Photographic tips commission animal paintings

  • Set your digital camera to high quality image (300 dpi) instead of the default 72 dpi. Mobile phones rarely take good enough pictures
  • Photograph outdoors if possible, in good light conditions, without flash. Bright sunlight often causes squinting and creates strong shadows that reduce the detail I can see, so a bright overcast day is better. If you can’t get outside, try to position the subject near a window for as much natural daylight as possible, but not in direct sunlight.
  • Get down to their eye level because a good view of the eyes is really important. Lie on the ground if necessary.
  • Ensure that the area you want painted almost fills the viewfinder and is in focus.
 
 
Don’t worry about what’s in the background – that will be edited out
 
Enlist the help of someone (plus toys or treats) to position the animal’s head where you want it and get a lively expression.
 

Watch that tongue(especially if you don’t want it painted), best to photograph before exercise.

 

to our animal painting commisions page 

 

 

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