Easy Photography Tips for your Pet Portrait Paintings and one simple change that will improve your pet photos from today!

When you commission a pet portrait the better the photos the better the portrait. I know this isn’t always possible with a memorial painting and in those cases I will work with you to achieve the best result possible. Where you still have the honoured pet in question for the portrait there are a few things that you can do when taking photos that will not only improve the photos that you take of your loved ones but also will help me to give you the best portrait possible. These photos capture your dog’s character but also provide detailed reference material.
I am not a photographer and most of the time I use my iPhone. My very old Samsung is also just as worthy at taking great photos and that is pre-2016. Bear in mind these few things and your photos will improve. If you want one key tip I will include that at the end! Most phone cameras take great resolution photos already, so you don’t need any special equipment or need to change any settings.
Here are the key elements that will make your photos even better!

Good Lighting: Take your photos outside. Natural light avoids dark shadows and highlights the true colours of your pet. Flash is often needed inside so taking them outside avoids this as flash can cause red-eye and unnatural lighting. Your dog is also likely to be more relaxed outside with natural poses reflecting their personality able to shine through. A happy, curious, or relaxed expression can make the portrait more engaging.
Some key things to consider when ensuring good lighting include:
Being aware of where the light is coming from especially on a bright and sunny day. A back lit image can result in a wonderfully detailed background and a silhouette of your pet! Not much use unless you want a silhouette.
Avoid taking photos in shadow, especially that of a tree where it is patchy.
You equally don’t want your pet staring straight at the sun so at a slight angle works well.

Clear Focus: Your focus needs to be on your pet’s face. This is the most important part of the picture and the one that needs the most detail.
When using a phone camera and you have a busy background, you can lightly touch where the face is and the phone camera will automatically focus on that point. Sharp focus, especially on the eyes and face of the pet are crucial for capturing your pet's character.

Close-Ups: Don’t take photos from too far away. By the time I have zoomed in the resolution and detail can become lost. Get as close as you can to fill the screen. This means when I do zoom in, there is so much more for me to work with. Include close-up shots of the face, especially the eyes and nose, as these details are vital for creating a realistic and engaging portrait. Do you want your pet to look straight at the camera? Hold a treat in your hand or their favourite toy! If you have someone to help you, get them to hold it right by your phone.
Background: Try to find a background that contrasts well with your pet's fur colour to ensure the pet stands out clearly. Gardens are great for this, even a driveway or patio. The brick wall of your house or fence all work equally well. At the end of the day your pet is the most important aspect of your picture so this is less important than some tips, but this will help you have much nicer photos to share with friends and family. If you have portrait mode on your phone camera, this is a fabulous way to take photos that have focus where you need it and a slightly blurred background.
Full Body Shots: It’s also helpful for pet portraits to take full body photos to capture the pet's posture, fur pattern, and overall body shape, which can be especially helpful and essential if the portrait includes the entire body!
By following these suggestions, you'll provide me with the best possible reference material to create a beautiful and lifelike pet portrait painting, but I have one key tip for you. Turn your phone upside down! This simple change will massively improve your photos. Once you see the difference you will be doing this all the time.
So, why should you turn your phone upside down to take a pet photo ?
-The photo can be more engaging and capture your dog’s personality better.
-The dog’s face is often easier to keep as the main focus of the photo
-A slightly different camera position can catch your dog’s curiosity and keep better eye contact.
-Your photos stand out more and so will your painting!
-Also being slightly lower, the lighting can be so much better.
Give this one simple tip a try and share some photos! If you share them on social media tag me. I’d love to see them. Many thanks to Merlin who is just the most gorgeous model (gives great snuggles too!) and also to Bailey my King Charles Spaniel
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