Taking Good Pictures of Cats

duchess15

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Originally Posted by TigerLord

It was all said I believe already, but maybe putting it all in one posty might help. There are many golden rules in photography, and unfortunately, it is one of the artistic hobbies where the equipment matters the most.

Nonetheless, there are five easy tips that if followed, will increase your pictures tenfold with any camera.

1- Meet the cats on their eye level. The mistake amateurs always do is shoot from their everyday's POV, which brings nothing special for the viewer. You need new perspective. Crouch, get on your knees or your belly, and shoot down there. You'll be surprised how amazing they will be.

2- Always focus on the eyes, period. This is crucial to the success of a photo. If you have a camera with adjustable aperture and shutter speed, especially when shooting with your lens wide open (low f-stop number, like 2.8) the Depth of field will be shallow, and focusing on the eyes is twice as important. If you have no idea what I am talking about and have the normal compact digital camera, focus on the eyes of your cat, and your pictures will increase tenfold.

3- Use the available light correctly. Diffused indirect light coming from a window can make some amazing pictures. Youl should not use the flash too often, as on-camera flashes, even on expansive profesionnal SLR cameras, create very flat and unkind light on your subject.

4- Zoom in ! Frame your kitties, get close (try to avoid the digital zoom as this creates terrible noise in the pictures, especially at high zoom levels. The mechanical zoom however is ok to use). The eye is displeased when the frame is filled with empty space with a small kitten in the middle. Get close and personnal, this will add a sentiment of warmth and closeness to your pictures !

5- Another mistake amateurs make is shoot their subject in the dead center of the picture. Google "photography rule of third" to understand how to correctly shoot your kitty.

If you are serious about photography, save for a SLR camera (Canon Rebel XT, Pentax K100D, to name only two, are excellent entry-level SLR with good kit lens (18-55mm usually) at affordable prices) and meanwhile read Bryan Peterson's book called "Understanding Exposure". It is an AMAZING book that even the very beginner who has no idea how photopgrahy works will learn to love by its simplicity and presentation.

PM me if you have specific questions, I'll be delighted to help!
I wanted to PM you, but it didn't give me the option. I will be buying a Canon 40d soon. I have a friend helping me pick out the lens, etc. He has been photographing for years and know all the details, but I don't and I need an amazing book where I can understand all the technical terms such as F-stop and even how to us picture programs. I know some basics, but I want to learn much, much more. How to take very nice pictures and what setting works for what is also what I need.
 

russian blue

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Originally Posted by TigerLord

......and meanwhile read Bryan Peterson's book called "Understanding Exposure".
Originally Posted by Duchess15

I wanted to PM you, but it didn't give me the option. I will be buying a Canon 40d soon. I have a friend helping me pick out the lens, etc. He has been photographing for years and know all the details, but I don't and I need an amazing book where I can understand all the technical terms such as F-stop and even how to us picture programs. I know some basics, but I want to learn much, much more. How to take very nice pictures and what setting works for what is also what I need.
First, as TigerLord suggested, pick up any of Bryan Peterson's books to start the learning process. The one mentioned above is one of the first books I picked up when I started photography. Just Google his name or go to Amazon to look it up.

Second, and most important, read the manual! It sounds too simple, but many people buy something new, throw the manual to the side, and never even explore all the features their camera has to offer! Take some time and go through each chapter so you know your camera and how to access the functions offered.

Third, if you're buying your camera from a camera store, see if they offer introductory lessons on the camera you are buying. The camera store I go to offers Saturday classes on different subjects and always has a class on the in's and out's of the SLR digital camera.


Fourth, if you have a Photography Club in your area, sign up! It is a great way to meet other people and learn all for little cost! You usually get a mix of amateurs and semi-pro photographers and all are there to learn and share experiences.

I was going to buy the 40D last year, but decided on the Canon Rebel with a more expensive lens instead. Now that prices have come down, the 40D is an excellent deal! You will really enjoy it.
 

duchess15

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Originally Posted by Russian Blue

First, as TigerLord suggested, pick up any of Bryan Peterson's books to start the learning process. The one mentioned above is one of the first books I picked up when I started photography. Just Google his name or go to Amazon to look it up.

Second, and most important, read the manual! It sounds too simple, but many people buy something new, throw the manual to the side, and never even explore all the features their camera has to offer! Take some time and go through each chapter so you know your camera and how to access the functions offered.

Third, if you're buying your camera from a camera store, see if they offer introductory lessons on the camera you are buying. The camera store I go to offers Saturday classes on different subjects and always has a class on the in's and out's of the SLR digital camera.


Fourth, if you have a Photography Club in your area, sign up! It is a great way to meet other people and learn all for little cost! You usually get a mix of amateurs and semi-pro photographers and all are there to learn and share experiences.

I was going to buy the 40D last year, but decided on the Canon Rebel with a more expensive lens instead. Now that prices have come down, the 40D is an excellent deal! You will really enjoy it.
Thanks for the advice! I have a friend who is helping me pick out lenses. I will be getting almost the best so I hopefully won't have to buy another one for a long time and it will produce the pictures I'm hoping for.

We do have a photography club in the city I work for so I may have to check that out. I was planning on reading the manual.
I also was going to spend a lot of time practicing. One thing I really wanted to learn is how to take pictures at certain angles to produce certain effects. That is one thing that has always stumped me.
 

russian blue

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Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom

Any tips for a camera-shy kitty? This is what happens when she sees the camera.
Is she running because you always use the flash and therefore it bothers her eyes? Either way, don't use indoor flash, try to make use of available indoor lighting. If she's scared of the camera, leave it out and let her investigate it and use treats to reward her. Let her here the noises the camera makes without taking a picture of her. Play with her with the camera in your possession so she gets used to it.

I never use the flash when taking cat pictures. It's too hard on the eyes and the end result is usually a washed out picture.

Good luck!
 

icklemiss21

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Originally Posted by Russian Blue

Is she running because you always use the flash and therefore it bothers her eyes? Either way, don't use indoor flash, try to make use of available indoor lighting. If she's scared of the camera, leave it out and let her investigate it and use treats to reward her. Let her here the noises the camera makes without taking a picture of her. Play with her with the camera in your possession so she gets used to it.

I never use the flash when taking cat pictures. It's too hard on the eyes and the end result is usually a washed out picture.

Good luck!


I take photos for our animal shelter, the best way to get photos is to distract them. I have a toy that is a long pole with feathers, sparkles and a bell on the end. They are usually so engrossed with it that they don't even hear the camera.
 

junior_j

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With kittens get a bit of string and put it above ur camera and then , the kittens will stare a that ect..
Jess x
 

wingnutt

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Happened across this thread, figured I would chime in..

if your using a moderate grade point shoot or a DSLR and shooting close up at the face, dont stop down lower than 3.5 or so, because then you can run into issues with the nose being out of focus, when they eyes are in focus or vice versa.. well unless you have a persian I guess. but also dont go too high or you will get too much background and a soft front.

example: my little monster
http://pages.suddenlink.net/ja001son/cat.jpg
 

caitsith

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Well now you've done it ! I havn't taken propper pics for ages, ive just used my mobile for quickness. I have done photography courses, but now after reading all this ive got the bug again! Ive got a studio kit ( flash,umberella,slave flashes etc) Bye bye bedroom!Thanks!
 

bonnie1965

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Originally Posted by caitsith

Well now you've done it ! I havn't taken propper pics for ages, ive just used my mobile for quickness. I have done photography courses, but now after reading all this ive got the bug again! Ive got a studio kit ( flash,umberella,slave flashes etc) Bye bye bedroom!Thanks!
Remember to share the photos
 

tobyt

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Originally Posted by sillyitiliangrl

I've been trying to figure out how to take pictures where the flash doesn't cuase my babies to close their eyes! (natural lighting is at low over here lol)
Depending on how you're camera utilizes its flash ability...be it a pop up light fixture or built into the unit or something expensive that mounts on top of an SLR type....the cheap mans way to do this is to take a Kleenex tissue or a piece of tissue paper (a thin single ply will do...even a single ply square of toilet paper will do) and cover the flash with it. This will still give you some of the brightness of the flash but will diffuse some of the glare one would normally get from it...as in the reflected glare from eyes and mirrored surfaces. Play around with it...see what kind of shots you'll make with that...Remeber: more tissue you use...the less light gets thru...the darker the photo
 

kellu23

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I have a couple of close-ups of my cat I wanted to post, but being new to this site I'm not sure how to post a picture from my photo library. I didn't know where to ask this question; sorry if it's in the wrong place.
 

russian blue

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Originally Posted by kellu23

I have a couple of close-ups of my cat I wanted to post, but being new to this site I'm not sure how to post a picture from my photo library. I didn't know where to ask this question; sorry if it's in the wrong place.
Check your Private Messages, I sent you a message.
 

bianco maple

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Thanks for the tip- I am always very hasty or lets say too excited when I take the pictures! 
 
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