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Helmi has become one of the most popular chat guests on CatHobbyist.com. She first joined us during Chat Week 2002 for a chat about the fascinating world of feline photography, including tips on improving your own cat shots. She joined us once more during Chat Week 2003, to focus particularly on digital feline photography, and is honoring us yet again for our Seventh Annual Chat Week on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 at 9 PM Eastern in Cat Care Central

1. Get a Digital Camera

You’re going to have to take a lot of shots to get a few good ones. Digital lets you immediately see the good ones or lets you know you didn’t get the shot while there is still an opportunity to try again. The money you’ll save on wasted film will pay for a digital camera.

2. Get on the Cat’s Level (or Get the Cat on Yours)

Although it is your everyday point of view of your kitty, please don’t shoot any of those downward views of Felix looking up at you from the floor.

3. Get Rid of the Flash that’s Built into Your Camera

Yes, it’s convenient and it may produce "enough" light, but it’s ugly, unflattering light and in general it will create more problems than it solves.

4. Get the Cat, the Whole Cat and Nothing But the Cat in Your Composition

If the intended subject of your photo is your cat, then make that apparent to the viewer. Unless you’re framing a closeup, don’t compose an image that crops off your cat’s leg or tail. And don’t frame the shot so wide that it looks like it’s a shot of your sofa or your living room decor that just happens to have a little kitty in it.

5. Get the Cat’s Attention

You may want some profiles or three-quarter views of your cat’s face, but in most cases you’ll like the shot best if the cat is looking at you. So get your cat’s attention with something – a cat tease, for example – and keep that something near your camera lens.

6. Get Some Help

Get a friend or family member to assist you in achieving Step 5. And in keeping you sane during the often frustrating task of eliciting some modicum of cooperation from your oblivious feline subject.

7. Get Rid of All But Your Best Shots

Throw the losers away . . . even if you’re still buying film and paying good money for bad prints. If you’re not proud of it, don’t show it to your friends and tax their patience and good will. It’s been said that the difference between an amateur photographer and a professional is that the pro only shows you the good shots.

Helmi has presented us with a selection of her professional photographs so that our users can see some examples of her art. Please enjoy the wonderful representation of Helmi Flick Cat Photography in this Screensaver.