Cats have dominated the Internet since the Internet existed. Memes, funny videos, and photos are more valuable online currencies than Bitcoin.
If you’re a cat owner, you probably love taking pictures of your cat. Your cat might even have her own Instagram. Showing off the perfect picture of your feline friend is irresistible, especially if you’ve caught them in just the right pose or curled up in the cutest way. And the good news is that the Internet can’t get enough of it.
Sometimes, it may feel like you’ve taken every possible picture of your cat: every angle, every yawn, every sunny spot in your house. If you’re looking to brainstorm for your next kitty photoshoot, look no further. We’ve got some awesome ideas to show off your cat in their best light.
The 18 Great Cat Photography Ideas
1. Get a Photo of Your Cat by a Window
Cats love to spend time looking out the window. Your cat may even have a favorite windowsill she likes to rest on or use as a perch to menace birds. You’ve probably already taken plenty of pictures of her in this window.
But have you photographed her from the outside? A tried-and-true method for spicing up your pictures is to go outside while your kitty is relaxing near a window. You may see her in a different light!
2. Take Some Playtime Action Shots
Another easy way to get exciting shots is to take pictures while your kitty is playing with her favorite toys.
Strings, wands, kickers, battery-powered critters—any toy can bring out different expressions and poses of your cat. You can even recruit a friend to move around and take pictures from all angles while you control the toy’s movements.
3. Have Your Cat Look at Their Reflection
Animals have different reactions when confronted with a mirror. Some don’t even see themselves in the glass, whereas others will try to threaten or play with their own reflections.
If you haven’t tested this out with your cat yet, you should do so with your camera at the ready. Even if your kitty doesn’t react to itself in the mirror, you’ll still be able to get a few cute shots before the moment ends.
4. Capture Your Cat “Making Biscuits”
It’s one of the most iconic things your cat can do: kneading her little paws into a soft surface, like a blanket, pillow, or textured sweater. If you haven’t taken pictures of your cat in the middle of a baker’s dozen, you should give it a try. Pull out her favorite biscuit-making blanket and get some photos while she works!
Bonus points: if you can get your hands on a tiny apron, this would be the perfect chance to level up your cat photography game. Plus, it would be incredibly cute.
5. Take a Photo of Your Cat Sitting in a Strange Place
Cats sitting in weird places is one of the internet’s finest memes. If your kitty has a penchant for curling up in strange spots, use it to your advantage! Set out items you know your cat won’t be able to resist, such as boxes, bowls, baskets, or anything else you can find.
If you’re lucky enough to have a kitten, don’t hesitate to put it in the smallest objects you could imagine. The internet loves a cat in a teacup.
6. Take a Classic Shot of Your Cat Eating
Who doesn’t remember the hilarious video of the cat scared of cucumbers? You may already know if your cat has an aversion to—or affinity for—a particular food. Even if you don’t, you may be able to capture some comical photos of your cat reacting to various fruits and vegetables. Make sure you give them cat-safe foods, of course!
She might crinkle her nose, breathe in through her mouth, or even jump several feet into the air. No matter what the reaction, it’s bound to look great on camera!
7. Have Your Cat Bask in Nature
Venturing outside of your home and into the great outdoors can be an excellent way to photograph your cat in a new setting. If you have a yard, take your kitty out for a supervised photo session. If not, pay a visit to a local park with your cat in a harness or on a leash. Let her explore to her heart’s content, all while you capture the moment. You may find that your cat loves the outing so much that you might want to make it a regular thing!
8. Pretend Your Cat Is Lost in a Good Book
There’s nothing more entertaining than a cat doing human activities. An easy scenario to capture with items you already have around the house is your cat reading a book. It may take a little set-up, but if you can get it to work, you’ll have precious photos of your cat getting lost in the classics or in the latest James Patterson novel.
If you’re handy with Photoshop, you could even make a “Read” poster, like you’d see at the library!
9. Take a Photo From Underneath a Table
If you have a glass table, you have a golden photo opportunity on your hands. You may have seen pictures circulating on the web of cats sitting on glass tables, but the picture is taken from underneath the table. This results in a hilarious photo of your cat’s paws and belly smashed up against the glass. It’s only possible to achieve if you have a glass surface that you can get underneath, but it’s worth it if you can find one.
10. Go Old-Fashioned With a Black and White Shot
Sometimes, all you need to do to freshen up your photoshoot is to change the filter on your phone. Going black and white is a simple way to see your cat through a different lens. You can play around with other filters while you’re at it to give your pictures a unique vibe.
11. Kitty-and-Human Yoga Session
Some cats have a certain fondness for yoga mats. If you have one, you may have noticed your pet likes to lie on it or scratch her claws on it. It might be possible to harness that interest for your next photoshoot.
You could use a toy or a treat to attract your cat to the yoga mat and encourage her to strike different poses that could be mistaken for yoga asanas.
If you have two mats and two cats, you could always try to sync them up for a full yoga “class,” but only if you’re up for a challenge!
12. Show Off Your Cat’s Inner Artist
Are you willing to get messy for the perfect photoshoot?
If you answered yes to that question, you’re going to love this idea. Lay out a canvas, paper, or poster board on the floor. Use non-toxic paint that’s safe for your kitty to put her paws in. Then, let her walk across the surface and paint a picture with her paws! All the while, you can take pictures of the process.
This is sure to generate some creative and unique photos you and your cat’s followers will love.
13. Take a Photo of Your Cat’s Silhouette
Playing around with light sources can provide striking images of your cat’s silhouette in profile. You may be able to rig this up with lamps at home facing a blank surface, such as a wall or a hanging sheet. If you’re willing to invest in some special equipment, you can also look into getting a light box that’s big enough for your cat to sit inside. The photos you get out of this will stun you!
14. Show Off Your Cat’s Beach Body!
No, you don’t need to get a bathing suit for your cat to achieve a tropical vibe. Sunglasses, straw hats, palm trees, and catnip cocktails are just a few ideas for your cat’s beach-going look.
If you have access to a pool or, better yet, a beach nearby, you can always use it as a backdrop, but be careful with your cat and your camera by the water!
15. Create Some Su-Purr-Hero Poses!
Cats in capes! What could be better?
This is an easier costume to make if you’re on a budget or don’t feel like purchasing a cat costume. You can make your own capes out of almost anything, like an old sheet or even a kitchen towel. A superhero symbol for your cat’s alter ego would be a nice touch.
To turn this concept on its head, you could also do a Godzilla-style photoshoot where your cat “destroys” a town you’ve built out of toys or miniatures. As any cat owner knows, it’s not hard to get your cat to rampage through something you’ve carefully assembled!
16. Have Your Cats Joined in Holy “Catrimony”
You’ll need two cats for this idea, so if you only have one, you might want to contact a friend to set up a joint shoot because you won’t want to miss out on this opportunity. You don’t have to deck your cats out in full wedding regalia (unless you want to). You can use bow ties, veils, bouquets, or even place a small cushion between the cats with rings on it. The Internet loves a happy meow-iage!
17. Set Up Them for the Ideal Christmas Card
It’s never too early to get your Christmas cards ready to send out to friends and family. How about featuring your cat on your card this year?
You can find plenty of holiday-themed cat apparel in your local stores or online. If your cat cannot tolerate an ugly sweater, you can always go with a bandana that has your favorite Christmas pattern on it or even reindeer antlers. For truly fussy cats, you can always use your tree as a backdrop—you might even get a shot of her playing with an ornament.
18. Stage a Halloween-Themed Photoshoot
Last but certainly not least, Halloween is a great excuse to get your cats decked out for an elaborate photo session. There’s no shortage of feline costumes on the market, so you’ll have your pick of the litter if you’re buying online or at places like PetSmart. If you want to get fancy, you can always make your own costumes. Or, if you’d rather play it classic, put your cat in a pumpkin and call it a day!
Conclusion
The sky’s the limit when it comes to brainstorming ideas for your next feline photoshoot. Even simple tricks can put a new spin on your pictures and add variety to your kitty’s Instagram.
The truth is, no matter where they are or what they are wearing, there’s no such thing as a bad kitty picture. Don’t be afraid to get creative and try something new. We promise the internet will love it!
- See Also: 25 Amazing Hero Cats That Saved Lives
Featured Image Credit: ANURAK PONGPATIMET, Shutterstock
The 18 Great Cat Photography Ideas
