Beginner Cat Photo Skills

Teddy a Rescue Tuxedo Portrait in Progress

Let’s take a quick look at creating a series of cat portraits. I love creating series and I know you will too.

Today’s post addresses the idea of presenting a series of cat photos, in one particular format to make a really positive impression and tell your cat’s story.

Thankful Thursday Graphic at Dash Kitten

What is Image Orientation?

Real Quick!! Let me explain the word ‘orientation‘.

It describes how you look at a simple rectangle. Yoi view it as either a ‘portrait’ or ‘landscape’. This is so much easier to use as a description than “the short side up, erm…. or the long side up, um….or along the side, or…

DEFINITION: Page orientation is the way in which a rectangular page is oriented for normal viewing. The two most common types of orientation are portrait and landscape. The term “portrait orientation” comes from visual art terminology and describes the dimensions used to capture a person’s face and upper body in a picture.

Wikipedia

Now let’s look at some cat capture ideas.

The first two images in this post have a lovely soft focus (bokeh) from my DSLR lens and Teddy looks great set apart from the background. With your DSLR/Mirrorless camera you can give your cat photo a shallow depth of field. Start by using the f stop at f2.8 or f5.6.

For a smartphone? Add softness using your own portrait setting or later in post production with one of the many smartphone photo apps. Look for ‘soft focus’ ‘portrait’ or ‘bokeh’.

Cat Personality Captures

My series of Teddy images have all been posted this year (2024). They capture Teddy’s moods and personality is he continues to settle in and grow with the Dash Kitten Crew. They inspired me to create a short list of projects for you to try:

  • I worked both inside the house and outside in the garden and suggest that you use every location you have. Balcony, catio garden, or ledge by a window – remembering to shoot looking up and down!
  • Use the theme of a ‘cat sleeping pose’ or ‘cat and toys’ if your cats are indoor only.
  • Your cat’s special ‘Uh-oh!’ or “Oh No” look catch it and contrast it with their innocent nap face!
  • A range of expressions. Take your time and collect a variety of looks.
  • A favourite cat tree spot. This is great for giving a cat height, maybe even to your eye level!

As long as your image quality is set reasonably high, on a smartphone and/or a DSLR/Mirrorless camera, you can mix and match captures across your cameras ready to print as cards, or a photo canvas. The details about your photo are all in the image’s EXIF data (often found with a right click or in settings).

CROPPED IMAGE + EXIF CARD

What does Exif data tell you?

An Exif file is a form of data storage that provides specific information about photographs, like the camera settings, time and date, and location where a photo was taken.

Adobe.com
Tuxedo cat wearing Crocs shoes

Finally……

Why Make a Series Anyway?

A series gives you time to focus on a collection that captures your cat’s personality. Doing it as a single orientation gives your work a pleasing visual consistency when the images are collected together and displayed or shown to friends.

A major advantage is that you can create a series over a period of time. The clock isn’t ticking and no-one is waiting on your results. You take your own sweet time, edit as needed and then present your series as printed images or on social media as a slideshow, an Instagram Reel or a TikTok show off post.

Above all, relax and have fun!

7 thoughts on “Teddy a Rescue Tuxedo Portrait in Progress”

  1. Those are wonderful photos of such an adorable sweetie! Thanks for joining Angel Brian’s Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

    Brian’s Home

    Reply
  2. He is most handsome and your photos of him are delightful. I’ve tried using portrait on my phone, and need to experiment more.

    Reply

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