Pet Portrait photography tips

When photographing your pet to create the perfect pet portrait image, there are several important factors to consider. The most important thing is to make sure the photo is clear and focused so that it captures your pet's appearance accurately. This will highlight all the small details and unique features of their physical characteristics.

• Choosing the right lighting angles is also very important. This will help bring out the texture, vibrancy, and depth of the pet's fur/coat, feathers, hair or even scales. It's crucial to try and accurately reflect your pet's personality in the photo, so that their true character is captured.

• Natural daylight is ideal, a slightly overcast day, rather than blazing sunshine. (thats not too much of an issue this year in the U.K!)
  In addition, paying attention to the composition and framing of the photo, to create a visually pleasing image that captures the viewer's attention. This allows for a celebration of your pet's expressive eyes and charming quirks.
  

• Ultimately, the goal is to create a pet portrait that captures both the pet's individuality and the special bond between the pet and their owner. This enables me to harness the delicate qualities of watercolour paint and bring your pet’s portrait painting to life!

Make it stand out

This is such a special image for me, our beloved Toby. He was poised, waiting for his very favourite ball, and captures his eagerness and smile - checkout his portrait in the rogues gallery - featuring some of the most fabulous pet portraits I’ve had the privilege to paint over the last 7 years as a professional portrait artist.

If you are planning a surprise commission or a memorial pet portrait and have limited  photos, then all is not lost -

I have worked from old and imperfect photos of our much loved family pets, some photographs have been over 20 years old. We can arrange a studio appointment to go thru your albums, whereby I scan them into computer and can then enhance, fix quality etc. I will then be able to advise you whether a detailed painted pet portrait is achievable or not. Very occasionally we have just not been able to get enough clarity from a blurry/old/out of focus image. Although if we have a few to work from, I have been able to pull details together and create a beautiful memorial portrait in a softer, loose watercolour style.

How not to do it!

Mr Toby again, this time he is not looking at me (its the ball again!) and image is slightly out of focus, so not suitable for a pet portrait reference image.

The images below are also poor reference photographs.

Check out the Photography Tips page for more tips and advice

Lola is so photogenic! You can see the light in her eyes, her lovely shiny nose and those Hi-lights in her floofy ears - a hairdresser’s dream! The portrait photo is part way thru the painting, you can see her character and the depth of detail I capture with watercolour paints and teeny tiny brushes.

Watercolour Pet Portrait taking shape!

Dog Portrait reference image

For some more helpful tips and how to arrange a photography session if you would like some help with the perfect photographs for your pet portrait , visit my Photography Tips page