Continuing our pet photography interview series, today we have Julianna Koh of Two Guinea Pigs Pet Photography Studio in Sydney, Australia. Julianna has a wonderful sensitivity for capturing the quirky characteristics of animals. I’m completely in love with the shots of these gorgeous black kitties!

How long have you been photographing pets and how did you get started?
I got my first digital point-and-shoot, a Sony Cyberspace, as a birthday present. When I adopted two guinea pigs in 2003, I was so fascinated by their characters and personalities that I ‘documented’ their habitat, diet, mischievousness, adventures, and expressions. I’ve also photographed pets of friends. The satisfaction and joy of seeing their pet portraits, and my passion and interests in animals made me decide to start up a pet photography business based in Sydney, Australia.

What kind of pet photography do you do? Do you have a specialty?
I don’t specialise in a particular breed or animal. I photograph pets in a non-conventional way (some say quirky) in that I prefer to capture their movements and expressions in the environment they are most comfortable with. It’s like spying on them through the camera lens and seizing every opportunity I can get to frame an image. I would say about 80% of my shoots are candid, where I let them be themselves, sit or play wherever. The other 20% are posed shots where I usually get the pets to move to nearer to where the light is.

Do you do anything special to prepare for a photo shoot with a cat?
I pray. No, just kidding. I don’t think you can specially prepare for a photo shoot except the usual, like check and clean your gear, have plenty of rest before the photo shoot takes place, pack your gear, bring treats and toys, and turn up on time! What helps is I keep practising when I’m not on a photo shoot and I photograph almost anything and everything I fancy.

What was the most challenging cat photo shoot you have done? Any funny stories?
A friend of mine has 7 cats. Not all cats get along well. I wanted to photograph them together but he could only bring the ones that got along into the same room. There was one particular long-haired cat that just couldn’t wait to get out!

Do you have any tips for readers about how to take great photos of their cats?
Be patient and have respect. Treats, sounds, noises can help but they normally work on cats only once, especially the shy or aloof ones. Try and anticipate their moves, get in position to shoot so you don’t miss the moment. If your camera has the continuous shooting mode learn to shoot with it – this feature lets you capture a few frames per second where you can catch unpredictable actions like yawning, licking, etc. Know your camera well — even a point-and-shoot can get surprisingly good results if you learn how to use it. Keep looking through the viewfinder and keep composing and framing. Be sensitive towards the cats’ moods, don’t push if they appear bored, stressed, nervous or tired — if you don’t enjoy the shoot, most likely the cats aren’t enjoying it either.

For the more technically inclined readers, can you please tell us what equipment you use? (camera, lens, lighting, filters, etc.)
For photographing pets, I shoot in manual mode with my Canon 450D and 85mm f/1.2L EF lens. I will bring my Speedlite 580EX but will reserve using it unless I absolutely need to — and when I need to, I’ll bounce it off the ceiling or a white wall. I prefer natural light.

You’re going to love this interview with Toronto-based photographer Holly Sisson, who often incorporates pets into her beautiful family portraits. Holly’s new Siberian kitten, Alice, is also frequently the subject of her amazing work. Holly gives us all sorts of useful technical advice in this interview, so all you budding photographers, enjoy!

How long have you been photographing pets and how did you get started?
I purchased my first Canon DSLR in August 2006, and started shooting professionally in Toronto the next June (2007). I love to incorporate pets into my family sessions, as they are often the first ‘babies’ of the house, and part of the family. In my home we have had a few different pets before our Siberian cat, Alice arrived. I just love animals in general, so have photographed fish, hamsters, horses, dogs and, of course, cats!

What kind of pet photography do you do? Do you have a specialty?
For the most part, pets are captured as part of my family photography, but I am very interested in pet photography on its own, and always open to a family pet photography session. Since I love all animals, I don’t have a specialty, happy to photograph any and all pets/animals!

Do you do anything special to prepare for a photo shoot with a cat?
Preparing for a pet photo shoot, in general, would be similar to doing a family shoot. I would discuss with the owner the temperament/personality of their pet (which I do for children as well, very helpful to know prior to the shoot!). Depending on the location (and temperament/personality), I decide which lenses to bring along with my primary Canon body, the 1D MkIV, and my backup Canon, the 5D. It’s very important to have backups, as equipment can fail at any time.

For a pet shoot I would definitely bring my favorite lens, my Canon 85mm f1.2L lens, as it is very bright and excellent for low light conditions. It has wonderful bokeh, which is the background blur you can achieve by shooting with an SLR camera. This is important as it helps to isolate your subject, bringing the focus to them and making the background much less distracting. I would bring my Canon 24-70mm f2.8L lens, which is great for wider angle, and close-up shots. The advantage of a zoom, over a fixed focal length (like the 85mm f1.2L), is that it can make it easier to capture the shot. With a fixed focal lens, you have to move with your feet which is sometimes not possible, and can be distracting to the cat.

I would also bring my Canon 100mm f2.8 macro lens, to capture the amazing eyes of a cat. I could do close ups of cats’ eyes, and never grow tired of it, they really are the windows to the soul.

I would also bring along a specialty lens called a Lensbaby. The Lensbaby has a selective ’sweet spot’, in which that area is in focus, and everything around it is out-of-focus. I love it for the creative options it gives, it can be great for focusing on select areas, for example the whiskers.

What was the most challenging cat photo shoot you have done? Any funny stories?
Cats, more then almost any other pet, can be extremely challenging just by their very nature. My Siberian, Alice, true to her breed, is very tolerant and good natured. She is not shy, or skittish. Of course the same cannot be said for all cats. I’ve been fortunate that the cats that I have photographed have not been tricky subjects. I have no doubt that there are probably cats out there that couldn’t be photographed professionally, as the whole production of a shoot would scare them to the extreme. A professional camera body and lens are large, and foreign to a cat that is not used to them. I have a Canon 70-200 mm f2.8L IS lens, that I usually use for dog photography. I could see that it could be helpful for a shy cat, assuming there is room to work with that focal length, as it allows me to be much further from the subject then my other lenses.

Do you have any tips for readers about how to take great photos of their cats?
Absolutely! The advantage you, as the owner, have over a professional is two fold. One, your cat knows you, trusts you, and is comfortable with you. Two, you know your cat! Typically the images that have the most impact, when you look back at them in years to come, are images that truly capture your cat as they are, their personality, their quirks, etc. Photographs are amazing in that they can transport you back in time, in an instant. Capture your cat in their favorite lounging spot, lying in their funny sleeping position, sitting waiting for dinner (or meowing, as I’m sure Alice isn’t the only one to do so!), etc.

The challenge, if you do not have professional equipment, is working with the limitations of the equipment you do have. If you have a point and shoot, it can be frustrating to capture action, as the camera is slow to shoot compared to an SLR. You could try to pre-focus on a spot where you know the action is going to take place. If you have someone helping you, for example they are playing with your cat while you photograph, you could try to push down halfway on the shutter in the area where the action is taking place. Then have your helper get your cat to that spot. The beauty of digital photography is you can shoot, and shoot, and shoot, and not worry about development costs. Just take an abundance of photos!

Working in the best light possible is extremely important as well. Point and shoot cameras do not perform well in low-light conditions, and you’ll want to avoid the on-camera flash, as it just doesn’t do a good job (shadows, red-eye, not to mention you may frighten your cat).

The other challenge to a P & S camera is depth of field. P & S’s are great at wide angle shots, because they have great depth-of-field, meaning everything is in focus. But you can not capture that beautiful close-up with the background elements out-of-focus (that amazing bokeh), as they are just not capable of doing that. Given that, it is doubly important to photograph your cat in a clean, non-distracting area. Watch out for background clutter. Make sure, when you are reviewing your images, that you check the background for distraction.

I would suggest working to a P & S’s strengths. Do the wide angle ‘environmental’ shots. Make sure to keep composition rules in mind (i.e. it’s generally not a good idea to center your subject, make sure to get down on the same level as your pet, if you shoot from above, shoot from directly above, make it work for the shot).

I believe that some P & S’s are quite good at macro, so focus in tightly on your subject, fill the frame. If your cat likes to sleep by a window, use that to advantage for macro shots, as then you’ll be more likely to capture ‘catch lights’ in the eyes, which bring your subject to life.

For the more technically inclined readers, can you please tell us what equipment you use? (camera, lens, lighting, filters, etc.)

I shoot with Canon equipment, I have the following:

• Primarily camera body is the Canon EOS 1D MkIV. This camera can shoot 10/sec, and has a 1.3 crop factor (focal length x 1.3, e.g. 100mm lens becomes a 130mm lens)
• Backup camera body is the Canon EOS 5D. This is a full frame body, which is great for wide angle shots.
• Canon 85mm f1.2L lens. This is my FAVORITE lens. Amazing in low light, and incredible bokeh.
• Canon 24-70mm f2.8L lens. This is my second most used lens.
• Canon 100mm macro f2.8 lens. Always bring this lens to shoots with pets and children. It is also a great portrait lens.
• Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS lens. This one is fabulous for certain shoots, i.e. a dog shoot in the park.
• Canon 50mm f1.4. This is my least used lens, it’s only advantage is the shorter focal length for tighter environments, as it is a bright lens, but it just does not compare to the quality of image I can achieve with the 85 f1.2L lens.
• Lensbaby Composer, with telephoto, wide angle, macro and fisheye lens attachments. Fun lens, with the macro kit anything and everything can be fun to photograph.
• Canon 580EX II Speedlite. I prefer to use natural light, as much as possible, but can definitely achieve a better quality image by bouncing this off a wall while shooting.

For our next pet photography Q & A we have New York city-based photographer Brooke Jacobs. Brooke has been photographing pets for years and shares her experience with us today, along with a special giveaway at the end.

How long have you been photographing pets and how did you get started?
After graduating with a degree in photography from Bard College, and moving to NYC, I continued to do my documentary photography while working in the industry. After several years I knew I was uninterested in the typical commercial end of photography and knowing I couldn’t make a living off my documentary work, I started thinking outside the box. Many of my photographs at the time, all done on the streets of NY, included animals and their relationship to the scene at hand. I started focusing specifically on pet portraits in 2003, after having my first dog portraits published in an address book and box set of cards. The joy of seeing my work published and the privilege of capturing images I know will be cherished for years to come sealed the deal for me.

What kind of pet photography do you do? Do you have a specialty?
While I would say I do any kind of pet photography, I do specialize in traditional portraiture, capturing the pets emotional and expressive sensibilities. There are two sides to my work. Half of my work (less so during the winter season) is done in the pets natural environment, park or home and the other half is studio, where I focus on creative ideas and traditional portraiture work.

Do you do anything special to prepare for a photo shoot with a cat?
Yes! Cats are particular and it is important that the cat wants to participate. I tend to work in areas the cat is comfortable with (favorite chair/couch) and create a calm and quiet area. I like to set up my equipment first then relax on the floor and learn a little about the cat. If the cat likes treats and play, they are ready and willing to follow my lead and go where the fun is. Occasionally there is a cat that doesn’t care for either and I have to win them over with love, patience and lots of petting.

What was the most challenging cat photo shoot you have done? Any funny stories?
Being a cat person, I love working with cats because they are a challenge and I get a kick out of their quirky ways. One thing pet photographers have in common is not only their love for animals but an excitement for a challenge. You NEVER know what is going to happen and that is the fun and uniqueness of every shoot. That said, most of my cat shoots have gone well. I had one kitten that was very shy and cowered down and looked miserable. I turned him around so he wasn’t facing me or the ‘action’ and got one shot of him peaking back before he jumped off the set, hid and was left alone. That shot is one of my all time favorite images. [little tuxedo guy on the blue background below]

I’ve only had one case where the cat hissed the whole time, and boy did I get a great shot of that. I had a friend bring her new kitten Princess over for a studio shoot — I tend to only work with kittens in studio since most cats don’t like to be taken out of their element. She was a little older than I was told (or they knew) and wasn’t happy about this new experience at all. As she jetted off the set, I was sure I saw something extra under her tail and asked them how they knew their Princess was a Princess and not a Prince? They said they had gone to the vet and they knew she was a she. As they left, I mumbled under my breath good-bye Prince (pause) ess. Found out a week later that Princess was a Prince after all.

Do you have any tips for readers about how to take great photos of their cats?
I have several tips. If your cat needs grooming, groom him/her before the shoot. If grooming is an ordeal for the cat do it a day or two ahead of the shoot so there is no drama the day of the shoot. The shoot should be a fun time to bond with your cat and be a positive experience filled with love, treats, toys and patience.

I have lighting equipment that doesn’t flash right in front of a cats face. If you are using a point and shoot, turn the flash off and choose an area that gets good natural light. That area should also be clutter free.

Cats don’t like being forced to do things so make sure you keep it fun and interesting for the cat (and yourself) with treats and toys and laughter. If your not having fun, your cat isn’t having fun!

Enter to Win Brooke Jacobs Kitty Post-its!

Brook sells some of her kitten images on cute little post-it note pads through her Etsy shop and she’s offering some for a giveaway! Two lucky readers will each receive a pair of kitten post-its. To enter, please leave a comment on this post. The winners will be chosen in a random drawing on April 4. One entry per person. This giveaway is open to readers everywhere.

We have a new installment in our pet photography interview series, this time with Ingrid Nevinger of 9 Lives Photography. Ingrid specializes in cat photography, plus she volunteers her time with several cat charity organizations, helping to photograph adoptable cats, definitley putting the cats in their best light. She also put together a Blurb book, Faces of Felines Inc., with a sampling of the photos taken at this Chicago no-kill shelter.

You have to check out Ingrid’s blog Cat Nipped, where she posts portraits of people with their cats along with a little interview about the image and the cat-human relationship.

Ingrid also plays in a string ensemble, Elle Musique, that donates their musical services to Chicago-area animal shelters.

How long have you been photographing pets and how did you get started?
I’ve been photographing animals, especially cats, since I received my first point-and-shoot camera as a child. During high school and early college, I studied darkroom photography and often used my cats as models. After taking a long hiatus from photography, I picked up my first digital camera only a few years ago. Virtually every week for the last year, I’ve visited Felines Inc., a no-kill Chicago cat shelter, to photograph its many residents. Felines Inc. is such a wonderful environment. Since it is cageless the cats know each other and are completely at ease. I capture them engaged in their normal activities of playing, grooming, napping, etc. I then sell their portraits and donate the proceeds back to Felines Inc. Recently, I’ve also started photographing cats from Animal Care League in Oak Park, IL and Cats-Are-Purrsons-Too.

What kind of pet photography do you do? Do you have a specialty?
Feline, definitely feline (hey, I’m a “cat person!”) Although I enjoy photographing humans, dogs and assorted other subjects, my real passion is capturing the character, spirit and extraordinary beauty of cats.

Do you do anything special to prepare for a photo shoot with a cat?
Since every cat possesses a district personality, I first spend time sans camera “making friends” (talking, petting, playing). I wish to gain my subject’s trust, and to make him feel comfortable in my presence. Upon introducing my camera, I always let him check it out. I’ve know many a cat who’s loved to headbutt the lens and chew the strap! To engage a cat’s curiosity and appetite, I frequently bring a variety of toys and treats. I also wear clothes I don’t mind getting dirty, as I follow my subjects everywhere and often end up crawling on the floor or ground.

What was the most challenging cat photo shoot you have done? Any funny stories?
A friend of mine has a lovely white cat named Marshmallow. I wanted to photograph them together for my blog, Cat Nipped. My friend warned me that Marshmallow didn’t take well to strangers, but I insisted that we would hit it off. After all, I had Da Bird (a great toy which no cat had ever resisted). Well, after hour upon hour of trying to lure him out (including “ignoring” him) I had to confess that I had met my match. One day, over the course of many, many visits, I will get that shot!

Do you have any tips for readers about how to take great photos of their cats?

• Cats can be unpredictable, so have your camera ready and seize the moment.
• Photograph in natural light if possible, as flash can frighten cats and cause red eye.
• If you have the option to shoot in aperture priority or manual mode, use the widest f-stop setting on your camera (this allows more light to hit the sensor).
• Capture your cat from every possible angle.
• Focus on just one body part ~ a fluffy tail, single eye or outstretched paw.
• Avoid cluttered backgrounds.
• Focus on expression, not technical perfection.
• Take lots of pictures (you will never regret having too many, only too few).

Continuing our pet photography interview series, today we have Sarah Sorrentino of SSP Photography Pets. Sarah combines her life-long love of animals with her photography skills to create some really spectacular images of pets. She also works with several animal welfare organizations in Atlanta, including Animal Action Rescue and FurKids. I am completely in love with the images above of her adorable kitty, Cat the Cat! Read more about him here.

How long have you been photographing pets and how did you get started?

I graduated with my photography degree from Columbia College Chicago in 2002. I began in the wedding photography field, and started my photography business after moving to Atlanta in 2003. Weddings were fantastic to photograph – so much energy, emotion, and humanity all wrapped up in one day – but the passion I had in the beginning just wasn’t quite there as much after I started shooting for a living. So I decided to take my focus in a new direction, and my life-long love for animals quickly led me to pet photography. Spending my time making new furry friends here in Atlanta and a bit in Chicago as well, and capturing their personalities for their moms and dads to cherish has been such a joy and I know I’ll continue to love this job for years to come.

What kind of pet photography do you do? Do you have a specialty?

My work is completely spontaneous and all about having fun! I don’t like to do any “posing” at all… my goal is to have a great time with the pets and the pets’ people. Out of spending a fun day together, and observing all of the little quirks and unique aspects of each pet’s personality, we can get the most natural and accurate record of who that pet is and what he means to his owner – and that is the whole idea. I also like to make images that might not be “portraits” technically speaking –  maybe a close shot of just whiskers, or an abstracted view of markings on fur — but the overall mood and feel of the photograph captures the spirit of the animal. To me, these are the best pieces to transform into artwork for your home. And for me the shoot is only the beginning of the creative process. I love finding unique ways to bring the images to life, whether it’s the perfect way to frame a classic print, printing on alternative materials like metal, or bringing a whole story together in a coffee table book featuring your pets. Great imagery is just a starting point!

Do you do anything special to prepare for a photo shoot with a cat?

The biggest thing I remember for cat shoots is patience! You have to work on the cat’s schedule, not your own. Dogs are much more eager to please their owners, so you can coax them to participate in the shoot far more easily than cats. If a cat isn’t in the mood for having a camera pointed towards him, I’m just going to have to wait awhile! Of course, snacks and toys can always help a bit too.

What was the most challenging cat photo shoot you have done? Any funny stories?

So far I’ve been lucky to work with some relatively easy-going cats, even if it did mean practicing some of the aforementioned patience. One cat I photographed was completely startled by the sight of my camera, and for the first part of our session he just sat straight up and stared at it all wide-eyed and afraid. The best thing I could to was to shoot him as he was — and I ended up getting a hilarious shot out of it that his mom just loved! After awhile he warmed up just fine and we were able to finish the shoot as planned and captured the full range of his expressions…but the deer-in-headlights pic really captured a sweet part of his personality and ended up being one of mom’s favorite shots.

Do you have any tips for readers about how to take great photos of their cats?

Definitely use plenty of natural light — cats do not like flashes! If the cat feels like he’s being forced to do something he doesn’t want to do, he’ll be out of there. So make it fun and interesting for the cat — really just play and interact with him the way you normally would; and remember that the shot of the kitty looking straight into the camera is not the only great shot to go for. Just shoot what the cat loves doing to get the best portrait of what your pet is really all about. Those are the shots you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

For the second interview in our pet photography Q & A series, I’d like to introduce Michelle Brodsky from Phoenix, Arizona. Michelle is a photographer for one of my favorite local no-kill shelters, the Arizona Animal Welfare League. She also donates 10% of all her photography fees to AAWL — such generosity and incredible talent! What more could you ask for?

How long have you been photographing pets and how did you get started?

I actually took the scenic route to animal photography by way of an attempt at Zoology, a degree from graphic design school, then finally graduating from photography school. My passion in life has always been animals. Being a Phoenix native it started out with scaly creatures that you find in our desert and it just went from there. I have also always been creative, so once I found that I could do a pretty good job with a camera I realized how I could follow my passion. I’ve been photographing animals since I was in photography school. I would sneak all kinds of things into the studio. Officially it has been my full time job for a little over a year now. Even though I am located in Phoenix I do not get much call for photographing desert dwelling creatures.

What kind of pet photography do you do? Do you have a specialty?

My husband calls what I do “plain air” photography. I’m not really sure what that means. I call it “on location.” I like to keep animals as comfortable as possible by photographing in their environments with natural light — that is what animals are used to. I like to capture the expressions animals make. My favorite part is that brief moment when they are interacting with their owners and everyone forgets that I’m there. I aim to capture the emotion between the two. Since I am an animal lover first there is no animal I will not photograph. (I have to admit, though, there is something about me that birds don’t really seem to care for.)

Do you do anything special to prepare for a photo shoot with a cat?

Twice a week I photograph for the Arizona Animal Welfare League which is a local no-kill shelter. I get a LOT of practice photographing cats. I have found they are usually easier than the dogs. Cats are a much more curious creature than dogs so my biggest issue is trying to keep them from getting too close or climbing on me. I’ve learned that you can usually get a dog to cooperate, but after a while a cat just will not do what it does not want to do. I guess for me the preparation is all mental, including a lot of wishful thinking. It always helps to have the mindset that I might not get the shot I came for because the cat might not want to be in the spot light that day.

What was the most challenging cat photo shoot you have done? Any funny stories?

I have to say I haven’t had any challenging cat photo shoots. I’ve photographed both challenging and funny looking cats, but the shoots weren’t challenging. The most challenging part about photographing cats is their ability to blink when the flash goes off or to not blink, yet give you the kitty cat evil eye. Where dogs usually look depressed or sad, cats usually look like they are secretly clawing your eyes out in their minds.

Do you have any tips for readers about how to take great photos of their cats?

The best thing I can tell readers is do not be afraid to get dirty. These are animals, not people. They won’t judge you for lying on the floor with them or crawling under a bed to capture how they are sleeping. They don’t care if you have to kneel in the mud to get that perfect shot and your pants get dirty. People are always apologizing to me when I get dirty during photo shoots and I always say, “hey, it’s part of the job.” Cats also see things from different perspectives. Don’t be afraid to climb up on something and shoot down or lie down and shoot up. The final thing is that photography is the art of patience. Don’t think you are going to get a great shot in 5 minutes. The more you rush, the more frustrated you will get. Always remember to breathe. You are dealing with cats after all.

See more of Michelle’s photography on her web site www.cowdreamz.com.

I’ve always been fascinated by pet photography, marveling at the exquisite photos some photographers can make of subjects who may be less than cooperative. To investigate the topic, I’ve rounded-up several pet photographers who have what I’d call a modern style. I’ll be interviewing each of them in a Q & A series. This first interview is with San Francisco-based photographer Edyta Szyszlo. Edyta is a Moderncat fan and you may have seen photos of her two moderncats Desher, an Abyssinian, and Boris, a Russian Blue, in the Moderncat gallery. Edyta currently focuses on portraits of people and pets, as well as wedding and product photography. Her background in fine art is obvious in the beautiful photos she captures.

How long have you been photographing pets and how did you get started?

I’ve been in the photography business since 2005. I started working professionally in San Francisco doing commercial photography (food, products, etc.) and some portrait work, but I quickly realized that my passion was in creating portraits of expressions, both human and pet. I moved to Chicago for a couple years specializing in weddings and portraits and now I’m back in San Francisco. As a child growing up in Missouri, I used my dad’s zoom lens Minolta, disposable cameras, and pinhole cameras to photograph our pets, plants, and my friends (after giving them a makeover). I guess it was just natural for me to pursue photography in college and now here I am and loving what I do!

What kind of pet photography do you do? Do you have a specialty?

In general, my style is very much documentary and photo journalistic. I believe in capturing my subject matter in its most comfortable environment and not forcing much direction. You’ll find me running around with dogs at the park or sitting next to a cat’s scratching post or favorite recliner. My goal is to document the pet’s personality and expressions, whether they are a scaredy-cat, ruff-n-tumble or a big hunk of snuggly love! In the end, I want the owner to look at the photograph and feel the memory or personality of their pet.

Do you do anything special to prepare for a photo shoot with a cat?

Well, we all know we love our cats for their unique personalities (wink wink)!  And while we can expect the cat to be a little stubborn, I find that most react well to treats and toys. I usually ask the owners to have favorite items (such as blankets & toys) close by so there isn’t a lot of movement during the shoot. We don’t want to play a chasing game, but instead create an area of comfort that the cat automatically finds interesting. I always make sure I know about the cat’s personality so that I’m able to read them faster. After we do a few studio-type shots with a white backdrop, I move into a ‘you go, I follow’ approach.

What was the most challenging cat photo shoot you have done? Any funny stories?

Surprisingly, I haven’t had a super challenging cat photo shoot (knock on wood).  Having a big camera with a flash can be scary for just about anyone or anything, so that’s always a hurdle that the cat and I have to overcome. Most of the time, the cats’ bellies become full of treats! It’s funny to watch the cat go from scared, to curious, to giving me something in return, to full and happy, thus lazy.

Certain cat breeds are more socially curious. I have an Abyssinian who loves adventure, climbing and people, so she tends to create her own dramas, which are fabulous to photograph! All cats have their little quirks like plastic obsessions, certain smells, or ways they like to be rubbed. My Russian Blue loves the smell and sound of nail files, so I can usually bribe him into some photos with that (I know funny and gross!)

Do you have any tips for readers on how to take great photos of their cats?

First and foremost, lighting! Lighting is key for the perfect photo, and I highly recommend seeking natural light. Use a flash only if you need. Second, relate to your pet on a personal level — get down on the floor and connect to their world. See what they see. And third, have patience! Most of us don’t like having our picture taken, so you have to approach your cat in the same way. Blend playtime and photo-taking together, let them get used to your camera — it will make for memorable photos. Hope that helps!

Edyta would like to offer Moderncat readers in the San Francisco Bay area and in the Chicago area 10% off a pet photo session. Just mention Moderncat when you contact her.

Read more interviews in our pet photography series here.