Every year on October 27, the world comes together to promote the wellbeing of black cats, and dispel myths.
Black cats tend to get a bad rep due to unfair misconceptions about them. But, like all kitties, black cats are sweet and loyal companions who want nothing but our love and care.
Apart from unfounded myths about black cats causing bad luck, another reason why animal lovers can avoid adopting black cats is that many wrongly believe that they photograph badly compared to their more colourful counterparts.
Talking about this, the rehoming and welfare manager of Battersea Dogs' & Cats' Home (Battersea), Bridie Williams, said: "Battersea welcomes hundreds of black cats through its gates each year, each with their own wonderful and unique personalities.
"However, they can often spend longer in our care than the average stay due to the myths and misconceptions around them, such as that they aren't photogenic or that they bring bad luck, but we at Battersea know this couldn’t be further from the truth."
To prove this, Battersea has shared expert tips and tricks to get the best photographs of black cats in time for this year's National Black Cat Day.
Some of our cats are professional posers, like Echo here! 😻 Do you love taking pics of your cat? Share some photos with us, and spread the #Caturday love. 💙
— Battersea (@Battersea_) October 14, 2023
Echo is looking for a loving home. You can find out more about her here 👉 https://t.co/E8ga38yjI5 pic.twitter.com/F8ZI2RnJPN
1. Photograph your cat while they are calm and relaxed
Some of the best times to photograph a kitty are when they are sat, enjoying the view out of the window, or sleeping in their comfy beds.
2. Make good use of daylight
Natural light is great for capturing the mesmerising details of a black cat's dark fur. So, switch off your flash and schedule your photo sessions to take place during the day.
If you're using a camera, dialling up the ISO setting to let more light in will also do wonders.
3. Focus on your black cat's eyes
A black cat's eyes are alluring and beautiful. So, try to focus on their eyes and catch some natural light bouncing through them if you can.
4. Avoid busy backgrounds
Try to stay away from distracting backgrounds or put on your phone's blurring Portrait mode to make your adorable black cat the centre of attention.
If you're using a camera, you can also use a shallow depth of field through the "f" number in your settings to blur the background out.
5. Snap an array of images
When taking photos of your feline friend, don't just take one. As cats like to roam, taking multiple photos will better your chances of getting the perfect shot.
If you're using a camera, increase your shutter speed. Battersea recommends 1/200 seconds or above.
And, if you're using your phone, turn on your device's "live" mode so that you can pick the perfect pose from the short video captured afterwards.
6. Distractions are your friend
Try to keep your kitty engaged with treats or toys to make them look in the direction you want.
A great angle is making them look up towards a light source.
