How To Take Great Cat Photos

Whether you are a cat lover looking to take better cat pictures of your indoor cuties or improve your cat photography skills for your animal shelter to help adoptions, this guide will give you tips on how to take great cat photos.

Photographing cats is not easy. They move, cats don’t follow instructions very well, and they are furry, making lens tracking difficult. There are a few basic outcomes with great pet photography that will help your feline friend shine. Capture your cat’s face sharply and the cat’s eyes crisply. Great shots have bright sunlight or natural lighting and capture the cat’s behavior or showcase their personality.

Cat Photography for Adoptions

When it comes to finding a new home for a cat or kitten, having great photos and videos is crucial. With so many animals in need of adoption, it’s important to make your cat stand out and catch the eye of potential adopters. High-quality and intriguing photos and videos can help to showcase your cat’s unique personality and features, making them more appealing to potential adopters.

Having great photos and videos can help potential adopters emotionally connect with your cat and help them understand what it would be like to live with them. Additionally, good photos and videos can help to increase the visibility of your cat’s profile, making it more likely to be seen by potential adopters.

According to the shelter reports, the average length of stay for cats and kittens in shelters before being adopted is around two months. Improving your cat adoption profiles and photography can help speed up their time in the shelter and help them find the right forever home quickly.

21 Cat Photography Tips

It’s important to know how to take good cat photos, which is essential in helping them find a loving home on adoption websites. Capturing the perfect shot of our feline friends can be a challenging feat. Good photography showcases their unique personality and physical traits and creates an emotional bond with potential adopters. Here are 21 cat photography ideas to enhance your cat photography skills.

1. Use different viewpoints: You can’t go wrong with a full-face and body portrait. To get this, get down to their level and take photos head-on. Once you have the main profile shot, try other angles and viewpoints to showcase all of their unique personality and features.
2. Use a plain and clean background: A plain background will help your cat stand out in the photos and make them the focus of the image. Avoid taking photos with busy backgrounds or other animals, as these can distract from your cat.
3. Get their attention: Cats love treats and toys, so you can use them to get your cat’s attention can help to create natural-looking photos. You can also capture your cat in the act of playing or eating to get great action shots.
4. Take a lot of photos: Don’t be afraid to take multiple photos of your cat from different angles and in different poses. This will give you a variety of photos to choose from and increase your chances of getting a great shot. For difficult cats to photograph, I take 20-30 photos to get a few good ones. It’s very typical that I take 200 photos to get 20 good cat shots.
5. Take videos: Videos can be a great way to showcase your cat’s personality and give potential adopters a sense of their movement and sounds. Try to capture your cat playing, cuddling, or just being themselves.
6. Aim for sharp eyes: When taking photos, make sure your cat’s eyes are in focus. This is the key to capturing their emotions and personality. Use the autofocus feature on your camera or phone to ensure sharpness because cats tend to always be moving, which will cause blur.
7. Use different camera settings: Experiment with different camera settings such as shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to get the best cat photos. For fast-moving cats, a faster shutter speed may be needed to freeze their movements. A lower aperture can create a shallow depth of field, making your cat stand out in the photo. Experiment with your own style to find your purrfect feline photography game. Check your camera manual to learn about your settings.
8. Use filters and pre-set focus options: The foodie mode on your phone camera is pretty good. It adds depth to the background while maintaining a clean, sharp focus on the center object. Pre-sets make it easy to look like a professional cat photographer.
9. Adjust your shutter speed: Cats are known for their agility and quick movements. To capture them in action, adjust your shutter speed to a faster setting. Using a fast shutter speed will help freeze their movements and prevent blurry photos of cats.
10. Shoot video in 60 FPS: If you’re trying to capture your cat’s playful personality, shooting video in 60 frames per second (FPS) can help you get smooth and fluid footage. This is especially useful for slow-motion shots that highlight your cat’s grace and agility. Most cameras and phones can screen capture from video, which allows you to make awesome photos from your video.
11. Vary your lens and zoom settings: Not every picture needs to be the same depth. Experiment with different lenses and zoom settings to get a variety of shots. For example, using a wide-angle lens can help capture your cat’s entire body in action, while a telephoto lens can bring you closer for those up-close-and-personal shots.
12. Get close-ups: This is easier when they are calm, which helps avoid sudden movements. One way to get a closer shot is to use the zoom feature on your camera or smartphone. Another option is to physically move closer, but be mindful of your cat’s boundaries and comfort level.
13. Try burst mode: Cats are known for their quick movements, so using burst mode can help capture multiple shots quickly. This will increase your chances of getting that perfect shot in just a few moments.
14. Continuous shooting mode: Similar to burst mode, this feature allows you to take multiple shots in quick succession. This can be useful when your cat is on the move or playing with a toy.
15. Utilize natural light: Natural light or soft light is always the best option when taking photos, as it creates a more natural and flattering look. Try taking photos near a window or outside on a sunny day to get the best lighting and a good shot.
16. Incorporate props or toys: Adding in some fun props or toys can bring an extra element of playfulness to your cat’s photos. Whether it’s a feather wand, toy mouse, or even just a paper bag, these items can help capture your cat’s curious and playful nature. Curious animals make for great pictures.
17. Consider the background: When setting up your shot, be aware of the background. A cluttered or distracting background can take away from the focus on your cat. Choose a simple, neutral backdrop, or try taking photos in different locations to add variety to your shots.
18. Experiment with angles and perspectives: Don’t be afraid to get down on your cat’s level or try capturing them from above. Different angles and perspectives can create interesting and unique photos that showcase your cat’s personality.
19. Capture candid moments: Some of the best photos are ones taken when your cat is just being their natural, unposed self. Keep your camera handy and ready to snap a photo whenever those candid moments arise.
20. Get at the cat’s eye level: Eye-level photos can create a more intimate and personal connection with your cat. Try getting down on your knees or lying on the ground to capture the cat sitting and focusing on the cats eyes.
21. Use editing tools: After your cat photoshoot, you can use simple editing tools to enhance them. Brighten the photos, crop them to draw attention to the cat, and adjust the contrast to make sure the cat stands out. Great images don’t need to be completely naturally shot, and many cameras and phones offer easy editing tools.

Photographing Difficult Cats

Cats that are shy, skittish, or have a hard time staying still can be difficult to photograph. To get great photos of these types of cats, it’s important to be patient and take pictures often. Always have your camera ready and take more photos. Try to photograph cats when they are relaxed, sleeping, lounging, or loafing. You can also try using treats or toys to get the attention of a curious cat.

Some cats, like black cats, are simply hard to see due to the lack of contrast from the cat’s fur. Bright lighting will really help to shine their coat and allow their facial features to stand out. You can also stage props and backgrounds to add effect and emotion to the pictures. If you’re really having trouble getting still photos of a black cat, try a video that will allow you to showcase other aspects of your kitty’s personality.

Here Are Some Examples Of Great Cat Adoption Photos!

Cat lovers take lots of photos of cats. Here are some better photos of cats that will hopefully inspire you to improve your cat photography and take the purrfect cat photo.