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Most of the portraits that I draw or paint
are done from photos that clients
have sent to me. Over the years this has
been a problem at times.
If you are commissioning a portrait, you may
want to take some photos
with the needs of an artist in mind. Here
are some examples of photos that
show some of the do's and don'ts when
choosing a photo for a portrait. |
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Don't |
Do |
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Black & White dogs are especially difficult
to photograph.
The best possible lighting is achieved
outside in natural light.
For the safety of strictly indoor pets, get
as close to a large window that allows as
much
natural light as possible towards your pets
face.
Avoid using a flash as it can cause red-eye
and distort the true coloring and shading
of your pet's coat. Avoid direct sunlight, a
bright but overcast day is perfect.
Make sure if you have a dark colored animal
that you photograph them in front
of a lighter colored background. If you have
a light colored animal photograph them in
front of a darker colored background. |
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Don't |
Do |
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Photograph your pet on their level.
Don't have them look up at you unless this
is the way you wish the portrait to appear.
Sit on the floor, lie in the grass, whatever
it takes to get on their level.
This is especially important for full body
shots. |
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Don't |
Do |
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If your pet will not sit still, have someone
hold them in position or you hold them and
have someone else take the picture. The
hands, arms or leashes in the frames
do not matter as long as they do not cover
any important markings and are not
incorporated into the portrait. |
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More Tips |
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* Be ready to click
away! Take plenty of facial photos from
several angles, side and three-quarter
view (see westie above) and body shots as
well. Sometimes a slightly angled pose
can make a beautiful portrait. Full body
shots are usually best from the side or
three-quarter
view. (remember to get on their level)
*It is a good idea to have a favorite toy or
treat ready. An assistant is always handy!
Have them hold the pet or the leash and toss
a toy or treat in the direction in which you
would like the pet to look. Sometimes
squeaky toys, whistling or making high pitch
noises
may help engage your pet. Don't be afraid to
be silly and use unusual movements
or noises to get their attention!
* Most of all, remember to have fun and
don't be in a rush. Sometimes it takes
a lot of patience to get the right
shots..but the results last a lifetime!
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Examples of Artist
Interpretation |
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This is Spike the American Bulldog.
These are the pictures sent to me on the
left and the finished portrait on the right.
His owners asked if he could be drawn with
his tongue in his mouth.
I did some guesswork but was happy with the
results as was the client!
Otherwise the photos were of good quality
for a portrait. |
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This is Chip the Boston Terrier.
On the left are the pictures that were sent
to me and on the right is the finished
portrait.
This portrait was very challenging since the
lighting in the photos was so dark on the
black coat that
a lot of guesswork had to be done for the
shading detail to keep the portrait bright. |
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This is Willow the Golden Retriever.
On the left is the photo sent to me and on
the right is her finished pencil portrait.
The photo was a bit blurry so I did some
guesswork as to the fine details. |
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This is Patches the Boston Terrier.
His photo was excellent for a portrait and
easy to interpret.
What a little Character! |
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In Closing |
* Please note that the
quality of the portrait I am able to draw or
paint will
depend on the photos that you send to me. If your
pet is a dark smudge with glowing
eyes somewhere in a dark background, I'll
have less to work with and the
final portrait with be part guesswork.
This means I will not be able to capture
a true representation of your pet.
Thank You for reading my Photo Taking Tips! |
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