22 Great Cat Photography Ideas for Your Next Photoshoot: Try Them Today (With Pictures)

Cats have dominated the internet since the internet existed. Memes, funny videos, and photos are more valuable online currencies than bitcoin.

If you’re a cat owner, you probably love taking pictures of your cat. Your cat might even have her own Instagram. Showing off the perfect picture of your feline friend is irresistible, especially if you’ve caught her in just the right pose or curled up in the cutest way. And the good news is that the internet can’t get enough of it.

Sometimes, it may feel like you’ve taken every possible picture of your cat: every angle, every yawn, every sunny spot in your house. If you’re looking to brainstorm for your next kitty photoshoot, look no further. We’ve got 22 awesome ideas to show off your cat in her best light.

This list ranges in difficulty from simple (all you’ll need is your phone and your environment) to complex (props, costumes, or special equipment may be required). There’s something here for everyone, no matter how much time, energy, or money you want to put into it.

The 22 Great Cat Photography Ideas

1. In the Window

Cats love to spend time looking out the window. Your cat may even have a favorite windowsill she likes to rest on or use as a perch to menace birds. You’ve probably already taken plenty of pictures of her in this window.

But have you photographed her from the outside? A tried-and-true method for spicing up your pictures is to go outside while your kitty is relaxing near a window. You may see her in a different light!

2. Playtime

Another easy way to get exciting shots is to take pictures while your kitty is playing with her favorite toys.

Strings, wands, kickers, battery-powered critters—any toy can bring out different expressions and poses out of your cat. You can even recruit a friend to to move around and take pictures from all angles while you control the toy’s movements.

3. Hide-&-Seek

The furniture you have around your house may present more opportunities than you realize. Try taking photos of your cat seen “through” various objects, such as table legs, under the bed, or peeking into the cabinets. Sometimes you just need to do some feline feng shui and move things around to get those creative juices flowing!

4. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Animals have different reactions when confronted with a mirror. Some don’t even see themselves on the glass, whereas others will try to threaten or play with their own reflections.

If you haven’t tested this out with your cat yet, you should do so with your camera at the ready. Even if your kitty doesn’t react to itself in the mirror, you’ll still be able to get a few cute shots before the moment ends.

5. Making Biscuits

It’s one of the most iconic things your cat can do: kneading her little paws into a soft surface, like a blanket, pillow, or textured sweater. If you haven’t taken pictures of your cat in the middle of a baker’s dozen, you should give it a try. Pull out her favorite biscuit-making blanket and get some photos while she works!

Bonus points: if you can get your hands on a tiny apron, this would be the perfect chance to level up your cat photography game. Plus, it would incredibly cute.

6. If I Fits, I Sits

Cats sitting in weird places is one of the internet’s finest memes. If your kitty has a penchant for curling up in strange spots, use it to your advantage! Set out items you know your cat won’t be able to resist, such as boxes, bowls, baskets, or anything else you can find.

If you’re lucky enough to have a kitten, don’t hesitate to put it in the smallest objects you could imagine. The internet loves a cat in a teacup.

7. Reacting to Food

Who doesn’t remember the hilarious video of the cat scared of cucumbers? You may already know if your cat has an aversion to—or affinity for—a particular food. Even if you don’t, you may be able to capture some comical photos of your cat reacting to various fruits and vegetables.

She might crinkle her nose, breathe in through her mouth, or even jump several feet into the air. No matter what the reaction, it’s bound to look great on camera!

8. Get Outside

Venturing outside of your home and into the great outdoors can be an excellent way to photograph your cat in a new setting. If you have a yard, take your kitty out for a supervised photo session. If not, pay a visit to a local park with your cat in a harness or on a leash. Let her explore to her heart’s content, all while you capture the moment. You may find that your cat loves the outing so much that you might want to make it a regular thing!

9. Lost in a Good Book

There’s nothing more entertaining than a cat doing human activities. An easy scenario to capture with items you already have around the house is your cat reading a book. It may take a little set-up, but if you can get it to work, you’ll have precious photos of your cat getting lost in the classics or in the latest James Patterson novel.

If you’re handy with Photoshop, you could even make a “Read” poster, like you’d see at the library!

10. The View from Below

If you have a glass table, you have a golden photo opportunity on your hands. You may have seen pictures circulating on the web of cats sitting on glass tables, but the picture is taken from underneath the table. This results in a hilarious photo of your cat’s paws and belly smashed up against the glass. It’s only possible to achieve if you have a glass surface that you can get underneath, but it’s worth it if you can find one.

11. Black and White

Sometimes all you need to do to freshen up your photoshoot is to change the filter on your phone. Going black and white is a simple way to see your cat through a different lens. You can play around with other filters while you’re at it to give your pictures a unique vibe.

12. New Baby

If you’ve got a sense of humor and you want to see that reflected in your photos, you might try a parody photoshoot or two. One relatively easy idea, depending on how much your cat likes to be held, is to simulate the “newborn baby” photoshoot, one that new parents like to do when they bring home their baby. If your cat is calm and tolerant, you can swaddle her up in a blanket and take pictures of you rocking the kitty in your arms. This is one project you get to be involved in, too!

13. Cat Yoga

Some cats have a certain fondness for yoga mats.If you have one, you may have noticed your pet likes to lie on it or scratch her claws on it. It might be possible to harness that interest for your next photoshoot.

You could use a toy or a treat to attract your cat to the yoga mat and encourage her to strike different poses that could be mistaken for yoga asanas.

If you have two mats and two cats, you could always try to sync them up for a full yoga “class,” but only if you’re up for a challenge!

14. Arts and Crafts

Are you willing to get messy for the perfect photoshoot?

If you answered yes to that question, you’re going to love this idea. Lay out a canvas, paper, or poster board on the floor. Use non-toxic paint that’s safe for your kitty to put her paws in. Then let her walk across the surface and paint a picture with her paws! All the while, you can take pictures of the process.

This is sure to generate some creative and unique photos you and your cat’s followers will love.

15. Silhouettes

Playing around with light sources can provide striking images of your cat’s silhouette in profile. You may be able to rig this up with lamps at home facing a blank surface, such as a wall or a hanging sheet. If you’re willing to invest in some special equipment, you can also look into getting a light box that’s big enough for your cat to sit inside. The photos you get out of this will stun you!

16. Tea Party

If you really want to take the next step in cat photography, props and costumes can help you get there. You may have to set up the scene before you get your cat involved, and you’ll have to take pictures quickly once you do place your cat, since she might leave the premises after only a few seconds.

Patience is required with ideas such as this one but can have a huge payoff. Can you think of anything cuter than a couple of kittens sipping tea and eating crumpets? A matching tea set would really bring this photoshoot together but isn’t necessary to achieve the overall effect.

17. Going to the Beach

No, you don’t need to get a bathing suit for your cat to achieve a tropical vibe. Sunglasses, straw hats, palm trees, and catnip cocktails are just a few ideas for your cat’s beach-going look.

If you have access to a pool, or better yet, a beach nearby, you can always use it as a backdrop, but be careful with your cat and your camera by the water!

18. Su-purr-heroes

Cats in capes! What could be better?

This is an easier costume to make if you’re on a budget or don’t feel like purchasing a cat costume. You can make your own capes out of almost anything, like an old sheet or even a kitchen towel. A superhero symbol for your cat’s alter ego would be a nice touch.

To turn this concept on its head, you could also do a Godzilla-style photoshoot where your cat “destroys” a town you’ve built out of toys or miniatures. As any cat owner knows, it’s not hard to get your cat to rampage through something you’ve carefully assembled!

19. Movie Night

You might notice your cat watching the TV screen when something attracts her attention—such as fast movement or an interesting sound. There are plenty of online videos that are designed to entertain cats: usually, they’re nature videos featuring birds or rodents in a variety of environments.

Why not take advantage of your cat’s TV fascination with a cute photoshoot? Put on her favorite critter video, set up a place for her to sit, and make some popcorn. 3D glasses will be an adorable addition to this scenario if you have them.

20. Holy Catrimony

You’ll need two cats for this idea, so if you only have one, you might want to contact a friend to set up a joint shoot because you won’t want to miss out on this opportunity. You don’t have to deck your cats out in full wedding regalia (unless you want to). You can use bow ties, veils, bouquets, or even place a small cushion between the cats with rings on it. The internet loves a happy meow-iage!

21. Christmas Card

It’s never too early to get your Christmas cards ready to send out to friends and family. How about featuring your cat on your card this year?

You can find plenty of holiday-themed cat apparel in your local stores or online. If your cat cannot tolerate an ugly sweater, you can always go with a bandana that has your favorite Christmas pattern on it, or even reindeer antlers. For truly fussy cats, you can always use your tree as a backdrop—you might even get a shot of her playing with an ornament.

22. Trick-or-Treating

Last but certainly not least, Halloween is a great excuse to get your cats decked out for an elaborate photo session. There’s no shortage of feline costumes on the market, so you’ll have your pick of the litter if you’re buying online or at places like PetSmart. If you want to get fancy, you can always make your own costumes. Or, if you’d rather play it classic, put your cat in a pumpkin and call it a day!

Conclusion

The sky’s the limit when it comes to brainstorming ideas for your next feline photoshoot. Even simple tricks can put a new spin on your pictures and add variety to your kitty’s Instagram.

The truth is, no matter where she is or what she’s wearing, there’s no such thing as a bad kitty picture. Don’t be afraid to get creative and try something new. We promise the internet will love it!

• See Also: 25 Amazing Hero Cats That Saved Lives

Featured Image Credit: CKYN stock photo, Shutterstock