TIPS AND TRICKS FOR YOUR PICS
A GUIDE TO REFERENCE PHOTOS
To create the best portrait possible, I need good reference photographs. Obviously, not all of us have access to a professional photographer or a high-end camera, but that's not a problem!
I'll teach you my best tricks:
TAKING PHOTOS OUTDOORS
If you are going to take photos outdoors, make sure there isn't too much sun, as this will cause very intense shadows. The early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is not so intense, is the perfect time.
If it is very sunny, you can take the photos in the shade of something solid, such as a building or a large wall, but make sure it completely covers your furry model (do not take photos under a tree or you will get a mottled shadow and your model will have patches of light and shadow all over them).
TAKING PHOTOS INDOORS
Make sure the photo is taken in a well-lit area and try to find as much natural light as possible, such as a large window. Make sure your model receives all or three-quarters of the light on their face. If the light is behind them, it will be difficult to capture details in the shadows.
NIGHT PHOTOS
Don't take photos at night. This is the most difficult lighting situation, as the light depends on indoor lighting, cameras have difficulty capturing details in shadows, and the light can change the actual color of the fur to a yellowish color.
LYING DOWN
Photos in which they are partially lying down, but with their head up, turn out very well. They emphasize the face, allowing for greater detail. You can lean on a chair/bed to take a photo at the height of their face.
USE THE SUN TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
The most striking paintings I have done stand out because there is sunlight on one part of the model and little shadow on the other side, but you can also place the sun behind you so that your model is well and evenly lit.
GET DOWN
Avoid overhead shots; photos taken from above are unflattering and unnatural.
The ideal photo creates intimacy between the viewer and the furry model, which means you have to get down to their eye level, either looking directly at you or with their head slightly tilted to one side and looking past the camera.
NEITHER TOO CLOSE NOR TOO FAR AWAY
Camera lenses create distortion the closer you are to the model. It's like us, that's how we end up with a “big nose” in some photos. Take a step back so you can capture your model's entire head and as much of their ears, head, neck, and chest as possible. It can be full body or chest up, you decide!
EYE CONTACT?
Although seeing your furry friend's eyes is beautiful, they don't need to be staring at the camera, and it's okay if they look off into the distance. The trick is to make it look natural and not forced. In my experience, the best paintings I've done are those where the subject isn't staring at the camera but looking “into the distance” (so that I don't notice).
If you want direct eye contact, choose a toy or treat and hold it just above your phone's camera. This works much better than calling their name, because they tend to get up to come see you.
VARIOUS MODELS
If you want a painting with more than one furry friend, I will be happy to compose them into a single portrait. But please take photos with the same lighting and from the same angle. It is not necessary to take a photo of them together (we know how difficult it is to get a good photo with just one, now with two or more it is even worse). Having similar lighting and angles will create harmony in the portrait.
THE MORE, THE MERRIER
The more reference photos you send me, the better.
For example, sometimes we may like a pose, but the eyes are closed, and you have another photo with the eyes open but the tongue sticking out. Or you have a photo with the perfect pose, but the color is not real, and you have a photo that shows the color of the fur.
Send me all the photos from the session and we'll find the best one!
NO FILTERS
Please do not edit or add filters to the image. You would be surprised at what I can do with your unprocessed image. Send it to me with as few edits as possible. If necessary, I have editing software to bring out the best in each photo.
TURN OFF THE FLASH
The flash causes many problems and is very unflattering. It often hides many details, produces shadows and unnatural colors, and can cause the dreaded red-eye effect.
I DON'T HAVE A PROFESSIONAL CAMERA
Take it with the best cell phone you have; it doesn't have to be a professional camera. Make sure your phone is set to take pictures at the highest possible resolution and that they are clear.
You can help yourself by taking video instead of photos and taking screenshots of the best poses.
COMBINING PHOTOS
I also create paintings by combining several photos and attempting to make them as similar as possible. I only request that they be under the same lighting and patience, as these types of paintings require more planning time.
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SENDING THE IMAGE
When you send me the images by email, attach them to the message instead of embedding them (where they appear in the body of the email; you should use the small clip).
I recommend downloading them to your computer using Google Drive or by connecting your phone directly, copying and pasting; please do not use WhatsApp/Instagram/Facebook/etc. at any point in the process. If you send them directly from your phone, many email and messaging programs compress the images to reduce the file size.
I want as many pixels as I can get!