CHOOSING AND SUBMITTING PHOTOS FOR COMMISION
To create a pet portrait, I work from the photos you provide. The better your reference photos (size, lighting, clarity, pose, angle, etc) the better and more accurate the embroidery will be. Please keep in mind that I can only accept reference photos that show a good representation of your pet.
- The clearer the photos are, the more realistic and accurate your pet portrait will be.
- If you are not able to supply adequate photos for a painting style portrait, a drawing style portrait may be possible.
- If I have to make an original compositional drawing from a selection of photos, an original composition fee will be applied.
QUALITIES TO CONSIDER FOR A GOOD REFERENCE PHOTO
Because most of the portraits I make are of the animal’s head, a good quality, close-up photo of the head is necessary.
Lighting can make or break a photo!
* Overexposed images (such as in bright light or direct sunlight) do not make good reference photos.
* Too dark, poorly lit, or backlit images do not make good reference photos.
* The best photos are pictures taken in natural light (such as outside, near a window, or in a room flooded with diffuse natural light). This is especially true for black fur.
* Overcast days often have the best lighting, because it is diffuse while bright enough to soften shadows and keep colors true.
* Overexposed images (such as in bright light or direct sunlight) do not make good reference photos.
* Too dark, poorly lit, or backlit images do not make good reference photos.
* The best photos are pictures taken in natural light (such as outside, near a window, or in a room flooded with diffuse natural light). This is especially true for black fur.
* Overcast days often have the best lighting, because it is diffuse while bright enough to soften shadows and keep colors true.
Here is an example of bad lighting. It is too bright, washing out the subjects body. Also the subject is too far away and the angle is wrong. The camera is aimed down, when it should be at eye-level.
This is a good photo. The subject is close, and the camera is at eye level. The lighting is not too harsh, so all the fine details are visible. Also the profile is good. It is not straight on or completely to one side.
This photo has an excellent angle, and it was of a high resolution, but it is backlit, obscuring details and dulling colors. The client wasn't able to get the painting style portrait due to the photo, so chose the drawing style which I was able to use this photo for.
Clarity is essential
* If you zoom in on the photo, can you see where features begin and end? Make sure the photo is not blurry or pixelated. The higher the resolution, the larger the image size the better.
- I cannot use small, grainy, or pixelated photos. There just isn’t enough detail for me to accurately depict the animal.
* The angle the picture is taken at is really important.
- Photos taken at the animal’s eye level are usually best.
- Profiles and 3/4 views often make the best poses, however, some animals look good in straight-on shots. (I can help you determine which pose is best if you have difficulty choosing).
Try to fill as much of the photograph with your pet as possible.
* It’s hard to get a good likeness if the animal is only an inch or two tall in the photo. (Again, high resolution, larger sized images are best.)
Try to get photos that depict the animal’s unique features the best.
* Choose an expression that best represents the animal’s personality.
- For example, if the dog usually has perky, up-raised ears don't submit a photo where the ears are down or held back against the head.
- or if the animal often has a stoic, serious expression, don't choose a photo where the animal's expression is silly (unless you prefer to capture the image because it is so different from the animal's usual expression).
Please make sure you send the highest-resolution files possible.
* The more detail I can see in the photos the more detail I can put into the embroidery.
* The larger the picture, the higher the resolution, the closer the picture of the animal is, the better.
* 300 ppi/dpi usual work for both digital and printed photo are both good resolutions for getting details from the photograph. Any lower resolution will diminish details. (If you are taking the photo, make sure the camera is set to the highest quality setting.)
* If you zoom in on the photo, can you see where features begin and end? Make sure the photo is not blurry or pixelated. The higher the resolution, the larger the image size the better.
- I cannot use small, grainy, or pixelated photos. There just isn’t enough detail for me to accurately depict the animal.
* The angle the picture is taken at is really important.
- Photos taken at the animal’s eye level are usually best.
- Profiles and 3/4 views often make the best poses, however, some animals look good in straight-on shots. (I can help you determine which pose is best if you have difficulty choosing).
Try to fill as much of the photograph with your pet as possible.
* It’s hard to get a good likeness if the animal is only an inch or two tall in the photo. (Again, high resolution, larger sized images are best.)
Try to get photos that depict the animal’s unique features the best.
* Choose an expression that best represents the animal’s personality.
- For example, if the dog usually has perky, up-raised ears don't submit a photo where the ears are down or held back against the head.
- or if the animal often has a stoic, serious expression, don't choose a photo where the animal's expression is silly (unless you prefer to capture the image because it is so different from the animal's usual expression).
Please make sure you send the highest-resolution files possible.
* The more detail I can see in the photos the more detail I can put into the embroidery.
* The larger the picture, the higher the resolution, the closer the picture of the animal is, the better.
* 300 ppi/dpi usual work for both digital and printed photo are both good resolutions for getting details from the photograph. Any lower resolution will diminish details. (If you are taking the photo, make sure the camera is set to the highest quality setting.)
My goal is to create a portrait of YOUR specific pet.
Make sure your pet’s unique characteristics and personalities are in the photos you submit.
Please submit no more than FIVE of your best photographs (use the "add attachment" link on the request commission site).
* If the photos supplied aren’t sufficient for me to reference, I may ask for more.
* If you had difficulty uploading photos I can give you a link to upload to a cloud drive.
* If you have printed photos and cannot scan them at high resolution, I can supply a mailing address to send them too. (I will return the photos when the portrait is completed).
* If a good reference photo cannot be supplied I reserve the right to cancel the commission and your money will be refunded.
* If the photos supplied aren’t sufficient for me to reference, I may ask for more.
* If you had difficulty uploading photos I can give you a link to upload to a cloud drive.
* If you have printed photos and cannot scan them at high resolution, I can supply a mailing address to send them too. (I will return the photos when the portrait is completed).
* If a good reference photo cannot be supplied I reserve the right to cancel the commission and your money will be refunded.