My work is constantly being on my knees and loooong minutes of waiting for the cat to show up or to do what I would like it to do. It’s not an easy job—it’s not only about petting the cat. Knowing the behavior of the cats plays a very important role. When I know more about the cats, I can prepare better for the photoshoot and avoid doing something that discourages my model to cooperate. Cats are very smart and delicate creatures! My job is a lottery—despite questioning the owners, I don’t know how the photoshoot will go. Sometimes a cat hides behind the couch and sometimes the cat that was supposed to be shy is looking for contact with me.
Both Filemon and Blania are shelter cats. Filemon was adopted when he was 2 months old and Blania was adopted when she was six months old.
My cats sometimes behave like they are fire and water, but they can quite often complement each other. Filemon is a confident cat who knows why he lives (of course, to throw things out of the cupboards :D). He’s always hungry. Blania, on the other hand, is a walking misfortune. I can’t count how many times she has accidentally thrown something at herself. She’s also a cat who sniffs treats in the deepest corner of a box. They are both extraordinarily smart (I know that every pet owner says the same) and we practice tricks very often. They know the following commands: Sit, Meerkat, Look at me, Give me paw, High five and Turn around.
For a long time I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but when I started taking Filemon’s photos, I realized that this particular part of photography makes me calmer, quieter and I feel better with myself. The beginning of my cat photography was also the toughest moment of my life. Cat photography became a form of therapy for me. The place where nobody was telling me I’m doing something wrong, they looked fat in the photo or that they like their right side of the face more. I’ve found my confidence with cats. I also feel that I’m like them—I like being alone and walking my own paths. What I also value about them is that when they think “no,” they meow “no.”
I conditioned them (in an unconscious way) since the beginning of my photos. When they sat where I wanted, I was using verbal gratitude and giving them snacks. During the photoshoots I talk a lot to them—I send them a signal that everything's all right, I’m proud of them and they are doing great. Cats read our emotions very well—when we’re frustrated, they don’t want to be next to us. Currently my cats treat the photo shoots as an element of our routine. I see that they can get pretty frustrated when they don’t get their pictures in a week. I can also see the excitement on their faces when I move around the table, cut cardboard props or bring props to the table. They usually walk between my legs and jump onto the table during the preparation—if they could they would say: how long do we have to wait, Mother? I’m trying to use treats with the best ingredients—we’re using them very often!
What perfect timing! I’m just finishing publication of my book on catography (unfortunately it's going to be available only in Polish). I’ve spent the last few months focused on that project—writing, preparing photos and so on—and people will be able to buy it on October 21st! When I cool down a bit, I’ll start thinking about my plans for the next year! I think that I would still like to show people with my pictures that cats are beautiful and wise creatures. It’s a really great question, as it planted the seed in my head to think about what’s next.
