Pet Portrait Photo Tips & Guidelines

Having trouble picking the best photo of your pet for an oil painting? I can help - contact me to discuss. Let's get started.

🖼️ Multiple Photos 🖼️

Do you like different parts of several photos or can’t decide? You can pick more than one. Multiple photos help me see your pet’s personality and pick the best pose. I can also combine elements from several photos to make the portrait more meaningful.

💡 Lighting 💡

Good lighting is essential. It shows details and reveals shapes I need for painting. For best results, photograph your pet outdoors in sunlight. Indoor shots are often too dark or noisy, but a good indoor photo can work.

Use strong light (sunlight is best), not cloudy or diffused light. Position the light to define form: avoid camera flash or a light directly behind the photographer, which flattens the subject. A light at a 45° angle on either side works well. This is a guideline, not a rule.

Also make sure exposure is balanced. Over- or underexposed photos lose detail in bright or dark areas, making shapes hard to see.

📏 Distance 📏

Keep some distance between you and your pet. Avoid photographing them too close unless you want a fisheye/distorted look. Stay about 1–1.5 m (3.3–5 ft) away and use optical zoom. Many phones have telephoto lenses, so you can zoom without relying on digital zoom.

⚡Good details and high resolution ⚡

Avoid digital zoom. It reduces quality and makes photos blurry. Move closer to your pet until you find a good distance that keeps detail without being too close. Send only high-resolution photos in their original file sizes for the painting.

👁️ Horizon Level (Eye Level) 👁️

When photographing your pet, match the horizon or eye level to theirs. This makes the shot feel more personal and shows their view. Get down to their eye height, crouch or kneel for small or low pets, to avoid a distorted perspective.

✨ Special Circumstances ✨

If you can’t take more photos (for example, if the pet has passed), that’s fine. We can use the photos you have. If you know the pet’s breed, I can also use similar reference images.

Have questions? Contact me.