Choosing a Good Reference Photo

If you are visiting my dog portraits photography tips and tricks page, you must be thinking about commissioning a dog portrait in oil from me. Clients first step when thinking about commissioning a dog portrait is to look at a range of photos they already have, to see if any are suitable for a dog portrait. If you feel they aren't quite good enough, new photos would be your next step.

The reference image for a potential commission is of a paramount importance, as I rely on it for anatomical details, likeness, lighting and composition.
1. Image Quality/Size: The photo has enough detail
2. Lighting:
3. Perspective: Photo is taken at eye level
If I “see” it, I will paint it. If I don’t, no amount of struggle will help to arrive at a satisfying result.

Sharpness

A great reference photo is not blurry. It is high-resolution, crisp and sharp - in- focus. Most smartphones today have sufficient resolution. When I am painting dogs, I zoom in to the photo to see the detail in the dog - ie eyes, nose, coat, tags etc and by allowing to see the full resolution image, we can invariably add more detail into the portrait.

Lighting

Good lighting is also essential. If the image is blurry or pixelated, it will be difficult to draw in a realistic style. A photo with great lighting helps a ton, and will ensure the painting looks realistic.
A photo taken outdoors in natural sunlight with shadows and highlights provides great detail to the structure of the animal’s face and head.

Perspective

Get down to your pet’s level and photograph from there. If you are photographing your pet standing looking down, it doesn’t lead to a great reference photo.
To take the photos at the correct level, crouch or sit down on the ground - or if the pet is able, place them on a table or other stable surface to take photos. This allows us to look into their eyes.

* The higher the resolution and sharper your image, the more detail I can include in your portrait. Blurry photos will only result in vague and muddy portraits.
* a very clear and sharp view of the facial features
* a clear view of the eyes, ideally both or at least one eye in the light (creates depth and luminescence)I need to be able to see the features clearly and it needs to be reasonably well lit.
* not an action shot. Working with blurry images is impossible.
* the photo should be large enough to allow for zooming into the features.
* The best photos are taken in natural light, preferably outside with the light source in front or on a cloudy day. Artificial light, and very strong sunshine often result in harsh highlights and over exposed images that won't translate well into a painting. It's also best to turn off the flash on your phone or camera.
* the face of the animal should be at least partially lit up. If it’s all in the shade, it takes away from the visual interest
* Photos are best taken at your pet's height, rather than from above or below, as this can create a distorted and unflattering view. If you are photographing your pet standing looking down at them, it does not lead to a great reference photo. The natural foreshortening that occurs looks odd and out of place in a painting.
* a portrait shot, possibly with a bit of the torso and paws if they add to the visual interest
* an assymetrial view is preferred. Strictly symmetrical frontal view of the face creates a static and thus more boring composition.
*It helps to have minimal background clutter. There needs to be a clear distinction between subject (your pet) and the background.
*If your pet is light colored, it helps to have a darker background, and vice versa.

THE PERFECT PHOTOGRAPH

The photo of this dog is pretty much perfect for her. We can see the fur clearly, the photo is in focus, close in the frame and it doesn't cut any of her out, we can see her paws and the tops of her ears. If you require any guidance when it comes to taking photos please do email us at anytime.

Do This…

Not That…