This one’s for the rescues and fosters out there who hope to market their rescue for adoption…or you just want to polish up on your photography skills to capture your furbaby in all its glory! All too often we are sent photos of rescue cats that are simply not usable. Some well-shot photos can be a lifesaver for a rescued cat as pictures are the first emotional lock that is created with a person looking to adopt one of our advertised rescued cats. The good news is that you don’t need any special equipment, a smartphone, good natural lighting, and props are all you need to get going. Here are some simple tips to follow to ensure you capture your rescue’s best side:
1. No Flash:
Before you start make sure the flash is switched off.
2. Make them swipe right:
Imagine you are shooting pictures for a dating site; you wouldn’t upload dark and blurred pictures of yourself so you must capture your foster/rescue cat’s best side.
3. Use props:
Anything on a string or stick which you can use to catch the cat’s attention. Dangle it in front of the camera lens and click away to capture those action shots.
4. Golden hour:
The best time to capture the best pictures is either before sunrise or a couple of hours before sunset. For darker cats adjust the brightness on your camera so it allows more light into the lens to capture the cat’s unique markings and details.
5. Get creative:
In addition to adding props, you can use colourful blankets and cushions to soften the roughness of what used to be a colony cat or stray cat.
6. Unspoken Tales:
The eyes tell the stories of longing to be fulfilled, focus on the face and capture the face and eyes – the portrait function on a smartphone can help you achieve the desired results.
7. For videos:
You can use the above tips, plus capture some of the cats being handled so the adopter can see human-cat interactions and some catching the cat’s most unique little quirks!
8. Location is everything:
Cats in a new environment are bound to be nervous and scared so the photos must be taken in a known territory rather than a studio as it doesn’t depict the true personality of a cat being in a home environment.
9. Drop and squat:
Some cats like to be up in high places such as a tall cat tree, but shooting from a low point of view help capture what life looks like from their angle and perspective.
One final word of advice...don't dress them up for goodness sake!
Happy snapping to complete that adoptable kitty profile!