How Do I Take a Prize Winning Cat Photo?

This question was asked by a reader following my thoughts on winning the Kuykendall Image Award recently. I have noted a few reflections on what I think might make a good cat photo.

How do you take a prize winning cat photo?

Let me clear one thing up first. 

What Makes a Prize Winning Photo?

While contests like the Cat Writers’ Association – CWA, and the Mono Awards (black and white), the Pet Photography Awards have a set of rules or terms you need to stick to, photography is a highly subjective art and what one judge will greatly appreciate, might not resonate with or appeal to, another judge.

What Do I Mean by Subjective?

Here’s an example of how unpredictable and subjective judging can be. My submission of a local rescue’s gorgeously adoptable ginger kitten, for this year’s CWA Awards and a black and white more sombre portrait. Each one will appeal to a different person.

An unstaged lucky capture of kitten curiosity that I was really pleased with. It didn’t receive a Certificate of Excellence, but Jack’s senior cat portrait (below it) did. See what I mean? Which do you like? Sit in the judge’s unenviable seat.

What Do You Submit?

Only submit the best work you have that fits within the guidelines of the competition. This does not mean perfect, it means the best work you are happy with, and that you are proud of.

Sharpness helps, as does a focus on your cat’s eyes, but if your photograph captures a stunning moment of beauty or a startling comic moment that is really special – add it to your ‘under consideration’ pile. A prize winning photo is not always the most perfect.

Read the Rules

This is essential. Some competitions demand a certain quality e.g. 72 dpi (low res) or 300 dpi (high res), or a certain size of a certain number of pixels. See what is needed and resize an image or adjust the resolution accordingly.

What Goes Into A Prize Winning Photo?

* Subject
* Intention
* Composition 
* Lighting

All of these play a part and this works for you and your cat photography as much as for high-flying professionals who shoot for newspapers, magazines or portraits.

For cat photography many people are not professionals and may never travel far from home. So remember that location isn’t everything and you don’t have to travel to the Greek Islands or Japan’s Cat Island to capture a prize winning photo. Here’s how I know.

My Muse® Medallion winning series of emergency rescue Sam was shot in one room and on the side of the house that doesn’t get the sun. Critically, it captures not simply Sam’s face but his journey through the damage you can see on his neck and his recovery. It tells a meaningful story of hope and rescue.

If you want to see the range of images that were awarded Certificates of Excellence in this year’s CWA awards check here. Scroll down to Section K1 Single Image. (Each link is clickable to the Certificate of Excellence winner.) remember that each year the judges change and so each year there is a different vibe to the selection of successful Certificate winners.

• Certificate winners go forward for the top award in their category – a Muse® Medallion.

Are Rules Intimidating?

Rules are meant to be helpful and stop you wasting time and money (because, yes, most photography/other competitions require payment. Look for early bird discounts to save $$). To give you an idea of the kind of rules you may encounter, here are the guidelines for the CWA Single Image Category (for 2023). They are clear and simple:

• Without the need for words, a photograph tells a story that delights, moves, amazes, and/or stirs the viewer. A single image, black & white or color, may illustrate a point in a text or stand alone as with greeting cards, book covers, and posters. On its own, it may enhance a blog/website/social media. The photographic artist has unique challenges using shadow, light, tone, and composition to influence the story and mood in the direction they seek to express.

The Issue of AI in Photos

You will find as you read the rules that one thing comes over very clearly. AI (Artificial Intelligence) is not welcome in most photography competitions.

AI is different to the use of masks, dodge and burn and cropping. Many software programs like Photoshop, Affinity Photo and Luminar Neo have access to and are able to adjust many small elements but, the impression I get (and this is a personal observation) is that the usual photo processing tools are OK but radical adjustment using AI leads to disqualification.

So There You Have It

Submitting photos is very much a matter of chance and luck, as well as skill. You stand as good a chance is anyone else. The bigger the competition the fiercer the contest will be and even amateur standards are climbing all the time. BUT…

• Don’t let comparisons intimidate you.
• Don’t be put off by the photos of others.
• DO SUBMIT if you believe your photo is worth the submission fee.

Above all take pride in your photos and the work you do. A photo can be a precious memory, it can win a contest, so stand tall as a cat photographer and submit your best work with pride and hope.