KathyinNH Loc: Kingston, NH

I volunteer weekly to take photos of the dogs and cats at Salem Animal Rescue League in Salem, NH a no-kill shelter. Each week I stop to have lunch at Coffee Coffee, a coffee roaster. I asked the owner if I could have 2 of the burlap coffee bags to use as backdrops for one of my photos of the cats. Because we change the background and props for each animal, I am constantly looking for new ideas and thought this would be a great change. What are your thoughts? Also I would welcome any ideas for future props. Thanks.

Coffee Cat

jeanbug35 Loc: Jonesboro AR

Nice. Hope you help find many new homes for these guys and gals.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Thank you very much for your animal rescue work. I hope other photographers in the Hog are inspired to do the same. I would recommend against the coffee bag background because the printing on the bags competes with the kitten for the attention of the viewer. (Anyway, it looks like he's marking the coffee bag.) I have some suggestions, in case these haven't occurred to you:
1: Cat on a computer keyboard, toying with the mouse.
2: Cat in a pulled-out desk drawer.
3: Cat in a pulled-out file cabinet drawer.
4: Cat next to a lawyer's briefcase.
5: Cat next to a tea kettle.
6: Cat sandwiched between books in a bookcase.
7: Two cats as bookends with books between them.
8: Cat next to -- or in -- a hat. Maybe a chef's hat.
9: Cat sandwiched between two boots,or laying on them.
10: Cat in front of a large speaker cone of a hi-fi.
11: Cat in a picnic hamper.
12: Cat in front of a large clock face.

Hope these help. And don't forget some stuffed toys as playthings.

KathyinNH Loc: Kingston, NH

Thanks Richard for your suggestions. Many of them I have already tried over the past three years volunteering. I was a little hesitant when picking the background but after doing sooo many different backgrounds I start to run out of ideas. Everyone seems to enjoy all he different backgrounds. My mini van is so full of blankets and props I can't even use it to get my weekly groceries. Just not enough room left.

We have a very large turnover of animals each week so we use a lot of props. I'll have to try your suggestions that I haven't tried yet. Some we just couldn't use because of the small space we have to work in at the shelter so we do the best we can with what we have to work with.

You have an interesting background, I lived in Bethlehem, PA for 5 years, right at the Allentown town line.

PS, I'm 71.