Creative Cat Photography
Class - Photography | Registration opens 5/12/2026 9:00 AM EDT
Capture the personality, charm, and quirks of your feline companions in this engaging 3-week photography class. Creative Cat Portraits is designed for photographers who want to move beyond simple snapshots and create expressive, artful images of cats using thoughtful technique and a patient, animal-centered approach.
Meeting once a week for 90 minutes, this course blends instruction with real-world, in-the-field shooting opportunities. Students will learn how to work with cats in a relaxed, low-stress environment, using calming techniques that encourage natural behavior and authentic expressions.
We’ll explore non-traditional composition strategies, including unusual framing, negative space, and storytelling perspectives that elevate your images. You’ll also experiment with wide-angle lenses to create immersive, dynamic portraits that place your subject within their environment in unexpected and visually compelling ways.
Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on observation, timing, and adapting to the unpredictable nature of working with animals. By the end of the three weeks, students will have developed a series of unique cat portraits that highlight each animal’s distinct personality.
What to Bring:
A camera (DSLR or mirrorless), a wide-angle lens if available, and access to a cat for practice (your own or arranged).
Who This Class Is For:
Photographers of all levels who love animals and want to expand their creative approach to pet photography.
Leave with fresh inspiration, new technical skills, and a portfolio of captivating feline portraits that go far beyond the ordinary.
C. Stephen Hurst
C. Stephen Hurst recently moved to Winston-Salem from New York City where he spent many years as a professional photographer and instructor at the International School of Photography. Hurst is a self-taught photographer who emphasizes connection, anticipation, and communication through his process; some of Hurst’s photography clients have included the Disney Family Foundation, Nike, and Columbia Business School. Hurst holds a B.F.A. in Cinema Studies from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Learn more about his work at amancalledhurst.com.