Mirka Koot is based in Leiden, in the Netherlands. A finalist in the Portrait Category at the 2024 International Pet Photography Awards, she returned in 2025 entering the inaugural Feline Portrait category, and winning with her portfolio of three images, each one a testament to her distinctive painterly style.

Mirka's three winning images are all of cats, all shot in her home studio, and all deeply personal. One is a tribute to Ivar, a beloved cat she has since lost, captured here with flowers in his fur and a quiet serenity that she wanted to preserve in his memory. Another features Finnar, her newest Blue Maine Coon, wrapped in grey wool in a monochrome study that feels almost like a painting. The third pairs one of her cats with a vintage radio she found in a second-hand shop, topped by a blackbird drawn from her wildlife photography.

In this interview, Mirka talks about the technical journey she's been on, the challenges of photographing cats who simply refuse to cooperate, and what it means to finally win a category in a competition she has entered every single year.

About Mirka's winning images

Is there a story behind any of your winning images you'd like to share?

Ivar with the little flowers on his head: It is an older image because Ivar has been in heaven for a while. But the serenity of this image made me enter this one in remembrance of my sweet boy who I still miss so much.

I wanted to create an image all grey, blue with my new family member Finnar. That's when I came up with the idea of grey wool, because even though he is a blue coon, he looks more grey;)

When I was in a second hand shop I saw the old radio and immediately I had the idea of the cats, with the radio and a bird. Because I also love to go into nature to take photos of wildlife I knew I had enough birds to choose from. I love looking in second hand shops to find stuff which can be used in studio. To get the looks I need to have patience and make strange noises, or need my toys at hand. The last resort is food! 

What inspired you to capture these images?

I shoot my cats a lot with flowers, so I buy flowers and own a lot of vases but I keep on looking for new ones. The radio was found in a second hand shop, I knew it would be beautiful and because I also like to shoot wildlife I knew I had loads of images of birds. In the shop a title came to me. And the grey one was that I wanted to create a monochrome photo with beautiful Finnar.

What was the most challenging part of creating these images?

The most challenging is the technical stuff. This year I started with more education with the help of That Tog Spot from Jess McGovern and I have learned so much. So really getting every detail in order was the most challenging thing. And with cats it is really difficult to get the lighting perfect, because they don't sit in place, but I can roll my light now, but I need to be fast I work alone. So getting the set, the place where they sit, the light and their attention at the right time is the most challenging always.

Did you know right away that these images were special?

It is difficult to see the difference to what I like and what other people would like, so I am never really sure. They are my cats so some looks can be special to me, and make me laugh or go like 'ahhh he is soooo cute in this photo', but to a random person the photo might not be meaningful. Because I am learning so much more about the technical side of photos I can see better now if an image is technically correct. But if it will be impactful to a greater audience I am still uncertain.

About Mirka's process

What's in your camera bag?

Canon R5 Just in, and sooo happy with it: RF Canon 24-105 f 4, Canon EF 135 f2, Canon EF 100-400 f4,5-5.6 for wildlife, Sigma 14-24 f 2.8, TT artisan 250 f 5.6, backup Canon 6d mark 2, backup lens Tamron 24-70 2.8

Are your shoots planned or can they be spontaneous moments?

I always kinda plan my shoots. I get flowers in the house and think of which color background would work. So I plan my studio shoots, I need time because with cats I cannot hurry the shoot. I need their attention.

How do you prepare for a shoot like this?

Thinking of which colors will match. What table I will put the cats on, which backdrop. I do not have a studio so I rebuild my house to create a studio. And hope for the best what my cats will do. It is never certain what they will do!

What techniques or equipment do you use for images like these?

I have the Godox 400 pro with a softbox and two AD200s. I pay a lot more attention to the catchlights in the eyes now and use Spyder checkr nowadays, that is a total game changer for me. Before using this I was always uncertain of the colors and took me forever to edit, because I felt something was off. I have a lightstand with wheels which is perfect for cats, because they are never on the spot I want haha, so I can move the light. The light from the back is not always perfect because of this, but I can easily move with the big light to follow Wodan, Kári or Finnar

Do you have a favourite lens or tool you rely on?

I now own the rf 24-105 f4 this is so fast and the focus is almost always on spot. It is also lighter than the tamron 24-70 f2.8 which is perfect. Because in one hand I have my camera and the other a toy to get attention. And my flashes from Godox. But all my photos were shot with the tamron. Really happy I finally decided to get an RF lens it is really fast and accurate. So I can focus more on composition now.

How much post-processing goes into your images?

Pff a lot! Especially the one with the bird. The reason is because I am learning more about technique. Where-as before I would forget to take away the reflection, or did not do it as neat as I now have learned to do. So before entering my images I reviewed and edited them more and more close up.

How do you connect with the pets you photograph to bring out their personalities?

My cats trust me so it's not as difficult to connect to them. But I am sometimes out of noises, they know them all and just ignore me haha. With other cats I use a toy, this almost works every time. And food of course.

About Mirka's journey 

How did you get started in pet photography?

I have always loved to take photos of animals. From the age of 15 I started with our own pets and every animal I saw like sheep, horses, cows. That was in the time of analog photography. Later on I went to college for photography but dropped out because it was not good for my confidence. Later in life I picked it up again, digital was different I had to learn a lot. My favorite subject has always been animals. And when Wodan came to live with me I created my own style and that is still my style, painterly like images. Still learning a lot, because digital photography contains so much. If you would only focus on which colors to use, or how your colors on your screen will match a print it is a lot to learn. That is what I love about photography you will never not learn.

Have you entered awards or competitions before?

Yes, I have always entered the International Pet Photography Awards, and sometimes other ones, but this one is special to me.

What does winning this award mean to you?

So much!! I am photographing cats for years and now to win this, I am so thankful!! Recognition keeps me going. It can be lonely to focus on your photography. All those hours learning new things, all those hours behind your computer, shooting, messing up, having fun... So really grateful!!

Who or what has influenced your photographic journey the most?

Diana Lundin! When I saw her photo of her black and white cat with the table and stuffed animals hanging above I knew this is a thing. Love her work. Also a fan of Tim Flach and a lot of wildlife photographers. And for now Jess McGovern is influencing me with all of her skills. so much to learn still…

What's one piece of advice you'd give to other pet photographers?

Keep going, make mistakes, and go on!!! And enjoy the process. It takes a lot of time so better to enjoy it! But it is the best passion one can have.

About Mirka

Tell us more about your gorgeous cats!

I have Wodan, who is the weirdest cat ever and always makes the most strange faces! He is sooo sweet, he looks people deep into their eyes which is a strange thing for a cat to do. He had surgery on his hips when he was 2. He sometimes loses his hair, is sensitive he hates the vet, at least going to the vet. He has a trauma from the corona times when I could not come with him, and he since has epileptic seizures when he needs to get to the vet. So I will not put him in a carry box no more and the vet comes to our house. He has his problems but is always a happy cat, and weird!

Kári is also a sensitive boy, he growls when people walk past my house, he is a bit scared. He already was at the breeder, I am not sure what happened to him. But with me he is not scared and such a sweet boy! He likes to play and he was so happy with the arrival of Finnar, because Wodan is not into heavy playing. He also likes to eat, so he is on a diet, I need to sit with the cats when I give them food otherwise Kári eats everything.

Finnar is the youngest he joined us at February 2025. He is so sweet and loves to cuddle. He loves to play with Kári and sleep next to Wodan. 

If you could photograph any animal in the world, who (or what!) would it be?

I would love to go on safari to photograph the big cats!

What's your favourite part about working with animals?

They make me laugh. And I am touched by them. They mean so much to me, and to everyone who owns a pet! And to make it work to make a special portrait of the pet is so fulfilling.

What's next for you and your photography?

I will keep going and keep improving. I would love to edit faster, because I love to shoot, I am always behind on my editing. It would be really great if more cat lovers could find me and would love a portrait of their cat in the house made by me. That is my dream;) I also would like to make more compositing work, with zoo animals. I have made them before, want to make more of those. And also my wildlife photography makes me happy! So I will also keep doing that.

You can see more of Mirka's incredible work on her Website, Facebook and Instagram.