I encourage all clients to submit multiple photos. The more visual information I have, the more accurate a portrait I can create. I work from enlarged versions of the originals, so high-quality, large jpegs are greatly appreciated. Photos sent by mail will be scanned and returned along with the finished portrait.
If you will be taking new photos for your pet's portrait, here are some things to keep in mind:
Distance: Priority #1. The closer (without distortion) the better! Have your pet fill as much of the frame as possible.
Lighting: Priority #2. Natural lighting is usually best. Early morning or late afternoon are good times of day for photographing. Your photo will show the most detail if the light source is behind the camera, or coming from the side. Avoid light sources located behind your pet!
When using flash, take the picture from farther away and allow the zoom to compensate for the distance. This way, your flash won't wash out colors, and you reduce the chance of red-eye.
Black & dark-colored animals: Proper lighting is crucial to bring out the highlights and tones of your pet's coat and to distinguish features. Multiple photos are highly recommended.
Full-body portraits: Please send an additional photo of your pet's head for reference.
Red-eye: If the photo you want to submit has red-eye, don't worry! Just describe your pet's eye color, or provide an additional photo that shows his/her eye color.
Multiple-pet portraits: Multiple-pet portraits can be created from an existing group photo with all pets in the desired positions, or from separate photos of each pet. In both instances, sending additional headshots for reference is highly recommended.
These are examples of portrait-ready photos. I also encourage clients to visit Paws to Adopt for examples of excellent, portrait-ready images. If you have questions about appropriate photos or photographing your pet, please don't hesitate to contact me at info@studiopet.com.
