Tips for Choosing Your Photos

It's essential for you to submit at least one clear, good quality photo for me to use as a reference when I paint your animal portrait. You can take photos with your phone or with a separate camera.

Because of copyright issues, I cannot paint from a photo that you did not personally take, unless it is a photo from a website that legally provides copyright/royalty-free photos for commercial use - such as www.wildlifereferencephotos.com, www.pixabay.com, or www.unsplash.com. If you need help choosing a royalty-free photo for me to paint from, I will be happy to assist you. Regardless, the tips below will help you pick the best ones.

Of course you know your pet's various expressions and personality better than anyone, but the photo(s) you submit are the only thing I have to go on in order to convey those things. If there's a body position or facial expression that you especially love about them, try to capture that for me in at least one of your photos.

Tips for Taking Photos (a long but hopefully helpful list!)

Take your pet outside on a nice day, or make sure you are in a room with great natural light. This will make sure I can see the true colors of the animal, and it may also add a few lovely shadows for me to use. Bear in mind, however, that if the shadows are too dark I will have a hard time seeing the animal's features clearly.
If possible, take collars and tags off - and no pet costumes or "clothing" please! They can be distracting and as a rule I don't paint them on.
Bring some treats if it will help your pet to sit in their best position. It's often helpful to have a friend holding the treats while you take the photos.
Get down and take the photos at your pet's eye level. Shots from straight above look adorable as photos but they don't translate too well into paintings. It doesn't matter whether the pet is looking right at the camera or off to the side.

If you're taking photos for a multiple-pet portrait, it's helpful if they are all in the same state of alertness, and if they're photographed side by side so that I can judge their sizes in relation to each other.
It's best if the animal is sitting or standing, rather than lying down. This lets me see their beautiful neck and shoulder shapes. If you want me to paint the full animal's body then they can be lying down, but try to get a pleasing shape!
For me, the eyes are one of the most important parts. "Windows to the soul" and all that! If the light is not quite right to show their true eye color, it is helpful to snap a close up photo of the eyes so that I can really see them clearly. The same goes for their coat colors, if you'd like me to replicate those as closely as possible.
If it's a horse, I'd prefer them to be without a bridle or any other gear.
If it's a wild animal, try to get a close enough shot so that I can see the animal clearly. It's best if you can capture the animal in a still position rather than running or jumping - unless you have the capability of shooting a photo that is not blurry when the animal is in action.
If it's a zoo or aquarium animal, try to avoid taking photos where fences, cages, or the glare from glass panels obstruct part of the animal's body.
It's best if the animal is dry, especially if they have long fur.
Especially if it's a long-haired, all-white, or all-black animal, it's helpful to see their fur texture:

Take lots of photos! Then please spend some time picking the best photos to send to me. Anywhere from 1-5 photos will do. Be sure to tell me which photo you'd like me to paint from.

Have fun snapping some great pictures!

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