Pet Portraits - Dogs, Cats, Animals, Wildlife, Landscapes & Cards - How to Take Photos for Portraits by Isabel Clark - English Artist

Pet Portraits - How to Take that Photo for Your Painting

I love my pet portrait work, but one of the saddest aspects is where an old pet has died and the owner has no clear photo to remember their friend by, or, indeed, to create a pet portrait memorial to their lost one. So take those pictures now, even if you do not yet decide on a painting of your pet.

I can also create greeting , Christmas, birthday and anniversary cards from your pet dogs, cats, animals, your home, children etc; from your CLEAR photos. Details can be seen on the Greeting Card Page.

So, if you have no CLEAR photos of your pets, get clicking and send your favourite photo to me for that pet portrait painting. You will be delighted with the result.

How about a painting of your home and garden. Remember the warm days of summer as, during the cold days of winter, you gaze at your painting of your sunny garden and home.

Pet dogs, cats, animals or any child or adult can be painted into the scene, even if they were not in that particular photo. Many things are possible. If you have a special request, just ask. If it is possible it can be done.

If  you want a really unusual and special gift for a pet or animal lover for Christmas, Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Easter, Anniversaries, Retirements, Presentations or any other celebration, a portrait of a beloved pet is always a unique and very welcome gift. Whether it is a dog painting, cat painting, horse painting, wild animal painting, bird painting, child or adult human painting or a painting of someone's home and garden, it will bring delight and surprise to the recipient.

The quality of the photograph you send is of the utmost importance. To enable me to recreate your pet’s individual character I MUST be able to see their details. The nostrils, lips etc. must be large enough and clear enough to see. Remember, you know your pet’s face by heart but I have to rely solely upon the photograph you send to get their unique characteristics.

If your pet has sadly passed away and you have no clear photo, please select the largest and clearest photo you can find and I will do my utmost. Please realise however, that this will not always be possible as I must be able to see some details.

Try to take the photo out of doors with the light shining on the front of the pet. Brilliant sunshine or Flash is not always best as the features and coat colours can be flooded out. Similarly, if a dark pet is photographed in shade, it is sometimes very difficult to distinguish between where the animal ends and the background begins. It is also very difficult to see how the ears lie against the head. Every pet is different. I have painted many black Labradors but all of them have their own little features so none are alike.

With light coloured pets, again bright sunshine can flood out the texture of the coat and make it impossible to see the actual hair or fur. Just take the picture in normal daylight. In mid summer the morning or evening would give a less harsh light.

Try to have a plain background for your pet’s photo, such as a fence, plain hedge, lawn or wall. If you have a light coloured pet try to take the photo against a darker tone background. If you have a dark coloured pet try to take the photo against a lighter background. This will prevent the details of your pet’s form being lost in the background.

GET DOWN ON YOUR PET’S LEVEL. I have had some lovely photos which, unfortunately look down onto the pet from above which does not make the best pose for a portrait.

Get as close to your pet as you can but make sure you stay in focus. If you would like a Head Study, try to zoom in on the head only. This will give the clearest details.

If you require a Full Body Study, try to fill the entire photo with the pet’s body. Unless you wish me to paint the whole scene the background is not necessary. If you do wish me to paint the whole scene, please take another photo of just your pet, in the same position but as close to your pet as possible so that I can still see all the necessary details.

Some pets will not stay still for a photo. If this is the case, just ask someone to stand behind him/her to hold their collar. If they try to hold the collar from behind their hand should not get in the way and, of course, this person would be painted out unless you requested otherwise.

If you have 2 separate photos of your pets which you want combined in one painting, this can be done. Just try to ensure that the pets are not both facing the same side. This would not be so satisfying visually. This also applies if you require 2 different paintings of pets which you wish to hang together on your wall. It looks much nicer if the pets can be just slightly turned towards each other.

Finally, if your pet has a long tail and the tail is lying outstretched, the painted image will have to be much smaller to accommodate it. If you wish the body of your pet to fill more of the painting, please ensure your pet’s tail is either curled around the body or the pet’s body is facing more or less to the front, not sideways.

I hope the above hints will help you and I achieve what we both want - a beautiful painting of your pet, showing their unique character which you know and love.