The best paintings result from your best photographs – like this one below:

Example image of dog portrait painted from photo

Ideally, they should have well balanced lighting, enabling me to see the features in detail. A pose with a three-quarters view often works well. Please supply at least one good photograph – more if possible – and email is the best way to send them to me at steve@animalvisual.co.uk. If they’re not good enough for use as reference, I’ll let you know, so please don’t send a payment until I’ve seen the photos first.

Here’s some tips to help you take good ones:

  • Go outside, as this can be a good way of getting balanced lighting – but try and avoid direct sunlight in the middle of the day
  • If you have a lively animal, have someone hold it still by the collar or bridle, or with hands placed on the animal’s shoulders – but please be careful not to obscure any features or details
  • Get down to the animal’s eye level
  • Avoid the use of flash unless you have a separate flash gun and know how to use it effectively
  • Show a dark animal against a lighter background – or vice versa – so I can make out its shape
  • Use a zoom lens if you have one and fill the frame, otherwise don’t get too close with your camera or you may have your animal painted with a big nose!
  • Show as much detail of the features as possible
  • If your animal is camera-shy and keeps looking down, use a surprise distraction such as a whistle or toy to get it to look up
  • Take several pictures from different angles if you can

So get snapping and send me your photos!

 

Still having trouble?

I can take the photos for you if you can bring your animal to a show where I’m exhibiting, but contact me first to make sure I’m going have my camera equipment with me. I could take them at your home but would need to charge extra to cover expenses.