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Oil and Pencil Pet Portraits from Photos

Pet Portraits from Photographs – Photography Tips Guide

Essential photography advice from professional pet portrait artists. Learn how to capture the perfect reference photos for oil paintings and pencil drawings with our expert guidance.

When you're commissioning a pet portrait, the photo you provide is the foundation of the entire artwork. A clear, well-lit image allows us to capture your pet's character, detail, and coloring with accuracy.

7 Essential Tips Professional Photography Guidance

Essential Photography Tips for Pet Portraits

Use Natural Light

Take photos in natural daylight for accurate colors and soft, even lighting.

Get to Eye Level

Crouch down to your pet's level for natural, flattering proportions.

Focus on Eyes

Ensure eyes are sharp and in focus - they're the soul of the portrait.

Step Back and Zoom

Avoid distortion by stepping back and using your camera's zoom.

Capture Personality

Let your pet be natural - personality shines through relaxed poses.

Send Originals

Use full-size, original images for the best portrait quality.

Photography Do's and Don'ts for Pet Portraits

Photography Aspect ✅ DO ❌ DON'T
Lighting Use natural daylight or window light Use harsh flash or poor artificial light
Camera Angle Get down to pet's eye level Photograph from above looking down
Focus Focus sharply on the eyes Allow eyes to be blurry or soft
Distance Step back and use zoom Get too close causing distortion
File Quality Send original full-size images Use screenshots or social media saves
Framing Include full body or complete head Crop ears, paws, or important features
"Take as many photos as you can so you have plenty to choose from - it will make all the difference to the portrait. We're here to help you select the perfect reference photo for your commission."
Close-up of a dog's face, demonstrating a good head study photo with clear focus and natural lighting, ideal for a pet portrait. Good head study photo for a pet portrait

Choosing the Right Photo for a Pet Portrait

When you're taking photos of your pet for a portrait, you're rarely going to get just one perfect enough to be 'The Photo'. Invariably, your pet might move slightly, or even shy away when you get your phone out. So, our advice is to take a full range of photos, maybe even on different occasions to keep the photoshoot fresh. Take as many as you can so you have plenty to choose from, as it will make all the difference to the portrait.

If you are commissioning a pet portrait, the photo you provide is the foundation of the entire artwork. A clear, well-lit image allows us to capture your pet's character, detail, and coloring with accuracy. Whether it's a pencil drawing or an oil painting, starting with a high-quality reference photo makes all the difference to the final result.

Mike's dog Kipper, a perfect example of a crisp, clear, and well-focused indoor photo taken with an iPhone 12, demonstrating good photography tips for pet portraits. Step Back and Focus

Step Back and Focus

This is Mike's lovely dog called Kipper. Although the photo was taken indoors, it's crisp, clear, and beautifully in focus. Mike used an iPhone 12 — proof that you don't need the latest smartphone to take a perfect reference photo for a pet portrait. The key? Step back a little from your dog and use your camera's zoom to frame the shot. This avoids distortion and helps keep the photo sharp. Most importantly, crouch down to your dog's eye level. That small adjustment makes a huge difference and results in a much more natural and flattering portrait.

Comparison showing a dog photographed from eye level (left) versus from above (right), illustrating the difference in perspective for pet portraits. Eye-level vs top-down photo

Get Down to Their Level

Photographing your dog, cat, or horse from their eye level creates a more natural and flattering image. Photos taken from above — looking down at your pet — often make the head look too large or the body awkwardly short. For portraits, we recommend crouching or sitting at your pet's level so we can see their face in natural proportions. It helps us bring out their personality in the artwork.

Comparison of a pet photo taken in natural light versus artificial light, highlighting how natural daylight provides accurate colors and soft, even illumination. Natural light vs artificial light

Natural Light is Best for Pet Portrait Photos

Here is Kipper posing beautifully in the sunshine! Natural daylight produces the most accurate colors and soft, even lighting — ideal for pet portraits. Take a few photos of your pet from different viewpoints if the sun is casting strong shadows. This means we will have plenty of choice and will be able to see your pet clearly. We recommend taking photos outside or indoors by a large window. Lighting plays a key role in how your pet looks in the final portrait, especially for fur detail and eye clarity.

Key Photography Tips: Use natural light, get to eye level, focus on eyes, step back and zoom, capture natural personality, frame properly, and send original full-size images. These fundamentals ensure the best reference photos for oil paintings and pencil drawings.
Two photos of a horse, one with clean, well-fitted tack and another completely without, for comparison as portrait reference. Horse with and without tack

Photographing Horses: Tack or No Tack?

If you would like tack to appear in your horse portrait, be sure to photograph your horse wearing it. Clean, well-fitted tack works best in the final painting or drawing. If you prefer a natural look, take reference photos without any tack at all. It's difficult to "remove" tack artistically from a photo, especially around complex areas like the face and cheek. If you are unsure, send both versions and we'll advise on the best approach.

Comparison illustrating natural, relaxed pet photos versus stiff, posed ones, emphasizing the capture of personality for pet portraits. Capturing your pet's personality

Capture Personality, Not Just Pose

The best pet portraits come from photos that show your dog or cat's real personality. A relaxed expression, a curious head tilt, or their usual "look" tells us so much more than a stiff, posed photo. Let your pet be themselves — no need to force a sit-stay unless they enjoy it! The more natural they look, the more character we can bring out in your portrait.

Examples showing optimal framing for full body pet portraits versus head and shoulders studies, avoiding cropping of essential features. Framing for full body or head studies

Full Body or Head and Shoulders?

Deciding on the composition of your pet portrait helps us know how to guide your photos. If you'd like a full-body portrait, make sure the entire body is in the frame — including feet and tail. For a head and chest portrait, a close-up of the face works best. Ideally, avoid cropping ears or cutting off important features. Always send the original uncropped photo so we have options to work with.

A close-up photograph of a dog's eyes in sharp focus, demonstrating the importance of clear eye detail for expressive pet portraits. Focus on the eyes

Focus on the Eyes

Eyes are the most expressive part of any animal, and they're vital to a successful pet portrait. When taking your photo, make sure the eyes are in sharp focus. Many phones will let you tap on the eyes on the screen to focus properly. Blurry eyes or soft focus around the face can make it difficult for us to achieve a true likeness in your drawing or painting.

Examples of individual pet photos (cat and dog) suitable for combining into a single multi-pet portrait, showing consistent lighting and direction. Best photos for multi-pet portraits

Multiple Pets in One Portrait?

It can be tricky to get multiple pets in one perfect photo — especially if they're not exactly best friends! We often create combined portraits using separate photos of each pet. This allows us to pose them naturally, adjust lighting, and balance the composition beautifully. If you would like a multi-pet portrait, try to take clear, individual shots of each animal facing the same direction and in similar lighting.

Image illustrating why to avoid screenshots and send full-size, original image files directly from your camera or phone for best pet portrait results. Send original full-size images

Send Original Full Size Images

For best results, please send us the original, full-size version of your pet photo — ideally straight from your camera or phone. Avoid screenshots, cropped images, or photos saved from social media, as they often lose quality. You can email large files direct, or use services like WeTransfer or Dropbox if needed. The more detail we can see, the more accurate and lifelike your portrait will be. If you are unsure - ask! We are always happy to help!

Technical Requirements Summary: Send original full-size images straight from camera or phone. Use natural lighting, eye-level perspective, sharp focus on eyes. Avoid screenshots, social media saves, or heavily cropped images. For file transfer use email, WeTransfer, or Dropbox for large files.

Pet Portrait Photography FAQ

Common questions about photographing your pet for portrait commissions. Expert guidance to help you capture the perfect reference photos.

A good reference photo should be taken in natural light, at your pet's eye level, with sharp focus on the eyes. Use original full-size images from your camera or phone, avoid screenshots or cropped images, and let your pet's natural personality show through.

Natural light is best for pet portrait photos. Take photos outside or indoors by a large window. Natural daylight produces the most accurate colors and soft, even lighting, which is ideal for capturing fur detail and eye clarity.

Get down to your pet's eye level by crouching or sitting. Photos taken from above make the head look too large or the body awkwardly short. Eye-level shots create more natural, flattering proportions and help bring out personality.

No, you don't need the latest smartphone or expensive camera. Any modern smartphone works well. The key is technique: step back from your pet, use zoom to frame the shot, focus on the eyes, and use natural lighting.

Take clear, individual shots of each pet facing the same direction with similar lighting. It's often easier than trying to get all pets perfectly positioned together. We can combine separate photos into one beautiful portrait.

If you want tack in the portrait, photograph your horse wearing clean, well-fitted tack. For a natural look, take photos without any tack. It's difficult to remove tack artistically from photos. When unsure, send both versions.

Send original, full-size images straight from your camera or phone. Avoid screenshots, cropped images, or photos saved from social media as they lose quality. Use email for smaller files or WeTransfer/Dropbox for large files.

Absolutely! Send us several photos and we'll help you select the best one for your portrait. We have years of experience knowing which photos will translate beautifully into oil paintings or pencil drawings.

Don't worry - this is completely normal! Take lots of photos on different occasions. Use treats or toys to get their attention, but let them be natural. Sometimes the best portraits come from candid, relaxed moments rather than posed shots.

Send as many good photos as you have! We're happy to look through them all and help you choose the perfect one. Having options means we can select the photo that will create the most beautiful portrait of your pet.

A photo of a pencil pet Portrait of a Spaniel by Melanie Phillips
Pet Portraits in pencil by Melanie Phillips 2024

Complete Photography Guide Summary

Use natural lighting, get to pet's eye level, focus sharply on eyes, step back and use zoom, capture natural personality, frame properly (include full body or complete head), and send original full-size images directly from camera or phone. Avoid screenshots, social media saves, or heavily cropped images. Natural daylight produces most accurate colours and soft, even lighting ideal for capturing fur detail and eye clarity.

Photography Tips

  • Lighting: Natural daylight or large window light
  • Angle: Get down to pet's eye level - avoid shooting from above
  • Focus: Sharp focus on eyes is essential for expressive portraits
  • Distance: Step back and use zoom to avoid distortion
  • Files: Send original full-size images from camera/phone
  • Composition: Try not to crop your pets ears, paws or tail!
  • Multiple Pets: Take individual photos as well as together
  • Horse Tack: Photograph with tack if wanted in portrait
  • Personality: Natural, relaxed expressions show more character
  • Expert Help: We can help if you need to ask any questions!
Ready to Commission Your Pet Portrait? Armed with these professional photography tips, you're ready to capture the perfect reference photos. Send us your best shots and we'll help you choose the ideal image for your custom oil painting or pencil drawing. Contact us today to get started on your pet portrait commission.
Commission a Portrait

Send us your favourite photos of your dog, cat, or horse and we will help you choose the perfect one for your portrait. We are happy to chat about any ideas you have for a portrait. We can’t wait to get started!