Article Courtesy of Nikky Hughes
Professional Pet Portrait Artist
http://www.nikkyhughes.com
What is a custom pet portrait?
A custom pet portrait is a portrait of a cat, dog, horse or other pet. In the world of art it has always been traditional to do portraits, but pet portraits are a bit more unique. Pet portraits are a great gift idea for pet lovers or to simply have a keepsake, sentimental possession of your pet.
Generally you can commission a professional animal artist to paint a portrait of your pet.
Tips on Custom Dog Portraits.
When commissioning an artist to paint your dog portrait, it is important to submit several, well taken photos of your dog. Every pet has a special personality, and it must come across in your photos. Using a digital camera, you should be able to capture the best photos of your dog. The nice thing about using a digital camera, is that you don’t have to get the perfect shot on the first try. Take photos of your dog from several angles, and different times of the day. Just like humans, pets can have different moods throughout the day, so make sure you capture that moment when your dog really shows his/her personality. Another great idea is to take your dog to a park and let them run around and play. If your dog likes to play catch, bring a ball or frisbe along so that you can get a variety of action shots. Make sure your camera can capture the motion at a high speed, otherwise you’ll just end up with a bunch of blurry shots.
Tips on Cat Portraits
Cats are generally calm animals, so taking photos of them is much easier. Again, just like with
dog portraits, make sure you capture several images of them. With most pet portraits you want to get a variety of shots. Make sure you get close up pictures of your cats facial features, a full body shot, a medium shot, maybe showing the head and front legs and finally a back shot and full side shot. Cats have very interesting and detailed color patterns in their fur, so it is important to capture as many details as you can. The closeup of the face is extremely important, because it will help the professional pet artist to capture these details in the painting.
Additional Pet Portrait Tips:
When commissioning an artist to do a pet portrait, always remember these important details:
- Always submit more than one photo
- Make sure your photos are clear and in focus
- Photograph your pet during different times of the day
- Take photos that best represent your pets mood or personality
- If possible take your pets outside and let them play, while you take photos.
- Use a digital camera, it is easier to take multiple shots without wasting film.
- Photograph your pet from multiple angles
- Have fun with your animals, and they will have fun too!
About the Author:
Nikky Hughes is a Los Angeles based professional oil painter. She paints surreal pet portraits,
traditional portraits, and people portraits. To see samples of her work, visit her site at
www.NikkyHughes.com