Taking Better picture of kitten cat.

The art of cat photography is being able to capture the personality of your pet and 'see' the potential of a picture long before the shutter is pressed. Most modern cameras are autofocus, greatly reducing the chance of blurred photos, but do take care to make sure the camera is held very still while you take the picture.

The most common fault is when the photographer fails to get down to the cat's eye level. In some cases this may mean lying on your stomach. Alternatively, settle the cat on a raised area such as a sofa. Before starting, here are a few tips:

Be patient.
You must remain calm and try to anticipate your cat's movements and mood to ensure success. . Be prepared to take plenty of pictures. Make sure you have sufficient film or memory cards and charged batteries. There is nothing worse than your cat suddenly turning into a film star, only for the low battery warning light to flash!

Get to know your camera.
When the action starts you won't have time to keep checking the settings or the manual. Cats are very sensitive to having their personal space invaded; they may turn to avoid eye contact or run away. If your pet looks uncomfortable move further back and use a longer lens. . Keep sessions short. Most animals have very short attention spans and soon become bored. . Use toys to keep your cat alert but ask a handler to help out rather than trying to do everything. . Finally, never let your cat get distressed. No picture is worth that.

Indoors or outdoors?
I would always opt to take photos of cats outside. They are in their natural environment stalking through the flowerbeds or dozing in the shade and you do not have to worry about using flash. Many people think that the best time to take photos is on a really bright sunny day but a good covering of high cloud acts like a massive diffuser softening the sunlight and is much better. Early morning or later in the afternoon is the best time to get out with the camera and, if possible, try to avoid the strong midday sun  that said, if a good photo opportunity comes forget the rules and start snapping.
If the cat is settled or dozing do not be too quick to attract it's attention. Get down to the cat's eye level and, using the zoom on your camera, focus closely on its face using the eyes as the main point of focus. This will create a very intimate portrait. When you have this shot in the bag, give a very quiet squeak or just whisper the cat's name and as he opens his eyes fire the shutter button. Do everything very softly and slowly, as you don't want the cat to jump up and run off. To get successful action shots of cats can be very difficult. The best time to try is when they are playing with toys or stalking through the bushes. You will need to adopt a 'stalk and shoot' technique, which means following your cat (at a suitable distance) and taking photos as opportunities arise. Avoid bright flowers or plants in the background, as these will distract from the main subject.
A good technique is what I call 'frames within frames'. Basically try to photograph your cat within a frame, such as some leaves, a plant or even a wooden chair. This focuses the viewpoint onto the cat. Once you start looking at this type of image it can become quite addictive, so be warned!
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There may be times when you will have to photograph your cat indoors and need artificial light such as flash. 'Red eye' in humans is known as 'green eye' in cats. This is where light is reflected from the back of the retina. It is worse if the cat looks directly at the camera. Most cameras with built-in flashguns have red eye reduction mode and this can help.
If you plan to download images to a computer an image manipulation programme could correct it, but the best way is to avoid flash unless you can afford an advanced flashgun or unit. Most cats sunbathe and if they find a sunny, spot you should not need the flash. When taking pictures indoors avoid untidy backgrounds and heavy patterns. Also, avoid photographing a dark cat on a dark background or light coloured cats on light backgrounds, unless you have professional studio facilities.

A popular technique called 'high key' can work well with white cats. By flooding an area with lots of light and using a white backdrop the resulting image will be something very different and quite special. This may be beyond the skills of an amateur but if your skills develop or you take your cat for a professional sitting it is worth trying. What you will need Digital cameras have improved dramatically and even modestly priced cameras can give great results. Check the detail, (or resolution), it can capture, known as mega pixels. Depending on your budget, look for a camera with not less than four mega (million) pixels - six or even eight will be even better if you can afford it and will allow you to make bigger prints from the digital file. The biggest advantage of digital cameras is that you can check the pictures as you take them and dump any you don't want. You also don't need to worry how much film you're using.

The preview function allows you to experiment and immediately see what will and won't work.
Once you have downloaded a photo to your computer you can create a multitude of effects using an image manipulation programme, such as Photoshop Elements, which costs around £60. You can also email photos to friends and family anywhere in the world. Always burn (copy) a CD with precious images on it to keep as a permanent back-up just in case there is a problem with your computer's hard drive. One thing is certain; if you do not keep your camera at hand and ready to use you will miss that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so be prepared.

_{source Your Cat Mag.}