Pet Portrait Information
Immortalize your best friend with a pencil portrait.

Here are some basic guidelines to help you capture your pets true personality on film for my reference while painting your portrait.

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1. The best light is an overcast day. Not too many shadows or bright spots.

2. Get down to eye level with your pet so he won't be distorted by camera angle.

3. If your pet won't stay, have someone hold him from behind, holding down on the front legs. Be sure the holder doesn't put his arms around your pets neck or any other part that will be in the final portrait.

4. Preferably, take your pets photo with his head turned a little, such as 3/4 view, or profile, as opposed to straight on.

5. Fill the frame with your pet's head and down to the bottom of his chest.

6. In the case of a dog, either you, or a third person, throw a small object up in the air, aiming it to land where you want the dog to look. Be ready to snap the photo the second the object hits the ground, as your dog should prick his ears and look alert at that moment.

7. I would like to see your photo beforehand and will tell you if it will work or not. I need a very detailed photo, as close to the position the portrait will be done in. I want to get your pet as accurate as possible and if I tried to change things too much without a photo, like head position, ears, etc, or if I can't see all markings and hairs, I run the risk of having it not accurately depict YOUR pet as I won't have the chance to see your pet in person and get to know him or her. So an excellent photo is essential.

"Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go
with you in the car, in case the need should arise for
them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear."

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