just work for yours too!
Needless to say, Treatos
This is definitely a no-brainer because who can resist them yummy treats? It is pretty easy to get your cat’s attention by waving her favourite treat by the lens of the camera and voila!
Of course, to get a clear shot you will either need real steady hands, a camera stand or simply the help of another hooman. Don’t forget to give her a taste of the treat to reward her for being a cooperative little kitty!
The wonders of Catnip
If your kitty is receptive to catnip like ours, you can take advantage of this for more engaging shots! Simply spray or sprinkle some of the catnip on the desired place or item you wish for her to take interest in. (e.g. scratching post, toy ball, cat bed)
But take note to only use this sparingly as going overboard can make it lose its magic touch on your kitty!
We will recommend using either Francodex Catnip Spray for Kittens & Cats or AFP Green Rush Premium Catnip.
Cat Toys and sounds
This is a tad bit similar to the treat technique. Get your cats favourite toy and integrate them into your photoshoot session! Wave the toy in the direction that you want your cat to look at and snap your photo. Take note to really engage and play with her every now and then to get her continuous attention.
When toys are not available, you can make use of sounds like whistling or mimicking purring to get your cat’s attention too.
Our office cats’ favourites are easily cat teasers, laser and even better, teasers with bells!
You can check out our latest teaser addition which includes all 3 features mentioned above – The new Tom Cat Pakeway Universal Cat Teaser is a multi-function teaser with many interchangeable parts, feathers and best of all, it comes with a built-in laser too!
The Paper box/bag hack
This is a good cheat for close-up shots. Select a box with a short height to prevent it from showing in the photos. Place your cat in the box and she will willingly stay there long enough for you to snap some good upper body close-up shots!
Another important point for close-up shots is to focus on the beauty of their eyes and not their cute little noses.
Get down and personal
By going down to your cat’s eye level, it creates a more impactful photo as it helps to portray things from their perspective and adds a natural flair too.
The lesser, the better
Keep the backdrop simple as lesser noise in background means more focus on your cat. Simple as that!
Fast shutter speed or burst shots
Most importantly, we must understand that every cat has a different personality and will react differently to each technique. Respect your cat and be patient with them throughout the photo taking session as there is no one-size-fits-all method for feline photography.
Try out the methods above and slowly figure out what works best for yours!