Authenticity Your Major Photo Trend

Tired of seeing the same old cat photos flood your feed? It’s time to embrace the power of authenticity in your cat photos. Don’t worry though, this trend isn’t just for fancy DSLR and mirrorless cameras – every camera can capture the unique spirit of your cat.

Here’s how to make your feline photography truly shine.

How to be Authentic

Cat lovers are quickly learning to judge which photographs are very staged or subjected to a lot of *AI manipulation [ * – definition below post]. These overworked images lack that special and indefinable ‘something’ that keeps its paws firmly on the ground, something more relatable to you and me.

If you are not sure what being authentic means, that’s probably because you are already deep in the trend (yes, really!) It doesn’t matter if your photo is a little blurry, or weirdly off centre, it might tickle a funny bone or make people melt – that is authenticity. One of my most memorable, and terrible, photos is this one.

• Look around the Cat Blogosphere and be inspired by the cats, and other pet bloggers, you see. Look for hashtags like #authenticcatphotos and #catsofinstagram or similar on Threads, Twitter (X) or Blue Sky.
• Check out Murphy at The Island Cats, and Brian’s cat family who show you how a clear portrait or a fun shot can really capture a cat’s purrsonality and keep it real.

You know your cat’s quirks and fun habits, so, capture these real moments. Here’s some ideas to gift people a window into your world:

• One special loving look they have
• A spectacular yawn (raaawwwrr!)
• An over the shoulder glance that looks so cool
• A blurry but oh so active leap after a cat toy or nip ‘nanner

If you can’t get close as your cat moves away, try using your kit/zoom lens (DSLR), or pinch zoom on your smartphone. *Digital zoom is very sensitive so keep a firm hold on your camera.

Here’s one of my favourite ‘authentic’ shots. This is Taz and cat dad Paul. It literally a moment to spot and seize the shot. It is not posed, it just happened and I have used minimal editing. A gentle crop, a little dodging to highlight Taz’s fur and Paul’s face but these are standard editing techniques not AI wizardry.

How many people can identify with the adoring look of a cat for his ‘cat dad’

Being Real Rules!

Embrace the cat photography authenticity movement! Experiment with your own photographs, do silly things with your settings, and share your candid cat photos. Join the growing community of photographers who celebrate the true spirit of the real cats we love.

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Authenticity Definitions

• *AI Manipulation – AI manipulation in cat photography involves using technology to create images that don’t accurately reflect the cat’s true appearance or the reality of the situation. This can include replacing the background, heavy use of filters, changing the cat’s physique, deep fakes (adding cat’s face to another body).
• *Digital Zoom – Hold your camera steady if you are using your smartphone’s digital zoom when you move in for a really closeup shot. Take lots of shots (in burst mode) as digital zoom is sensitive to the slightest movement which can blur a perfect photo. Burst gives you a better chance to pick a great shot from your collection of burst images.