Commercial Project: Strictly Cats - Cat Shows
Strictly Cats is an affiliated club of Felis Britannica in the UK, who are FIFe members (these are pedigree cat registries). The club is made up of members who have a keen interest in cats whether they are pet owners or breeders and they run a number of shows throughout the year.
A lovely lady called Michelle who I purchased my 2nd Maine Coon kitten from is actually the validation clerk for the club. When she saw my work with cats and other animals she asked me if I would photograph their show in April 2023.
(update!, I will be at the next show in Warwick 4&5 Nov 2023 and hopefully most of the 2024 shows as well)
My brief was to capture certain images for the club website such as the best in show cats, judges examining cats, product placement images for the event sponsors and another special awards presentation on the day.
As well as capturing important marketing and promotional material for the club, I had a mini studio set up so that people were able to get some beautiful portraits of their beloved cats. They were also able to come back towards the end of the show to get images with the rosettes and trophies that they had been awarded.
I then hosted these images on an online automated shop platform where attendees had the opportunity to select, purchase and then download their pictures. I always try to make the images available within 48 hours of any event as people are very keen to get their hands on them.
As with all my work, the animals (cats in this case) are my top priority. I work at their pace ensuring that they aren’t placed under unnecessary stress in order to achieve certain photos. Instead I ask the owners questions about their cats to find out their temperament, allow them time to get accustomed to the set and then engage them in play using a specific selection of toys and techniques which nearly always allows me to get their attention and engagement. The result is beautiful images that owners will be proud to own and display.
I am often asked at these type of events if I offer a bespoke portrait service where the cat can be photographed in their own home and if they can have framed images made of these portraits to hang on their walls!
The simple answer is yes. My speciality is working one on one with animals and their owners to create fine art portraits that they can treasure forever.
If you haven’t already then please check out the Cat section of my website and also browse some of the Fine Art Products I offer. Please also feel free to contact me any time to discuss your ideas.
