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Five tips for shooting awesome photos of cats

Jun 11, 2018 by Dunja Djudjic 5 Comments

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Cats are awesome and fun. And if you ask me, they can be darn difficult to photograph. In this video, Josh Fenn and his four-legged model Wolfie show you five quick tips for taking better photos of cats, with any camera and in any conditions.

1. Use a fast shutter speed

Cats move really fast, and if you want to capture their play in a sharp and crisp image, shoot at fast shutter speeds. Josh aims to shoot at 1/1000s, and recommends a minimum of 1/500s. In case you don’t photograph a kitty in play, but want to take photos while it’s asleep, you can go lower than that.

He’s so calm when he sleeps, I can shoot at 1/30s : )

2. Use enough light

If you’re shooting at a fast shutter speed, you’ll need enough light. Josh suggests you utilize a natural window light and direct your cat towards that part of the room when you want to take photos.

3. Use a zoom or a telephoto lens

Using a zoom or a telephoto lens allows you to step back and capture the action without interrupting your cat. The lenses with longer focal length will also give the cat a nice separation from the background. Josh points out that even if you shoot with a smartphone, many newer models have two options when it comes to focal length.

4. Shoot at the cat’s eye level

Many cat photos are taken from above, as us humans are taller than our precious pets. So, get down to the cat’s level and bring your four-legged subject closer to the viewer.

5. Capture the action

Cats are awesome and fun, and watching them play or hunt makes me think that they’re even slightly crazy. : ) Try capturing these moments when the cat is in the middle of the play and freeze the action. All of the above tips will help you get splendid photos: use a fast shutter speed, enough light, a long lens and shoot at the cat’s eye level.

Cat lovers out there, do you take photos of your four-legged friends? Do you have any tips and tricks to share? You can also share photos you took, I’m pretty crazy about cats. : )

[CAT PHOTOGRAPHY 101 via FStoppers]

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Filed Under: Tutorials Tagged With: animal photo, animal photography, animals, cats, Josh Fenn

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.net

About Dunja Djudjic

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

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Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

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