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Tips For Taking Great Pet Photos

When taking photos of your pet for a portrait, it's best to keep in mind how you would like the finished picture to look. Take a look at some of the portrait examples on this site in order to get an idea of how you would like to pose your pet. Below are some tips on how to get good photo results.

LIGHTING
The best possible lighting is achieved outside in natural light. If your pet is an indoor pet, try to photograph them in natural ambient light - perhaps in front of a window. Try to avoid strong direct sunlight on the subject, as this can alter your pet's natural coloring ("bleaching" out colors in a photo). A bright overcast day works best. If possible, try to not use a flash, as it causes "red-eye" and/or may change the coloring and features of your pet.

EXPRESSION

You know your pet better than anyone, so try to capture the most characteristic expression of your pet. You may wish to have your pet's favorite treats or toys on hand when taking photos to keep their attention. Again, keep in mind the kind of expression that you would like to see captured in a portrait. When taking close-up photos of your pet's face, get as close as possible, filling the frame with your pet's face while staying in focus.

POSITION AND COMPOSITION
It is best to not have your pet looking up at you, nor to shoot looking down at your pet. Photograph your pet as close to your pet's eye or shoulder level as possible. Full body portraits look best when shot around your pet's shoulder level - either from the side or at an angled position, rather than from above. If your pet will not sit still, you may wish to have someone else hold them in position (if their hands or arms are in the photo, they can be removed by the artist in the portrait). Just make sure that any important markings or features of your pet are not covered up.

When taking a photograph, it is best to plan out how you want the finished photo to look. In other words, think about the "composition" of the photo, rather than just taking a snapshot and hope it turns out well. This includes your pet's position, expression, lighting, and how much of your pet is captured in the frame. Sometimes trial and error is the only way to come up with a few good photos. Experiment with composition and lighting. Look at the best photos, and study the elements - position, expression, lighting - that makes them good compositions. You will discover that using some of these same elements will also work well when taking photos of your family and friends.

DIGITAL PHOTOS

For the best quality, we recommend photos from a camera of 3 Megapixels (minimum) taken at the highest settings. Jpeg and TIFF are acceptable formats. If you have any questions about the quality of your photos, please contact us.

Above all, have fun!

Note: The quality of your pet's finished portrait will depend on the quality of your photos. If the photos are blurry, the lighting is bad, the colors are inaccurate, or the subject is too small, the artist will not be able to create an accurate representation of your pet.

Turn Your Beloved Pet Photos Into A Treasured Work Of Fine Art