Photography

I’m always more than happy for you to help you take the best photos of

your pets. I’m based in the San Francisco Bay Area. My fees are based

on the travel time and a flat rate for a photoshoot.

To create a custom portrait of your pet I require 3-4 good quality reference photos to work from.

Choosing the right photos is a key ingredient to achieving the best results.

First and foremost, they need to reflect your pet’s personality and

portray them in the way you love best.

There’s also several technical aspects which are explained clearly below. 

This guide will talk you through the key elements to help you make

the best choice for your pet’s portrait.

Your Pet’s Personality

I’m sure your pet has a particular look or expression that

makes your heart melt. Or has certain adorable features

that you just love. Keep those things in mind when you’re

choosing or taking photos of your pet so

I can capture your pet’s true likeness in their portrait. 

Be patient. Use treats and toys.

Experiment!. Shoot a lot of different angles and compositions.

Get down on their level to achieve a more intimate perspective.

Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important factors when

photographing your pet. Images that are too dark or

overexposed make it very difficult for me to see

all those little details. Natural daylight is best as this

will allow me to see the true colors of your pet’s fur.

Interior lighting can sometimes alter how colours appear.

Photos taken close to a good source of natural light like a

large window are also fine.

USE A CLEAN, CLEAR SIMPLE BACKGROUND

SUCH AS A BACKYARD, BLANK WALL OR CURTAIN.

Capturing Details

Make sure any photos you send me are of a high resolution and in clear focus.

In particular FOCUS ON THE EYES and the direction of fur.

Choose photos that are taken within a reasonably close distance to your pet.

This will help to ensure your photo captures lots of detail. If everything looks very

fuzzy when you zoom in to your image, then the photo will be difficult for me to work from.

Angle and Pose

In general, photos work best when taken at eye level with your pet

(except when both bad lighting and low resolution are both present).

This avoids that odd ‘large head, small body’ perspective that happens

when you take a photo looking down at your pet. 

The specific pose you choose ties in closely with your pet’s personality.

Choose with a pose that you feel best reflects your pet’s beautiful features. 

HARNESSES, COLLARS AND LEADS

I can remove collars, harnesses, leads and name tags from the final portrait if you wish.