Pet PHOTO TIPS

I work directly from photos provided by you. For the best results, the photos must be high-resolution, clear, and detailed. The photo should be the original file from your phone or digital camera. Copying a photo off your social media page or scanning a photo will not produce a high enough quality for use. Phone cameras are generally good, but do not use on portrait mode and avoid filters. I need the entire face and upper body to be in focus to see all the details and capture the best likeness and realism of your pet.

Good Lighting: Take pictures in natural and soft lighting. Avoid harsh shadows, blown-out sun spots, dark rooms, artificial lighting, and back lighting. Taking the photo on a slightly over cast day can prevent the hard shadows and over exposure. When taking photos inside use natural filter light from a window. Make sure your pet is facing the light source to prevent a shadow on one side of the face.

Details: Your photo should show your pets true coloring. Make sure your pets eyes are clear and bright —the eyes truly capture the soul of your pet. Fur coloring and the visible direction of the fur should be clearly seen.

Composition: Get down on your pet’s eye level. Best if they are sitting to include the shoulders and chest. Do not take a photo standing above and looking down. This makes your pet look out of proportion. Try and get a photo showing your pets personality with a certain look or head tilt.

Good: Face is well lit. Can clearly see fur and eye coloring.

Bad: Dark shadows, blown out highlights, and glowing eyes.

Good: Fur details are clearly defined. Can see the coloring in the eyes.

Bad: Blurry, dark, yellow filter, cannot see details in face, and too close.

Good: Perfect, but this probably professionally done.

Bad: Face angle distorted, a bit dark, and face details are hard to see.

Two Pets: If you would like two pets in one painting and only have separate photos of them then that is no problem. I am able to merge separate photos together to make one group portrait. However, please email prior to make sure I can do this from the photos you have.

Pets That Have Passed On: Do you have a pet that has passed on and you would like to memorialize them. I would be happy to help. Send some of the photos you have and I can see what I can make work. I might be able to take elements from separate photos to create one.

If the photographs do not meet the necessary quality standards, I reserve the right to refuse the commission. If this happens, I will notify you and work with you to obtain a better photo before proceeding. Or we can agree to cancel the order.