The 7 Best Tips for Capturing Great Pet Photos for Custom Portraits
Jan, 2024
Having beautiful, high-quality photos of your pet is the key to getting a stunning custom pet portrait. When it comes to painted, embroidered, or engraved custom art of your furry friend, you want to provide the artist with excellent reference material. Follow these 7 tips to master taking outstanding pet photos at home that are ideal for custom portraits:
1. Use Natural Lighting
Bright, soft natural light is best for capturing the details and colors of your pet's face and fur. Outdoor shade on a sunny day works great. If you're inside, position your pet near large windows. Avoid using your camera flash which can cast harsh shadows.
2. Focus on Their Eyes
Since eyes are central to conveying personality, make sure they are in crisp focus. Try getting down on their level for front-facing shots. For non-blurry eyes, manually focus if needed.
3. Choose Clear Expressions
Capture your pet looking naturally alert, happy, and calm. Clear close-up headshots or full body poses where their expression shines through are most portrait-friendly.
4. Slow Down Their Movement
To prevent motion blur, grab attention with toys or treats to get them to pause. This allows you to snap a few quick clear shots.
5. Minimize Background Distractions
Simple, solid backdrops spotlight your pet best. If outdoors, look for plain grass, fences, walls. Indoors try clean walls or bedspreads.
6. Shoot Eye Level Poses
Being at your pet's eye level results in visually pleasing angles rather than distorted downward shots. Go low with small dogs.
7. Take Lots of Photos!
Don't settle on just a few pics. Get multiple angles, poses, expressions. This provides options for portrait samples. Review and retake if needed.
Following these pet photography tips will equip you with fantastic source material to share with the artist creating your custom artwork. This enables them to do their best work capturing and celebrating the unique personality of your furry friend. Simply send your favorite polished shots, then relax as they transform memories into a stunning handcrafted portrait.
