Choosing the best reference image is the most important part of the job. It is something that can take time, however since this is the foundation of the whole portrait it is always worth it to get the best outcome!

Check out this handy guide to help you get the best results

Try to find images taken at eye level to the animal and in natural light. Avoid dark photos, they rarely provide enough visual information. Pictures showing details such as the direction of the fur and reflections in the eyes make for the best portraits…the more detail I can see, the better likeness I can achieve!

Make sure that the images aren’t cropped, taken from far away, or pulled from social media profiles. Any time I have to zoom in, this depletes the resolution of the photograph and makes it more difficult to see details.

Backgrounds that bring a sense of familiarity to your animal can really help bring those warm fuzzy feelings! Have a think about what your pet really loves, and try to include an element of this somewhere.

If you struggle to find useable photo’s and you’re lucky to still have your pet with you, you can always take some! Making a loud noise, bribing with treats etc is a great way to get some real quizzical and cute expressions.