Tips for Photo References
What Makes for a Good Portrait – People and Pets
Keep in mind that what reference photos you choose to submit for a commissioned painting will directly affect the outcome of the painting. I paint what I can see.
​
Of course, I will discuss any and all photos with you before starting any project, especially those photos that may prove problematic.
​
To help you in choosing references from the myriad of photos you will most likely have to choose from, please consider these aspects:
Quality of the Photo
#1 - Quality of the Photo:
Choose a clear and detailed photo. If the eyes or other features are blurry, I won’t be able to capture the likeness and personality, and that would affect your overall enjoyment of the portrait. Please choose wisely.
​
Angle of the photo:
If you are wanting a full body portrait of your pet, it is best to have photos that are relatively at eye level rather than looking down at an extreme angle. Sometimes, the angle can lose an ear, legs, or tail and makes for an awkward and confusing composition.
Whether it is a person or a pet, clear pictures showing the subject at its best and fullest representation will make for a better reference photo.
​
Multiple Subjects:
A group portrait can be made from one photo or a few different photos - don’t worry about having one photo that shows each candidate perfectly. I can create a composition that brings the best photo of each subject together for one cohesive group portrait. If possible, keep similar lighting in mind unless you are looking for a montage of unrelated images in one artwork as in a life span from puppy to senior.
Lighting & Environment
Lighting:
All subjects need good lighting to reveal the full face and parts of the body. If there is difficulty in making out an element or if it is missing altogether, I may be able to work out a “likely” mirrored element, but not necessarily always - especially if there are particular markings or details that are left out of the submitted photo.
Additional photos showing the ears or other missing parts from the favorite photo to be used for the composition will help fill in the gaps. Also keep in mind that all reference photos should be from the same time period so as to be consistent in appearance.
​
Dramatic lighting:
Just keep in mind that certain details will not be available for interpretation if lighting is too extreme.
​
Environment:
Cluttered backgrounds will be edited out so that the focus will be on the subject(s) at hand unless the scenery has significance to the overall setting of the composition and is a meaningful aspect of the portrait. Outdoor scenes can be incorporated into the painting easier, but again, may be simplified so as not to distract from the focal point of the subject(s).