Pencil Portraits Photography Tips

I thought it would be a good idea to explain some photography tips and hints using some of my clients amazing photos as a guide. Taking photos using a a good quality mobile phone, having some high value treats and perhaps a helping hand from a friend, can make all the difference in getting a perfect photo. Sadly many of my clients don’t have the luxury of taking new photos of their pets if they have passed away, however this page of information will give you a general idea of the kind of photos I need. If you are in any doubt, email me everything you have and I will be happy to go through them with you.

Good quality Photos are Key!

The photos you send of your pet really are key to a good portrait. I can't convey enough how important they are to enable me to draw a detailed and realistic lifelike portrait. The photo below of Beano was taken outside in daylight. It was taken using a mobile phone and was a perfect snap for a lovely drawing. This is the kind of photo you are aiming for.

Focus on Their Eyes

The eyes are the most expressive part of any portrait, so they need to be crystal clear in your photo. Make sure their eyes are in sharp focus as this will help me to bring them to life in my drawing. The photo below is of Twiglet and my client has taken the most amazing photo of her, the eyes are so expressive here. Everything is in focus and it is perfect for a drawing. I actually used a different photo for the basis of the drawing as perhaps she is looking up a little too much, but it's such an amazing photo I just had to include it here as a good example. If you to take some blurry photos, it's not a problem, just delete them and keep going. If you find that many of your photos are blurry, then you might need to move to a brighter location. More on that below...

Getting the Perfect Pose

This photo of Kipling is pretty much the perfect three quater pose. It's a perfect angle for dogs, cats and horses. When you are taking photos try not to look down on your pet. If you have a small to medium size dog you could place them on a picnic table or some garden steps where someone can stand with your pet while you photograph them. This will produce a much better portrait as we will be looking at the dog from the front or perhaps slightly side on. It allows me to create a beautiful portrait where they are looking right at you, or over your shoulder and into the distance. It gives me the option of including their neck and chest too.

Use Natural Lighting

The photo of Rusty was taken in their front yard in full sun which was absolutely perfect. The best light for capturing a pet’s true color and detail is natural daylight. Take photos outdoors on a bright day or near a window and try to avoid using flash, as it can create red-eye effects and flatten the details in their fur. If you need to take photos indoors, use a room with plenty of soft, natural light and avoid harsh overhead lighting. You can see that my client walked towards Rusty, crouched down and filled the frame with his head and chest. This allows there to be a lot of information within the photo to draw from. So try to fill the frame (without pinching and zooming) to really get a great photo. A good tip is to try holding their favourite treat or toy just above the camera to get their attention.

Choose a Simple Background

A cluttered background can be distracting when you are trying to concentrate on looking at your pet on the screen of your phone. Not to mention getting them in focus. Try to photograph your pet in a neutral setting or soft background like a garden, a cozy rug, or a plain wall. A simple background ensures that all the focus remains on your pet. If your pet blends into the background, try photographing them against a contrasting colour for better definition.

Multiple Pets? Take Them Separately

If you’d like a portrait of multiple pets together, the best option is often to take separate photos of each pet and I can combine them into one drawing. This allows for better composition and ensures each pet is perfectly positioned in the final artwork.

Take Lots of Photos for Alert Ears!

Ears can dramatically change the expression of your pet’s portrait. When their ears are alert and forward, it creates a lively and engaged look, while relaxed ears can give a softer, more serene feel. If you would like a more alert look, try calling their name, whistling, or holding up a treat to capture that perfect moment. If your pet is particularly expressive, experiment with different sounds or movements to see what gets their best reaction.

Reins and Tack

If you are looking to have a horse pencil portrait, it is important to make the decision early on if you would prefer to see your horse in the portrait with reins and tack, or without, in a more natural pose. The choice and preference is always up to the client in how they wish to see their horse in the drawing. It is essential though if you would like to have the portrait drawn without tack, take photos without tack. Looking at the photos below as an example, you can imagine trying to omit the tack when drawing. It would mean 'imagining what is underneath them' and in effect making these areas up. It is possible, however I would rather avoid it if I can. This also applies to rugs, if you have a full winter rug on the horse, it can be very difficult to draw your horse without it.

Ideally the photos need to be taken outside in a field or in a stabling yard. I have drawn a number of horses looking over their stable door and this is absolutely fine, however photos taken inside a stable can be very dark.It is so important to utilise natural lighting. Another consideration is whether the client would like their horse portrayed in winter or a summer coat. It is very difficult to portray a winter coat as a summer coat.