Advice From a Pet Photographer: Five at Home Cat Photography Tips
Are you someone who takes hundreds of photos of your cat? Don’t be ashamed—so am I! Seriously, most of my camera roll is filled with images of Oneiroi.
Are you looking for a way to take these photos to the next level and improve your at home cat photography skills? Hiring a professional photographer is a great idea, but when you’re at home and your cat is doing something extra cute, you’re going to want to take a photo! And you’re going to want that photo to at least look nice enough to share online or with your family. I love being a pet photographer, and as much as I’d love to hangout with your cat everyday, I’m not able to, so I’ve put together five tips for you to be able to take your own at home cat photography skills to the next level!
1.) Find Your Light
Natural light is a great option, but what if there is none? Find a light source! The image above was taken using the side table lamp as the main light source. This created fun shadows and contrasts, making the image look almost painting-like!
2.) Let Your Cat Get Comfortable
One of the most important parts about being a cat photographer is making sure the cats feel as comfortable as possible. When your cat is comfortable, they are far more likely to let you stick a phone in their face. Plus, cats tend to pick the perfect spot for a cute photo!
3.) Be Prepared
Sometimes your cat will unexpectedly do the cutest thing, or fluff it’s fur up in the most photo-worthy way and you’ve got to be prepared! Luckily most of us walk around with our phones glued to our hands, so we’re ready to take the image as soon as our cat does something photo worthy!
4.) Have a Treat or a Toy on Hand
My best tip for photographing cats is to always have their favorite treats or toys on hand. Most cats respond well to food or playtime, and using these tools is a great way to not only gain your cat’s undivided attention, but also direct where you want them to look!
5.) Not Every Photo Has to Be Perfect
Sometimes a blurry photo, or an image with a boring background or dull lighting ends up being perfect in it’s own way. At the end of the day it is about taking images that capture your cat’s personality. These photos will be far more memorable and fun to look back on than a perfectly staged image where your cat looks out of its element.
Just have fun taking photos of your cat! Images are so important as they help us remember all of the different stages of life and the fun times we have had with our pets. I have never regretted taking a bad photo, but I have regretted not taking enough photos.