Cats are naturally curious creatures; looking at the camera or what goofiness I’m doing behind it will easily grab their attention. Even if they’re not looking at me, they still look incredibly regal! I’ve played with toys, laid on the ground, and have made some pretty weird noises all in the name of getting the shot. One thing that has been consistent throughout all my cat portraits though is the fact that the cat was in the comfort of their own home. Unlike dogs, who are happy anywhere, cats are more agreeable when they’re in their own space. They feel confident moving around, changing positions, and watching me do my thing. This isn’t to say that cats can’t make a journey outside or to another indoor space to get their picture taken; this is what I found is the easiest and what makes the cats I photograph feel safer.
Since I’m usually a stranger in their territory, I make a huge effort to play with them and introduce myself before getting right to work. I want to make sure that they know that I mean no harm to them and they can ignore me as I’m not going to be a bother to them. Most cats tend to be neutral towards me which is a positive and a negative. Some might be hesitant to play with me in my attempt to get their attention but I give them their space and move on to the next thing! It’s a task that requires a lot of patience and the ability to pivot to the next position to keep things interesting. Though I want them to be neutral, I do love it when they find me curious and continue to be curious about what I’m up to! That way I can get poses looking straight at the camera, side profile, looking off into the distance, and looking up or down. With eyes that range from intrigued to relaxed! They may not exhibit as many emotions as dogs do but cats are complex animals. With the short time I have to bond with them as a means to gain enough trust to take their portrait in their space, I am to showcase their majestic personality. It’s a challenge I happily accept and give lots of pets afterwards if they let me!
Now for my big tip to help you take pictures of your cat companion at home: Get low or get high. What this means is either get to your cat level or get high where your camera is positioned pointing down at them! Getting even with them is not a normal occurrence so they’ll be really interested in why you’ve decided to embrace your feline side. This will also create a face on or beautiful side profile of your pets. Getting high means maybe being a little weird. Play with a toy, jingle a bell, or even make sounds to make your cat wonder what you’re doing. Doing this will catch their attention and give them that classic “cute” face as they look at you. If you go this route, less distraction in the background is better. While photographing tall, I like to make sure I’m doing it while they’re on the floor, bed, or near a wall where the background will be neutral and not a distraction to their adorable faces!
Cats watch me like a hawk and if I continue to move around and get on different levels, they’ll want to see what I’m doing. I mainly enjoy being on their level for the most part but if they’re getting bored, I have to switch it up! Hope this helps and let me know if you try this tip!











