Photographing animals for portraits.
About Amanda Tittley's Pet Portraits
The Ideal Pet Photograph
As well as being in focus, it’s important that your pet is a large part of the image. Ideally , the pet is looking at the camera so that features like the eyes, nose and whiskers are clear.
You are more than welcome to send further photos so I can be sure to get accurate colouring or other important details accurate.
The Ideal Pet Photograph
It is very important that I have a clear photograph of your pet to work from. It is vital, as I have never met your pet and I really need to be able to see the eyes clearly and get the feel for the character of your pet.
Below is a guide for taking photos of your dog, cat, horse or any other animal you would like painting. You may already have a photo that you want to use.
A camera on your phone is fine - you don’t need any special equipment if you get the basics right.
So, send a photograph that is clear, up close (fill the view finder with your pet, not your house or garden!) and is of a pose that is typical of your pet. To achieve this the following guide helps you get the photo you want.
1). Lighting is important
The best possible lighting is achieved outside or by a window in a bright room like a conservatory. A bright overcast day is best. Sunshine will make your pet squint and may distort the true colours. When outside, stand with your back to where the sun would be behind the cloud and have your pet facing you. This gives the maximum natural light to your pet. See below a photo taken with the light that is behind a cloud and is behind the photographer. This is particularly important for pets that are black or white. If the lighting is too strong the camera can’t cope with these colours and there will be areas on the face that are black with no detail. The same with white pets, they will look bleached out.
If you have to take a photograph of your pet indoors, usually this is the case with cats as they are hard to capture outside. Then take the photograph in a bright room or preferably a conservatory. Stand with your back to the window and have your cat or dog face you. This will give maximum light on the pet.
2). Hints for different animals
Dogs
The best position for your dog is to have them sitting up and try to be at the same level as your dog. Photos looking down at them don’t look right and they will be looking up at you, which means we will be looking up their nose and it distorts their face. If need be, lay down to be at the same level.it may be a good idea to have someone else near you with a toy or treat to get the dog interested and alert. Get them to hold a treat by your ear. A good pose is one where they are looking at your ear and is better than face on, or completely side view. The photo below is of my own dog and I held a treat at the height I wanted him to look at.
If you want a full body dog portrait or part body dog painting, then sitting up or laying down usually works well.
Horses
Be careful not to take a photo looking up the horses nose ! This can happen if you are too close or too low. It is best to stand back and then crop the photo ( or send the photo and I will crop it for you ).
If you have a dark coloured horse, be careful not to take the photo against a dark stable doorway. We could loose the mane in the background! Bring the horse out into the yard or field and stand with your back to where the light is coming from behind the clouds. A bright overcast day is best, no sunshine , with the horse facing the light.
Cats
Cats are difficult to photograph. If you can get a photo of them outside, that is preferable. If it is a head study, you would like, then to make it easier you can get someone to hold the cat in their arms, making sure they don’t have their hands near the cats neck. If you would like a full body cat portrait and can’t take photos outside, then indoors in a bright room near the window is best. Have your back to the window and the cat facing you. Bright sunshine will affect the colours , so take it on a slightly cloudy day.
In general :
It’s a good idea to send me several photos , taken over a period of a couple of days, if that is possible.
I hope these tips will help you achieve the photos you would like me to work from.
If you wish me to paint a portrait of your beloved one who has passed away I will work from the best photograph you have.
I very much look forward to hearing from you and to painting a portrait of your beloved pet.