I work from photographs, so you will need to supply a photograph of your pet.

There are a few things to bear in mind when providing a photograph for a pet portrait:

There are a few things to bear in mind when providing a photograph for a pet portrait:

  • It sounds obvious, but make sure you include a photo you actually like, even if it isn’t the best quality. As long as you have other shots showing your pets colouring and markings clearly, I will be able to draw him/her in the pose in the photo you prefer.
  • The clearer the photo, the easier it will be to work from.
  • Try to get level with your pet’s face when taking the picture (a picture of the top of their head is no good!).
  • A shot of the pet showing three quarters of their face (so they are looking slightly to the side) works better than having them staring straight at you. It helps to have someone to help with this while you take the photo (e.g. if you have a labrador like I do, someone holding a biscuit to one side of you whilst you take the shot will mean the subject is definitely not going to be staring straight at you, but at the lovely biscuit-holding person nearby!).
  • It is best to take the photo outside in natural light, rather than indoors with a flash – otherwise you are likely to get red-eye. As Shakespeare said, “The eyes are the window to the soul,” so I need to get them right, and will need a clear photo to do so.
  • Try to take the photo on an slightly overcast day if possible. Bright sunlight will cause un-natural harsh shadows, making the photo harder to work from. Of course if your photo does have shadows like this, don’t worry – if you can supply a more natural photo in a different pose along with it, I can work from them together.
  • Take plenty of time to get the photo right – animals don’t always want to comply straight away – so if you don’t get the right photo try again on a different day when your pet might be in a more helpful mood!

If your pet is sadly no longer with you, don’t worry, even if you don’t have the perfect photo, a selection of photos can help me to create the picture you want – for example, if a photo is unclear but the right pose, a clearer photo of your pet in a different position will really help.

If you live locally to me, for a small charge I can meet you and take a few photos of your pet. Please email me or use the form on the Contact Me page if you would like me to help with or take photos of your pet.