Pet Portraits Photography Tips

To ensure that your Pet Portrait correctly represents your pet it is important the reference photographs are of good enough quality.

The more photographs I have to work from the better, and the larger they are the better. You can email me your pictures in .jpg or .tiff files, put them on a CD and post them, or post prints. If you send prints or a CD they will be returned with your Pet Portrait. The minimum print size I will accept is 6" x 4", though larger is better. Digital files should be sent at a minmum resolution of 200dpi. If you have a lot of photographs to email, it is helpful to send them in several small emails. This will take less time. It is good for me to get an idea of your pet's personality, don't only send photographs showing your pet posing.

I am unable to 'make up' parts of a portrait. If you have a photograph of a particular pose that has a part of your pet missing or obscured, please send another photograph to show the missing detail.

If you are having a Coloured Pencil Pet Portrait make sure you send photographs that correctly show your pet's coat colour. You can send additional photographs that have the correct coat colour, if the main photograph is not correct.

The most important part of a Pet Portrait is the eyes. If the eyes aren't right, then your Pet Portrait won't look like your pet, therefore it is important that you send reference photographs clearly showing eye detail.

It is important to remember that if your reference photographs don't correctly portray your pet, then the Pet Portrait won't either.

If you are taking photographs especially for your portrait, please remeber the following points:

  1. * Keep at eye level with your pet and get in close and fill the frame. If you are ordering a head study, concentrate purely on the head of your pet.
  2. * Take photographs outside if possible in natural daylight. Avoid mid day as the strong direct light create harsh shadows. Stick to late afternoon or early mornings.
  3. * Keep the light source either behind you, or to the right or left.

There are more photography tips on my blog post: The Perfect Pet Portrait Photograph.

If your pet has sadly passed away and you are unsure if your photographs are suitable, please send them to me to have a look at. I will always do my best for you.