Choosing a Reference Photo

Reference photos are used by artists to help capture the subject’s pose and expression. Having a quality image to work from has a significant impact on the outcome of a portrait. For best results, choose an image that has clear lighting and strong details, which helps to capture your pet’s unique expression.

Lighting

A clear, natural light source—whether outdoors or near a well-lit window—greatly enhances your photo by casting appealing shadows and emphasizing the brightness in your pet’s eyes. Seeing the colors and glare of their eye helps to mimic realism and add depth to their expression. Natural light also enhances an image’s overall quality, offering sharper details and higher resolution. Be mindful, however, not to position your pet with the light source behind them (backlit), as this can lead to an adverse effect, washing out essential details.

Angle

Avoid strong angles, such as standing over your pet, or shooting from above while they lie on your lap. For a more natural portrait and to prevent awkward poses, position your camera at eye level with your pet. Alternatively, a slight downward angle while your pet gazes up at the camera may also yield good results, and create a more casual and modern portrait.

Distance

Photos taken too close to your pet can introduce distortion, while shots taken from a significant distance may struggle to convey realistic details. To strike the right balance, maintain a few feet of separation from your pet, and utilize your camera's zoom function when necessary. Zooming in, instead of physically moving closer, can help maintain image integrity and prevent distortion.

I strive to capture every detail of your pet, which is more easily achieved with a clear photograph. While combining good lighting, an eye-level angle, and proper distance will all promote a high-quality image, you may already have already captured their perfect expression, but the image is a little fuzzy. Or, if your pet has passed away, you are not able to retake their picture to fit with these suggestions. If your main reference photo is missing some details, I can also use other pictures you have of them to fill in some blanks—to ensure I get every hair and whisker possible!