We present time-resolved CCD photometry of 15 cataclysmic variables (CVs) identified by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The data were obtained as part of the 2004/2005 International Time Programme on La Palma. We discuss the morphology of the light curves and the CV subtypes, and give accurate orbital periods for 11 systems. Nine systems are found below the 2–3 h orbital period gap, of which five have periods within a few minutes of the ∼80 min minimum orbital period. One system each is found within and above the gap. This confirms the previously noted trend for a large fraction of short-period systems among the SDSS CVs. Objects of particular interest are SDSS J0901+4809 and SDSS J1250+6655 which are deeply eclipsing. SDSS J0854+3905 is a polar with an extremely modulated light curve, which is likely due to a mixture of cyclotron beaming and eclipses of the accretion region by the white dwarf. One out of five systems with white dwarf dominated optical spectra exhibits non-radial pulsations.