PURR-FECT PORTRAITS

Mike Harris shows you how to photograph your kitten indoors, with top tips for capturing images that are the cat's pyjamas

Even those who claim not to be cat lovers can’t resist kittens. But while kittens can be endlessly entertaining they grow up extremely fast, and it’s only natural that we want to preserve this magical but fleeting period by taking lots of photos of them.

However, if your cat isn’t old enough to venture outdoors, or is an indoor cat, it can be challenging to photograph them – it’s even been reported that black cats are being shunned by the social media obsessed, simply because they’re harder to photograph. However, as our images of adorable kitty Maggie proves, photographing a black cat indoors really isn’t that difficult. And if you’re a dog lover, the techniques in this project are entirely transferable, so your pet pooch needn’t feel left out.

It’s thought that the bright burst of flash can prove harmful to the eyesight of very young animals, and we didn’t want to risk scaring our timid subject either, so we stuck to window light and continuous lighting for our shoot; the latter can help brighten dark areas of your house, but if you don’t own any lights you can still take beautiful images using only window light, and optionally a reflector.

Young animals aren’t always adept at following directions. You can try to entice them by using treats or calling for their attention, but always remember that their wellbeing comes first, so make sure they’re comfortable, and you’ll reap better results. Let’s photograph some felines!

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH A PLAYFUL PET

1 PLAY DATE

Kittens and puppies have lots of energy, and can be nervous or excited around new people.Having their owner nearby may help them feel more comfortable, and we'd recommend letting them get used to you before you take any pictures. We played with Maggie using her favourite toy, and within a few minutes any reservations she had disappeared completely.

2 TRASH THE FLASH