The difference between a good pet portrait and an extraordinary one almost always comes down to the reference photo. Paint is only as truthful as the image it works from. After 18 years of commissions, these are the things I look for every time a client sends reference materials — and the most common mistakes I see.
Use natural light whenever possible
Flash photography flattens form and washes out the texture of fur, feathers, or skin. Soft natural light — a north-facing window, an overcast afternoon — creates gentle shadows that reveal the three-dimensionality of your pet's face. If you're indoors, place your pet near a window with indirect light and turn off any overhead lights. The result will be richer than anything a camera flash produces.
Get down to eye level
Most people photograph their pets from a standing position, which gives a top-down perspective that's neither flattering nor natural. Kneel, sit on the floor, or lie flat. You want the camera at the same height as your pet's eyes. This perspective reads as intimate and respectful — and it's the angle that makes a portrait feel like a portrait rather than a record shot.
Capture the eyes sharp and in focus
If only one thing is sharp in the photo, make it the eyes. Eyes carry personality, and in a painted portrait they carry the entire emotional weight of the piece. A slightly blurry background is acceptable and often desirable. A blurry eye is not. On most phones, tap the eye directly on the screen to lock focus before shooting.
Send multiple angles
Even if you love one photo, send five to ten. I use additional reference images for the fur direction on the ears, the shape of the muzzle in profile, the particular way your dog holds their head when they're curious. The painting is assembled from many observations — the reference photos are the source material for all of them.
Include a photo that shows personality
Is your cat always sitting in that one slant of afternoon light? Does your dog tilt their head like that when you say certain words? Send the photo that makes you smile — the candid, unposed one. I don't always paint directly from it, but it tells me who this animal is. The best portraits capture character, not just likeness.
What format to send
Full-resolution JPGs from your phone camera are perfect. Do not resize or compress them. Cloud links (Google Photos, iCloud) work well for multiple images. Email attachments compress automatically, so for more than three images, a shared folder link is preferable. Include a few sentences about your pet's personality — what I know about them informs every decision I make while painting.
April Johnson is a fine artist based in Glen Flora, Wisconsin with 18+ years of professional practice. She accepts commissions for pet portraits, landscapes, botanicals, and large-scale pieces. Commission a painting →