How to take a great photo for your pet portrait
To paint your pet I will need a really good photo to work from. The tips below will help you to take the best possible photo. Don't worry, it's not too difficult! The photo below gives you an idea of what to aim for.
Take a close-up - let your pet's face fill the view-finder. Don't try to include any background.
Ensure the photo is focused.
The higher resolution the better - photos taken from mobile phones don't provide the quality needed. send me the photo at its full resolution, don't compress it.
The person taking the photo should be at the same level as the pet - not looking down (or up) at them as this causes distortion. A small pet can be popped onto a table or held in someone's arms (don't worry if a bit of the person appears on the photo, provided your pet's face is clearly visible).
Ideally, have your pet look side-on or slightly to the side - rather than facing the camera directly. Distortion occurs when the pet looks straight-on due to the length of an animal's nose. With short-nosed dog breeds such as a pug or with some cats there is less distortion so a face-on photo may work O.K.
The best place to take a photo is outdoors - choose a shady place, not direct sunlight. If you are taking a photo indoors, choose a light room near a window. Whether photographing indoors or outdoors, keep your back to the source of light or sun.
Try to avoid using flash as this causes red-eye. But if this is the only photograph you have of your pet then I can correct for this.
If your pet is no longer here and the only photographs you have are poor quality ones, then send me the best of them and I'll let you know if I can work with it.
Remember to choose a photo you really like!
NB The photo below was taken into the light, rather than with the light source behind the photographer. It's worked for this photo because it was taken by a professional, but in general it's best to take the photo with your back to the light. All rules are there to be broken!
Ensure the photo is focused.
The higher resolution the better - photos taken from mobile phones don't provide the quality needed. send me the photo at its full resolution, don't compress it.
The person taking the photo should be at the same level as the pet - not looking down (or up) at them as this causes distortion. A small pet can be popped onto a table or held in someone's arms (don't worry if a bit of the person appears on the photo, provided your pet's face is clearly visible).
Ideally, have your pet look side-on or slightly to the side - rather than facing the camera directly. Distortion occurs when the pet looks straight-on due to the length of an animal's nose. With short-nosed dog breeds such as a pug or with some cats there is less distortion so a face-on photo may work O.K.
The best place to take a photo is outdoors - choose a shady place, not direct sunlight. If you are taking a photo indoors, choose a light room near a window. Whether photographing indoors or outdoors, keep your back to the source of light or sun.
Try to avoid using flash as this causes red-eye. But if this is the only photograph you have of your pet then I can correct for this.
If your pet is no longer here and the only photographs you have are poor quality ones, then send me the best of them and I'll let you know if I can work with it.
Remember to choose a photo you really like!
NB The photo below was taken into the light, rather than with the light source behind the photographer. It's worked for this photo because it was taken by a professional, but in general it's best to take the photo with your back to the light. All rules are there to be broken!