Taking Pet Reference Photos
Reference photo checklist:
Highest image quality possible - so I can add in all those little details unique to your pet
Good Lighting - natural lighting with minimal shadows
Good angle - photos taken front on at pets eye level
Reference photo vs art
Photo Quality
If you provide me with high quality photos then I can create a more detailed portrait.
Lower quality photos aren’t ideal, but sometimes they are all we have! If this is the case we will work together to create a special memorial to remember your pet.
This photo is a high quality reference and would be perfect for a headshot portrait.
When you zoom in the details stay clear and don’t become blurry and pixelated
Lighting
Taking photos in natural light shows the true colour of your pets fur and eyes better.
If the light is too bright, or part of your pet is in shadow then it makes it very difficult to see and I have to guess, or ask for more photos to work from.
This photo has bad lighting, there is too much shadow AND overly bright light on this dogs face
This photo has excellent natural light and shows the true colours of this dog
Capturing their Character
The pose and facial expression captured in the photo can change the mood of your portrait. Sometimes animals can look happy and ‘smiley’, tired, stressed, or serious.
It’s a good idea to capture your pets when they are relaxed!
This is an excellent photo for a full body portrait - the dog is relaxed and comfortable in a sitting position
This would not be a good photo to show the pets true character. He doesn’t look comfortable or relaxed
Photo Angle
The best photos are taken front on!
You may need to get down to your pets eye level, and capture your pet front on looking directly at the camera or to the side.
The first photo of this little Jack Russell has been taken with the camera looking down at the dog. I could still use it to create a headshot as the photo has good detail and light … BUT!
The photo to the right has been taken with the camera at the dogs eye level and gives us much better options for a full body portrait