This page is still under construction. When it's completed, you will have access to many tried and true tips for taking better pictures of your pets.

For now, though, we'll just address the basics:

If you'd like a head shot of your pet, try to find a relatively close-up photo. Remember, the details of color, markings and expression in my portrait will all come from the photos you send me, and it's sometimes difficult to get a reliable sense of what your dog or cat looks like if your photo is too distant.

Don't hesitate to send more than one photo if the additional pictures will give me a better sense of the details of your pet's appearance. Just be sure to indicate which is the primary picture, the one that depicts the pose you'd like me to work from.

Strong lighting--that is, a combination of dark shadows and very brightly lit areas--can be an excellent feature in a painting, giving it an appealing sense of drama, and I welcome photos that are dramatically lit. Be sure, though, to send additional pictures that let me know what's hidden in the shadows of your primary portrait, as it's so embarrassing when I mistake a trick of the light for a feature in your pet's coloring...

 

If you don't yet have the photo you want, and plan on doing a photo shoot,
the following tips might be helpful:

Since cats and dogs don't always want to pose (and often show a very inconvenient tendency to want to play with your camera), it's sometimes useful to have an assistant to help you direct their attention. Sticks and squeaky toys can be handy too. Or a hat with a pop-up feature installed in the crown, if you happen to have one.

Try to get down on your pet's level to photograph him--eye-to-eye shots are almost always more appealing than photos that look down from above, and your pet is often more comfortable that way as well.

Try to find a location with lots of natural light for your photos--outdoors, if that's feasible, but a well-lit interior with lots of windows can be very effective too. To some extent, I can adjust photos to compensate for any peculiarities of artificial lighting, but, again, if I'm to know what your pet really looks like, at least one shot taken in more or less natural lighting is very helpful.

Finally, take LOTS of pictures! Unless you're a professional, it always seems to be the lucky accident that yields the best results, so why not stack the odds in your favor? Happy snapping!

 

As far as sending me your photographs is concerned:

Feel free to send hard copies--I can scan them for you and return them with your finished portrait. Or you can get pictures scanned at your local Kinko's and send the file in an email attachment. If you need further instructions, contact me.

When sending photos with your initial inquiry, lo-resolution images are fine--anything down to 75 pixels per inch (ppi) will be sufficient to give me an idea of what you want for your portrait.

If, after we've planned your portrait, you are sending digital files for the actual painting, please aim for a minimum resolution of 200 ppi. If the file you're sending seems ridiculously large or you run into problems with your server, try cropping the photo to eliminate unnecessary background elements. If the file is still too large to send, contact me and we'll work something out.