Photograph Guide

Finding the perfect photo

When looking through your photos and albums of the animal(s) you would like me to draw, there are few key things to consider:

Good Lighting - is your photo light enough to see your pet?

True eye colour - does the picture show the true eye colour of your pet?

True fur colour - does the picture show the true fur colour of your pet?

Visible fur direction - can you see the fur in detail?

A good distance from the camera - is your pet too far away and hard to see?

- even when I draw with graphite pencils/black & white, I still need to see the true colors of the animal for me to draw realistic shades.

If you are having trouble choosing a reference picture of your animal then please feel free to send me a selection and we can discuss together which would be good for creating your custom animal portrait.

Capturing Personality

Try photographing your animal doing something they love to capture their personality. If they are crazy for play time, try holding a squeaky toy or treats in one hand to help direct their gaze towards the camera while they are looking happy and energetic. If they are more of a couch potato, get down to their level and get a great snap of them looking to the camera with their soulful eyes. You know your animal best, so just keep in mind their personality when trying to get that perfect reference photo!

Pets That Have Passed Away

If you are looking at commissioning a portrait of a pet that has sadly passed away I understand you may have limited photos available, but please don't worry - send me as many photos as you can and we can work through them together. I will need to see photos of pets that have passed before I accept your commission, so I can check I can work from your photos.

Here For Advice

Don't worry I am always happy to help and give you the very best advice that I can. I will always review and discuss your photos with you when ordering a commission. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need any more help, or if you wish to ask any questions. Feel free to send me as many photos as you like, with no obligation at all - my advice is always free.

Multiple Animals On One Portrait

If you would like a 'family portrait' drawn of your pets altogether but can't get a picture of them sitting together then don't worry! With the right selection of photos, I will be able to draw them all together for you (head with neck or the whole bodies are possible). If you would like any of these options or need help choosing the right photo then please contact me and we can discuss the best picture selection together.