Kittens tend to shed tears easily, and any dirt or tears around a kitten's eyes is immediately visible in photos. Check the surrounding area of the kitten's eyes before your shoot, and use a wet tissue to wipe away any dirt or tears. You should do this carefully, as kittens will not like it if you wipe too hard. Cats with large eyes, particularly the exotic types, shed tears easily so the fur around their eyes tends to be damp. Check for this many times over during your shoot.Example of matted fur around the eyesEOS 5D Mark III/ EF50mm f/1.4 USM/ FL: 50mm/ Manual exposure (f/3.2, 1/125 sec)/ ISO 125/ WB: Manual
Tears will cause the fur around the eyes to become matted.
To be able to capture kittens showing their cutest sides, it is essential to create an environment where they can feel comfortable. Kittens don't like places where their paws will slip, so I recommend placing an item such as a piece of cloth on top of slippery surfaces so the kitten has more grip. Furthermore, if you prepare somewhere that the kitten can crawl into, such as a bag (or even a towel, as below) the kitten will relax because it has a hiding place available.Bright eyed kitten hiding in a towel. EOS 5D Mark III/ EF50mm f/1.4 USM/ FL: 50mm/ Manual exposure (f/5.6, 1/125 sec)/ ISO 125/ WB: Manual
Towels are also effective hiding places
Kittens are skilled at hiding in narrow, dark places. Try photographing the kitten while it is hiding—that often makes a cute picture, too.