What you need to consider when choosing reference photos is:

• The photos (you can send more than one) should reflect your pet’s character and most loved features.  Your pet will have a particular look or expression that makes your heart melt and certain adorable features like soft gentle eyes, or cute floppy ears. Keep those things in mind when you’re choosing or taking photos of your pet, as those will be the photos that will go a long way to helping me capture your pet’s true likeness. 

• Higher the Resolution the better - the image file must be large in size to be able to be enlarged without the details in the photo becoming blurred, in particular the eyes and individual features of the fur direction.  Look at the file size, a file under 1mb in size is usually unable to provide the best resolution.

• Clear, sharp and in focus image, preferably a reasonably close up shot.  Trying to crop a long distance shot to get the head and shoulder profile will reduce the image resolution and clarity.  If you zoom into your image and the details become fuzzy or blurred then it will be too difficult for me to work with.

• Photos taken in natural daylight are usually the best in terms of portraying the light and shadows that allow a more lifelike appearance in a portrait and showing the truest colours of your pet.  But if the shot is indoors it is better by a window or souce of natural light to give some highlights. Dark and overexposed photos will not be suitable.

• Pet position.  Where possible choose or take a photo at eye level with the pet (the pet can be elevated on a logo or sofa to acheive this), photos from above looking down on the pet do not produce the best head portraits.  It is preferrable to have the pet looking away, rather than directly at the camera.  As soon as you point a camera at a dog they will focus on it and you, try having someone put a treat or toy at an angle to tilt their head slightly while you take the photo it can make all the difference.

• Photos taken off social media do not necessarily make the best choices this is because the photo is automatically reduced in size/resolution when it is uploaded to social media platforms.  

• Video clips, sometimes with very wriggly pets it can prove difficult to get good photos that show eye colour or close up details and a short video in natural daylight can help in addition to a main photo reference.

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I appreciate its a lot to consider, but the better the reference photos provided the better the portrait will be.  I will happily look at photos to assess their suitability.  If I feel I am unable to use the photos I will tell you prior to any payment being made. I don't like rejecting photos but respect that you are paying a significant sum of money for a quality portrait and I would not wish to dissappoint your expectations.