7 Tips for Taking Cute Cat Photos with Your Smartphone (with Recommended Camera Apps)

Many cat owners probably have smartphone camera rolls filled with their beloved pets.

Whether it’s capturing them playing intently, sleeping in strange positions, or getting into troublesome mischief, a smartphone camera is a convenient way to preserve priceless memories with your cat.

However, even after taking hundreds of photos, many still wonder, "I can't seem to capture how cute my cat is," or "They're actually much cuter than this." But you can take adorable photos just by knowing a few simple "tricks."

There are seven tips for taking cute photos of your cat with your smartphone. You don't need difficult techniques. Everything is easy to do, so let's start taking cute pictures of your cat right away!

Tip 1: Clean up the room before shooting

To take beautiful photos of your cat, try to keep the background as simple as possible. Clear away any clutter so the scene doesn't look messy. Even just throwing a cloth over the sofa can change the atmosphere significantly.

Also, shoot in a bright room whenever possible. It's better to avoid the flash and use natural light for a clearer photo.

Tip 2: Wipe the smartphone camera lens before shooting

Smartphone camera lenses get surprisingly dirty. If there are fingerprints or dust on the lens, it can cause your photos to turn out blurry or out of focus.

When you’re about to photograph your cat, give the lens a quick wipe with a glasses cloth. It’s a small step that will help you take much clearer photos.

Tip 3: Focus on the face

When using a smartphone, you can tap the screen to specify where to focus. It will also automatically adjust the brightness, which is enough to get a great shot.

Aiming slightly above the eyes will help you capture the cat's face beautifully. It might be difficult if your cat is moving, but please give it a try.

Tip 4: Get down to their level and gently encourage them to look at the camera

A key tip for photographing cats is to get down to their eye level and use the lowest angle possible. If you hold your phone upside down so the camera is at the bottom, you can get a photo that emphasizes their fluffiness.

If you want them to look at the lens, try using a toy. Attract their attention with a squeaky toy or their favorite plaything to guide their gaze toward the camera. Since long sessions can tire your cat out, try to wrap it up in about 10 minutes.

Tip 5: The "ears" are key to a good expression

Cats communicate their emotions using their ears. Therefore, to capture a cat's best expression, pay attention to what their ears are doing.

For example, if their ears are pinned flat against the sides of their head (often called "airplane ears"), it's a sign that your cat is irritated. They are likely feeling frustrated or grumpy, so you should avoid forcing a photo session.

If their ears are pulled back or flattened, they might be scared of the sound of your camera shutter.

For the cutest photos, aim for times when their ears are standing straight up. This means they are calm and relaxed, so you can gently talk to them and enjoy the photo session.

Tip 6: Use the smartphone's burst mode

It is very difficult to photograph a cat that is running around. If you miss the perfect shutter moment, you might end up with cropped faces or just pictures of their back.

To prevent these failed shots, I recommend using your smartphone's burst mode. Since it takes several photos in rapid succession, you can choose the one with the best expression later.

Tip 7: Make them even cuter with the "Toruneko" camera app

If you use a camera app specifically designed for taking cute cat photos, you can capture your pet even more easily and skillfully.

I recommend "Toruneko." It is packed with "shooting functions for targeting the best shot" and "editing functions to make them look cute," allowing even beginners to capture the true charm of their cats.

The difference from the standard camera is its ability to nail the best shot. It saves the moments just before and after you take the photo, so you won't miss the perfect expression. It also emits a "meow" sound when shooting to grab the cat's attention, making it easy to get them to look at the lens.

While focus and exposure are automatic, you can fine-tune them by tapping the screen. It's also great that you can easily take photos with a blurred background.

For now, it seems "Toruneko" is exclusive to the iPhone. It’s available for free download in the App Store, so please give it a try.

Summary

Don't you think Poponeko's model cat, Cha-chan, has a wonderful expression?

Actually, the photographer is Cha-chan's owner, Mr. Fujimoto of Fujimoto Pet Portrait Photography.

Cha-chan looks so cute not because the owner is a professional photographer, nor because she is specially trained.

I believe the reason they can capture such natural expressions is due to the strong bond of trust between the owner and the cat. Seeing Mr. Fujimoto and Cha-chan at a photo session made me realize that.

Mr. Fujimoto, who is full of love for cats, offers professional on-site pet photography. If you would like a professional photographer to come to your home where your cat feels comfortable, please consider booking him.

It's fun to take pictures of cats, but taking pictures *with* your cat is also a wonderful experience.

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