Your portrait directly depends on the quality of your photos.
Please send 1 to 5 or more (the more the better!) good images in sharp focus. If you don't have many photos, send me what you have and I'll determine if the quality and composition are adequate to work from. Together we will determine which image to use.
Taking photos of your pet can be a bit challenging, so here are a few tips:
• Be Patient! I know that my dog Mona, as much as a rock star that she thinks she is, will almost always look away from me as soon as I get the camera out! It can be frustrating but I've learned that sometimes it takes two to get a good photo. So enlist the help of a friend to stand behind you (perhaps with a treat :-) and get your pet to look at them.
• Lighting. This is key to a great image. Use soft natural light either outdoors or in a sunny room. Make sure your pet’s face is well-lit. Sometimes dramatic lighting can be effective as long as there is still enough detail in the shadow areas of the face for me to work from.
• Composition. Photos often look best taken from your pet’s level but creative shots from different angles are welcome. Consider having something personal in the photo such as their favorite toy. Capture your pet doing an activity they love whether it’s running, sleeping or catching a frisbee. Whatever you do, try to fill the frame with your pet without cropping ears or cropping right below the chin.
• Background. Generally I eliminate, or just give a suggestion of, the background but incorporating backgrounds is not out of the question. If your pet is on a favorite piece of furniture, rug, is in their bed, or a particular scene such as the beach, etc., we can talk about how to incorporate that imagery and what it may add to the cost of the portrait depending on the complexity.
• Variety. Take full body shots and take close ups of their face but always include enough of the neck and chest so that the head isn't cropped right below the chin.
• Resolution. Use the highest setting on your camera and send the photos in their original size and format. Many "phone" shots are adequate to work from as well as long as you fill the frame with your pet. The file should be a minimum of 5MB and up to 50MB.
Good luck!
Painted Pet Art • cyndie@paintedpet.art