it’s always exceedingly encouraging when i can make clients shake their heads in disbelief … when i can prove them wrong or at least make them eat their words as their so-called fearful, shy pets eat treats out of my hands.

meet Mack … and yeah, this is what she looked like when the shoot started.  and trust me, we were shocked and amazed she even stayed put on the couch!

Mack doesn’t like people.  in fact, i’m told she’s not even overly-affectionate with owners Lisa and Ryan.  cats, right?   and when family or friends come to visit, apparently the only thing you’ll see of Mack are the hairs she leaves behind as she beats her hasty exit to go into hiding for their entire visit.

now, granted, knowing a pet isn’t overly affectionate, I won’t even try to pet them, although i did get in a few strokes of her lovely creamy coat.   i basically let Mack be … but when she eventually gave me those soft cat eyes and held my stare for long silent moments, blinking softly, i gave ’em right back to her and told her over and over again what an amazing girl she was.

but with every shattering clack of my huge camera’s shutter, Mack flinched backwards.  so … out came the toy.

it didn’t take long … some well-placed bobs, good teases … and the trick is to always, always, always leave ’em wanting more …

clearly i shoot more dogs than cats, and i’ll be the first to say that — as a general rule — dogs are easier.  because — as a general rule — dogs are dorks.  and you know i say that with utter love for my favorite creature on the planet.  they can be so easily manipulated and cajoled, tempted and directed … a squeaky toy or a smokey-scented treat, a squealing Cuz or even my embarrassingly giddy voice or duck call when i have to pull it out as a last resort.

but cats … well … you gotta know what you’re doing with cats.  you’ve gotta know how to move around the room when you’re with them, how to approach them, which lens to use in order to buy yourself whatever space you might need to make them comfortable … especially the anti-social ones.  i’ve found that sometimes the owners don’t even quite know how to deal with their cats when it comes to a photo shoot, and often it’s best that they just sit back and leave Fluffy to me.

and i should note … you see that vase of flowers on the table behind the couch?   normally i would have asked the owner to move those as they are something of a distraction, particularly in the play-shot two up.  i wanted to ask, but given the energy i was reading from Mack, i knew that if owner Lisa did anything at that point, even something as simple as cross the room and move these flowers, Mack would exit the photo shoot.

Mack was a super-star.  i could sense she was ready to bolt several times, so it was a good 15 minutes or more before i even picked up a camera in spite of this being a short session.  after all, i can’t shoot a cat that isn’t there.  and in the end, i got more shots of Ms. Mack than her sister Mika …

short, little, round Mika …

… like a little tabby ball on legs … with the cutest little, chirping  ‘meow’ you’ve ever heard.

the true challenge, of course, was getting both of these girls in one shot.  Lisa and Ryan had absolutely no doubt that it was an utterly, absolutely impossible task, never to be accomplished.  no way.  no how.  did i happen to mention i’m a bit of a cat whisperer?  give me those beautiful soft eyes, Mack.  thanks, girl.

now your turn, Mika …

thanks, Lisa and Ryan, Mika and most of all shy Mack for a lovely morning … and for reminding me that i’m doing exactly what i should be doing.  i hope you all enjoy your client gallery.