One of the most commonly asked Questions I get is what type of photo works best to do a portrait from. Or what type of photos should I send you. (To work from.)If you have had professional photos taken of your pet these are awesome to work from. The photographer has already created a good composition, the light is good, etc. I have very few clients that fit this category. So let’s move on.
This may seem obvious but photos that look like your pet are the best photos to do a painting from. What I mean by that is please don't send me photos with filters or taken at strange angles that don't represent your pet well. This is also why I ask for 2 or more photos so I can see their coloring well and get a better idea of their physical structure. It also helps me clear up questions, such as, is that a spot or a shadow?
It's okay if you have a favorite instagram photo with a filter and you really want that as the painting. I can either paint it with the filter style or you can provide other reference photos for color. It does make it more challenging for me to get a good likeness.
Photos in natural light are great. If you have a picture of your dog outside or you cat in the window these are usually awesome to work from. Natural light will give me the most accurate example of what your pet actually looks like.
My Chug Peanut likes the bed, and the couch, and that is where I take the most photos of her. Your favorite photos are the best photos. Have you ever taken a photo of your pet that makes you smile every time you look at it? That will make an awesome painting that you will enjoy forever. That one photo that got a bunch of likes and comments on your social media, that could be a great painting too.
If you have pictures of your pet you like but you hate the background, we can still use those. We just won't use the background. My floral background post is a great example of some of the things we can do. Embarrassed by your house? Please don't be. I don't care, I am not looking at your house, I am analyzing what colors of paint to use. (I live with 3 dogs, 2 kids, and a mud pit in my backyard. Trust me, I really am not judging you.)
Last but not least, photos taken at your pets level tend to look better than photos taken from up above. Getting on the floor to take pictures of your dog or cat can be really great. We are usually taller than our fur babies so getting down to their level gives me a better view of their structure, where photos taken standing over them tends to distort their body proportions and make their head appear bigger.
Thanks for reading. These are all suggestions and not rules. If I have learned anything, it is that there are always exceptions. I prefer to have photos sent then I will give you my opinion on what I think will look best, but my objective is always to make you something that you are going to treasure and be happy with.
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