In my first portfolio review, my critic was drawn to the cat photos, “because I know how hard that is,” he said. I didn’t let on that it’s not so hard. I volunteer at a local shelter and have learned a trick or two. And it turns out that best practices for cats also apply to dogs, horses, birds, and, come to think of it, people.
Cats Gonna Cat
You can't force a cat to do anything. That means letting Purrscilla, Queen of the Catbox, take the lead and do what she likes to do. Find out in advance what Chairman Meow’s favorite spot to chill out is. Favorite activity? Active times of day? It’s usually best to show up before feeding time—worst case scenario, you can use a long lens and get Cat Benatar while she’s preoccupied with the food bowl.
The way to ensure Purrlock Holmes won’t do what you want is to try to make him do what you want. I’m a little superstitious about this. When an owner says, “Come up here on the couch, Mr. Meowzart,” I know the shot has been jinxed, that I’m wasting time, and it is time to move on to the next setup.
Tickets please! Just let the curious kitten do its kitten stuff for purr gold.
Pet-ty Cash
You are going to have to pay Shakespurr in some fashion. At the shelter ,we call the squeeze tubes of mashed cat food (like Churu) “Cat Crack.” It can be very motivating, and a carefully placed dab can entice Cleocatra to stand where you want her to. But Catrick Swayze may be more motivated by play, and a feather toy or anything dangling from a wand can entice him into position and grab his attention.
Down! Stay!
Dress in something that is suitable for lying on the floor and rolling in pet debris. You will come home covered in fur and food crumbs. Get used to it. But Bing Clawsby tends to prefer you on his level, or even below.
Don’t Force it
Cats can be aloof. Well, two can play at that game. I often sit on the floor and ignore Fuzz Aldrin as he prowls around exploring the room. Eventually, he will approach. Don’t overwhelm him with attention. Give him a friendly pet, but leave him wanting more, so he will swan around you, vying for more attention. That’s your opportunity.
Do Not sing 'Memory'
This should be self-explanatory.
Make It Fuzzy
Mewlius Caesar and his feline ilk will frustrate you by doing cute things in front of cruddy backgrounds. Low depth of field is man’s best friend. Use a long lens and open it up to optimize background softness—blur out chair legs, cat trees, heaps of recycling, or what-have-you.
Take a Paws
This is the most important tip. Don’t expect to get what you want within a tidy timeframe. It takes however long it takes, and with a skittish Meowncé, that can mean hours. Just like photographing animals in the wild, take up a promising position, don’t move around, don’t talk, don’t look at your phone, be patient, and eventually you will get your shot.
Cat Kit
I’ve left gear for last because neither Charlton Hisston nor his humans care what gear you use. Generally, a tele-zoom is a good idea. Flash? Depends on the pet and your style. One thing that is very useful is an assistant who is fluent in pet. Having someone else to dispense treats, waggle feather toys, and make bird sounds leaves you free to concentrate on what counts—catching the moment when Ruth Bader Ginspurrg is ready for her close-up.
