8th November ’23, a messenger notification popped up on my phone, so I grabbed it to take a quick peek... ‘Hiya, Gina Rymer will likely contact you she’s looking for five kittens I think for Tim Flachs book - I don’t know if you’ve have seen any of his work he is amazing’. I just so happened to have five amazingly stunning, gorgeous, fantastic kittens (I may be very slightly biased. Only a little bit, obviously!) who were approaching that horrible age where they start flying the nest. I had them for just three more short weeks, and was dreading the day when they’d finally start leaving us. My first thoughts were wow, how amazing to be considered for something like this! I’d seen other people posting on Facebook about their stunning photoshoots, and was so excited that there was a chance that my babies would be considered.

Sure enough, Gina got in touch. I let her know that yes, my thoroughly beautiful, amazing, angelic cherubs (as if anyone believes that...) would be happy to be considered, but the first would be leaving me on the 30th November, so if they wanted all five it would need to be done before then. I was asked to send over some shots of the kittens. Now, this caused a little anxiety, to say the least. My photography skills are on a par with my quantum mechanics and brain surgery skills. Non-existent. I was about to send photos that were going to be seen by a world renowned photographer.

Photos were duly dispatched, along with apologies for my lack of technical and artistic skills. The kittens were chosen, and we were asked to go to the studio in Shoreditch, London on 13th November! The next few days were spent in a bit of disbelief, as well as excited anticipation. I’d often looked at so many different cat books over the years, and seen such beautiful, spectacular shotsof so many gorgeous cats of various breeds. How do these people work their magic, and get their muses to sit in such glorious splendour? I’m lucky if I can get a kitten to sit still long enough for me to open the camera app on my phone!

Gina and I chatted on Messenger over the next few days. She said she would be at the photoshoot to help ‘kitten wrangle’. With five kittens, I did think the wrangling may require the expertise of a small army of people, especially with how excitable and adventurous young, energetic Devon Rex kittens can be! Both Tim and Gina have had a lot of experience of handling non-human subjects over the years, so I figured they knew what they were letting themselves in for.

Early in the morning on Monday 13th November I packed five kittens and their ‘travel bag’ into the car, and set off on a mad adventure to the deepest, darkest depths of London. The journey wasn’t bad, although the final four miles took just over half an hour! I was glad I left with plenty of time to spare.

When we arrived, Tim’s assistant, April, helped with getting to the studio. We got the kittens and all their belongings down into the basement, where everything was set up and ready to go. The kittens had been in their carrier for about an hour and a half, so I set up food and water, and a litter tray. As I took each out of the carrier I placed them into the tray, one by one. Being the absolutely angelic little souls that they are, each used the tray and then hopped out to have a bit of an explore. To get the best out of them, it was important that they felt comfortable in their surroundings. Of course, all this space with all these new things to climb on was like a day out at a theme park for them. There was a spiral staircase up to the ground floor, which absolutely had to be explored. At top speed. Then the whole ground floor was one massive racecourse. As quickly as I brought them back down the stairs they’d run back up...

Tim Flach is such a wonderfully interesting and knowledgeable person. He showed me the plans he had for the book so far, and many of the amazing shots that had made the shortlist. So many stunning cats, and many that I’d already heard about over the years, due to their uniqueness. During this time, the kittens were still running around like hooligans very inquisitive, adventurous monkeys. There was so much to see and do, and so little time to do it in! Once they seemed comfortable in their new environment and we’d had a chance to chat, Tim suggested we have lunch, and give the kittens some ‘down time’ in their carrier. Probably a good idea, as by then they’d found the blackout curtains around the spiral staircase, and saw those as their next big challenge...I was a little too nervous to eat that much, but it was fascinating to just sit and listen to Tim talking about his other projects. He showed me a few shots in some of his other books, including a fantastic shot of a Jumping Spider. I have a soft spot for ‘Jumpers’, and we have our own pet one called Florence (a Phidippus Regius Florida, if anyone’s interested). Jumping spiders are very small, friendly, and require the use of a macro lens to be able to see any details, so seeing such a perfect shot was amazing.

Florence, our Phidippus
Regius Florida Jumping Spider

After lunch, we went down and started work. Initially, we picked the lightest coloured kitten (Margo, a Seal Point girl) and BaaBaa (black smoke boy) so that the lighting and so-on could be setup. Gina and I would keep them entertained while Tim and April made various adjust ments to the set-up, which would ensure the best chance of a perfect shot! We were ready to get to work. Tim explained that he was hoping for a specific shot, but the difficulty in working with animals is that they don’t always give you what you want. Adaptability and flexibility were key, and although he may not get the shot he had in mind, another opportunity may well present itself.

Tim was so responsive to the kittens needs, and really knew how to get the best out of them, with the very able assistance of April and Gina! I was pressed into action gathering the kittens together again after each shot, and trying to re-organise them on the table. I’m sure that many of you know how hard it is to organise one cat. Five is a nightmare! The kittens were given a few minutes out on the table, having a few quick shots taken, then were given a break back in their carrier for ten minutes or so for a short nap while we went through the shots taken so far. This ensured they didn’t get fed up, fidgety, and remained quiet and calm for the short time they were out. If they were out too long they’d most likely wake up, get fed up, and annoyed with the process, and difficult to handle and control. Tim managed to capture some simply amazing shots along the way. I asked if I could take some photographs, which he agreed to, so I managed to capture my favourite shot from on his computer.

My favourite shot from the day
Left to right: Angletwitch Sigmund Void, Angletwitch Benjamin, Angletwitch
Cohen The Barbarian, Angletwitch B'hrian Bloodaxe, and Angletwitch Margo

Another fantastic photo!

Tim needed something different, rather than a recreation of the same poses we see again and again. Something that would capture the spirit of these kittens was the order of the day. The plans were for the photograph to go on a double page spread, so having a kitten sat in the centre also meant that his face would be cut in half. Not ideal...So, we carried on, trying different things. Now, here’s something most of you won’t know about me. I’m a tad on the podgy side, and allergic to exercise. No, honestly! Exercise and I don’t get along, in the same way as oil and water don’t mix. My part in the process was to be behind the table the kittens were on, and get ready to duck when I was told to. This meant doing squats. Lots of squats. While my physiotherapist was pleased that I’d been doing so much work, my legs were not. In fact, they protested about the unexpected workload I’d given them for many days after. April kindly sent me some ‘behind the scenes ’images, showing the set-up, and how I was crouched behind the table, keeping an eye on the kittens while they attracted their attention with various feather wands.

It took time and patience, but gradually we started to see more and more shots that looked like they would work. The kittens were being so well behaved, and enjoyed the opportunity to play between regular ‘time out’ to nap, have something to eat or drink, and have a toilet break. To say I am proud of how they behaved on

the day is an understatement, as they all behaved impeccably. Tim, April and Gina really knew how to get the best from them, and the whole day really centred around their welfare. It really was the experience of a lifetime.

A short time after the photoshoot, April emailed me a copy of the photograph they plan to use in the book. Well, two, actually. A shot of all the kittens, and an abstract shot. I know things are subject to change, but I’m still hopeful they make the final cut. Want to see the ‘money shot’? I guess you’ll need to get the book when it comes out! Keep looking out ‘Feline’ by Tim Flach. From what I’ve seen, it’s set to be an absolute masterpiece of feline photography. A huge thank-you to Tim Flach, Gina Rymer, and April Ironside for such an amazing day, and a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a memory that will stay with me forever!

So.... What made it? Which shot was 'the money shot'? I guess you'll have buy the book when it comes out!