A person may show squinty eyes or a bashful facial expression which may change the demeanor or the face.
For portrait drawings, it is best to provide photos with natural expressions.
The most important thing an artist can appreciate is quality in a photo.
These days, we carry mobile devices everywhere so there is a high chance you will probably take your picture with one of these rather than a quality digital camera. Although photo capability is improving on smart phones every year, most devices do not produce photos of high enough quality to reference for a portrait.
Please keep in mind, the better the quality digital camera, the more detail I will be able to provide in a portrait, which is especially important to capture the eyes- the gateway to the soul.
It is not always possible to take new photographs as a pet or family member may have sadly passed away.
If this is the case, please send your best photos and I will make it work. It is ok to send multiple photos of each subject. In fact, it is encouraged! If you only have low-quality photos, please do not get discouraged! Continue to submit your order and I will see what I can do to turn them into amazing pieces of art!
I cannot stress enough the importance of using a DSLR camera in order to produce the best drawings!
If you only have photos printed from an old analog camera, we can arrange for them to be sent to me to have scanned at a high resolution to reference from. All of your original photos will be returned with a completed portrait in the same manner they were received.
For maximum impact, get close to your pet and focus on their eyes!
Photos looking down on your pet look unflattering and unnatural to the eye. A pet photo should be taken at eye level of your pet for a more personal and intimate photo.
The best angles are with your pet looking straight at you or with their head slightly tilted to one side looking past the camera.
Be patient.
Laying on your tummy usually adds a unique perspective and allows you to see details you might not normally see.
The best way to capture a pet photo would be to have someone attract your pet’s attention behind you while you shoot or hold a treat in your hand close to your camera. Try making a high-pitched tone or whistle to get them in an alert pose.
For a portrait, the head size should be at least bigger than the size of a half-dollar coin (assuming it is at a high resolution)
The face should be unobstructed in order to show the shape of the face and definition of features.
Try to capture the person's typical smile or common expression.
Photos small, blurry, and dark are not recommended
To get the best photos, it is ideal to take them in natural light, preferably outdoors. The best time is on a bright overcast day is ideal to accurately portray colors, but not in direct sunlight.
If you are photographing indoors, taking a photo near a window or skylight will provide the best natural lighting.
Avoid using the cameras built in flash. Flash causes several problems and looks very unflattering. Often, flash masks out a lot of detail, causes unnatural shadows and colors, and can often result in red-eye or a glowing effect.
Photography Tips
Quality photos are so important!
Why?
Because poor photos may delay your drawing process.
Of course, I will accommodate specific photo requests as much as I am able. There's almost always a solution to a problem!
I have done wonders with even the poorest of photos!
It is important to make sure the picture of the vehicle you would like drawn does not have an obstructed/busy background.
Also, please make sure the headlights are off.
