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Heywood Tips
for Taking
Portrait Reference Photos
Good photographs or
slides of your
pet are necessary to assist me in achieving an exact likeness in your
companion's portrait. Here are some easy tips about obtaining good photographic
material of your pet.
 | Take the photos outdoors, on a fair
day, in early morning or late afternoon, or indoors in a bright and well-lit
room. Avoid taking photos outdoors at high noon or on overcast days, or
indoors under artificial lighting. You want the colors in the photos to
reflect the true coloring of your pet. |
| Take the photos in a place where your
pet is comfortable "being him/herself", such as in the corral, in
your yard, in the park where you walk your pet, etc. |
| Have help. Someone should be free to
take the photo and someone else to pose the pet. |
| Get down or up to pet eye-level to
take your pet’s photos. You should be looking straight at your pet from
the camera. |
| Use a telephoto lens to get close-up
photos without getting too close to your pet. An ideal photo for portraits
has the pet filling over half of the picture, with the surroundings filling
the rest. |
| Take many photos in many different poses. |
| Don’t use instant film developing
types of cameras. |
| Watch the background! If your pet is
dark-colored, try to take photos in front of lighter backgrounds; if your
pet is light-colored, try to take photos in front of darker backgrounds. In
general, keep backgrounds simple and uncluttered. |
| Try to use a camera with an automatic
focus. Animals move quickly and often, and adjusting the manual focus can
take a little time. |
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