Photo Tips
Please read through these tips as it will help me portray your pet accurately.
Firstly, I can only paint what I see in the photo, so it is important to get things right. The more pictures you send the better. Everything will be returned to you upon completion of the portrait. Please remember to point out which image you would like painted, and I will email you and let you know if it is suitable.
If possible, take your pictures in the garden on a bright but slightly overcast day; preferably not in bright sunshine as it alters the colouring of the animal.
Have somone with you to distract your pet while you take the pictures. Make sure you get down to the animal's level even if you have to lay on the floor. About 3-4 feet is a good distance away. Fill the whole viewfinder with the animal's head and shoulders.
The head turned at a slight angle is usually better than a full-frontal view, although I can paint them full-on if that is what you request.
Try to capture your animal's eyes, as the eyes play a very important part in a portrait. Don't stand above your pet and look down as it distorts the picture, and don't use a flash. If you are unable to get into the garden and have to use a flash, please state which image is most true to colour, as I have been sent sets of photos in which the animal was a different colour in each shot due to the flash.
If you would like more than one animal painted don't try to get them together to take the pictures; photograph them separately and I will place them together.
You can send pictures to me by post (my address can be found on the contact page) or email me high resolution images. Here are a few examples of good and bad photos. Have fun, I'm sure you will get the perfect one in the end.
Bad photos
This is an example of a bad photograph as it
is taken standing above the pet and looking
down so it distorts the picture.
This photo is taken with a flash at
nighttime so is not a very good
photograph as it doesn't show the
true colour and eyes are glared.
Blurry photo.
Good Photos
This is a nice side view of Sasha.
This is a lovely reference photo. The eyes are clear and up
close so I can see the details