Tips & Tricks
for photographing your pet.
In painting your portrait of any size -
I work very closely from ONE reference photo.
A good photo is VERY important. I can't paint what I can't see.
The better the photograph, the better your final painting.
Here are some key factors that make the biggest difference.
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DISTANCE/ Movement - Perhaps the biggest mistake clients make is to send me photos that were taken of their dog running across the yard or perhaps rolling on their back, jumping for a treat etc. While these "action" photos show me personality - they are not something I can use for a portrait. Your portrait will be primarily of your pet's face and perhaps a small part of their body, therefore - you want their BEST FACE - the most flattering, well-lit, cutest shot of their beautiful face taken CLOSE UP or semi Close- up from 4 -10 feet MAXIMUM. ALWAYS be asking yourself "Is THIS face/pose, lighting, something I would want in Portrait form?"
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LIGHTING - if at all possible - take or send a photo that has been taken in natural light. NOT bright sunlight but natural light. Avoid Flash photography. If you have the "LIVE" feature on your phone - use it - it yields multiple frames from which to edit.
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QUALITY - The best photos were taken with a good quality camera or phone which gets higher megapixels - which yields more details and a better photo = better painting.
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FOCUS - one "trick" I learned recently is to AIM FOR THE NOSE. Something about focusing on that feature results in a photo that does the best job capturing personality.
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PERSONALITY - Each pet is a unique and amazing animal. And YOU know YOUR pet and his/her quirks better than anyone. Try to capture those unique traits in your photos.
