Reference Photographs

 

Because I work from your photographs, the quality of the photos you send me is crucial to the accuracy and quality of the finished portrait. If you have one perfect photo, that's just fine, but it's not necessary. I can combine several photos to get the references necessary for your portrait.

A few basic tips to keep in mind if you are taking photos,
or having them taken, for your portrait:

1. Get as CLOSE as possible without blurring the image.
2. The focus in at least one photo should be on your the FACE and head.
3. Take the photos OUTDOORS in good natural light (a bright overcast day works best).
4. Try to keep the background LIGHT or uncomplicated.
5. Take photos from SEVERAL ANGLES or different poses; if you have a special favorite that you would like me to use as my primary reference, be sure to let me know which one that is.
6. If you have a particular facial expression, animal's ear set or head tilt, or other feature that you would like shown in the portrait, be sure that it is included in at least one of the photos. If possible, send a selection of photos and indicate your favorites, this helps me get a more complete understanding of you and you faithful friend.
7. It is also helpful if you tell me a little about you. This can be anything from a simple description of you and your pet to a "how we met" story or a fond reminiscence of your lives together. I've often found that my best portraits are done when my clients have been very generous in describing their relationships with their companion animals.
    

Finally, be assured that I take excellent care of all photographs sent to me and of course always return them along with the completed portrait. If you have any concerns about the safety of your photos, it¹s best to send duplicates rather than the originals. If your photos were taken with a film camera, the actual photo is preferred rather than a scan or copy. If they were taken with a digital camera, you can send them on a disk or email them in .jpg format at high resolution (300dpi or more). Printouts of digital photos are not recommended.