Selecting the picture for your portrait

Choosing the right photographs for your portrait of your favorite animal is instrumental in getting the likeness that you will cherish for years to come.

It's important to keep in mind that a blurry photo will lead to a poor-quality portrait. To accurately capture your pet's unique details, I need a clear image. While many pets, especially certain breeds of dogs and cats, may look similar, each one has distinct features that make them special to you. My goal is to reflect these unique qualities in your portrait, ensuring it holds special meaning for you.

Please try to send a large, high-resolution photo if possible, especially when submitting your photo via the web or email. Smaller pictures, like 4” x 6” or even 5” x 7”, are often not large enough to showcase those little details, such as a distinct spot next to your dog’s eye that marks them as your pet.

Avoid sending photos downloaded from text messages, as their quality may not do justice to the subject. Additionally, do not send photos that are overexposed or underexposed. Good lighting is essential for a reference photo because it allows me to see colors, shadows, and highlights accurately.

If you decide to take the reference photos yourself, please keep these tips in mind:

1. Take a high-resolution photo.

2. Use natural lighting whenever possible, such as taking a picture outdoors or near a window.

3. If natural lighting isn’t available, use a single light source.

4. Avoid using a flash.

5. Consider the pose or angle that you would like the portrait to depict—choose something that evokes memories of your pet.

6. Take several photos to help me capture the unique traits and personality of your pet.

7. Remember, you don’t need a fancy camera; modern cell phone cameras are capable of taking excellent reference photos.

I typically do not include a landscape as a background in my portraits because it can distract from the subject. I prefer using a solid background that focuses entirely on your pet, often employing a single color or a softly blended background of several colors.

However, if having a landscape or another background is essential to you for capturing your pet in a way you want to remember them, we can certainly discuss that during our consultation.