Choosing a Reference Photo

My brother loved to take the most hilarious photoshoots with our family dog Angel, so when she passed away, I painted him this portrait capturing her as the bold and sassy force she was.

“I can’t decide which photo to use.”

I hear this quite a bit when painting custom pet portraits. Choosing the right reference photo for your painting can be challenging, and even a little intimidating. How can one single photo capture the true spirit of your furry best friend? How do you decide which photo would best translate to painted canvas?

Because every pet is entirely unique, there’s no one right answer. Instead, here are a few helpful things to consider when choosing a reference photo:

CONSIDER QUALITY:

Ask yourself which of your photos are of the highest quality? I recommend sending photos at least 1 MB in size to ensure all details are visible. I always edit reference photos before painting to ensure maximum clarity, but even still, if your reference photos are blurry or grainy, it may be too challenging for me to discern important details. Zoom in on your photo and see if you can decipher important details in your pet’s features before sending along. Can you see that cute little dot on your pup’s nose? Can you tell which color eyes your cat has from the photo alone? Remember that a high quality photo is easier to turn into a high quality painting.

This is a great example of a high-quality reference photo: the subject is still and in focus and the details are crisp and clean.

CONSIDER LIGHTING:

As anyone who’s ever taken a selfie could tell you, lighting is everything. Before snapping a pic or sending one along, consider what kind of lighting you’re working with and how it might change the look of your fur friend. Is your black cat obscured in too much shadow? Is your white dog washed out with too much bright light?

When possible, I recommend using natural, outdoor lighting for the most crisp, clean images. Then ask yourself how the light can work in your favor. Do you want a dramatic shadow down by your pup’s feet or would you rather full sunlight on their face? Whatever your preference, I will do my best to make your pet’s portrait shine bright.

The paintings of these sweet little pups are similar in composition, but feature very different lighting. Do you prefer dramatic shadows and high contrast or soft, diffused lighting?

CONSIDER COMPOSITION:

I’m happy to crop and edit a photo for you to find the best possible composition, but it helps to know your preferences. Consider whether you would prefer an up-close portrait of your pet’s precious face or a full body shot to show off their athleticism (or maybe their cute little tail). Would you rather an off-center composition, featuring a distant landscape or would you rather a centered piece on a vibrant pop of color? Send a photo that features the composition you like best.

Here are three different composition examples: an off-center composition of a dog within a landscape, a centered full-body composition and an up-close portrait composition with a pop of color in the negative space What kind of composition would you prefer?:

CONSIDER PERSONALITY:

Now that you’ve considered all the more technical details of a great reference photo, think about how you would like to remember your fur friend. Are they spunky and bold or sweet and gentle? Are they regal and handsome or an absolutely precious goofball? Consider sending along a pic that best captures their unique personality so that your beloved furball can be immortalized as their true, genuine selves.

Here are two paintings similar in colors and composition, but very different in personality. Which style best suits your fur friend?

Do you have any more questions about selecting the best reference photo? Shoot me an email or message me on social media. I’m happy to answer any questions and give my input on any potential reference photos.