A good reference photo is always key to a beautiful drawing.
I work from the client's photographs (with the exception of wildlife portraits where I can provide some suitable photos for you).
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These MUST be of high quality - the better the quality of the original photo, the better the quality of the finished drawing. I work in very fine detail, so a good reference photo is a must!
However, in the case of memorial portraits where we may possibly have limited photos to work from, we can work around this. Please don't hesitate to contact me and I will see what I can do for you.
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I welcome you to send as many photos as you would like of the portrait subject, as multiple photos can often help me to see more of the animal's character - even if there is one angle in particular that you would like.
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Alternatively, if you are local, I can come and meet you and take some reference photos of my own free of charge!
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Tips And Tricks For A Good Reference Photo
1) Get as close as you can! This is by far the most important tip. Images taken from a distance that have to be cropped will miss out a lot of crucial detail. A close up head and shoulders shot is ideal, so we don't end up with just a floating head.
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2) Lighting is key - natural lighting outdoors is best wherever possible. Very sunny and bright days are ideally to be avoided, as the light can cause high contrast and dark shadows. Try to keep the light coming from behind you so your pet's face will be evenly lit.
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3) Angles make a big difference. Try to be on eye level when you take your photo, rather than standing above. For dogs and cats, either front profile or a slight angle works well. For horses, a solid front profile doesn't present so well as a drawing, and these should be taken from the side wherever possible.
