A great photo goes a long way to create a great portrait, so here are my tips for taking the ideal photo to commission…
First of all, do you already have the perfect photo? I find myself taking photos all the time, so it might be worth going through your camera to see if you happen to have captured the perfect shot.
You might find that you have captured a great pose, but the photo quality isn't there. In these cases you can try to recreate the image in more detail. But, if you feel there aren’t any which are quite right, then taking new photos would be the next step.
Lighting – My first piece of advice would be to always take your photos outside in natural daylight. Mobiles and tablets struggle in low light, making it easy to end up with a grainy, slightly blurry image. Taking your photo on a bright or cloudy day, means you have the best chance of getting a clear pic.
Camera – Although mobile cameras are getting better and better, they aren’t quite on par with a digital camera, so I would recommend using one if at all possible.
Get in close – Try taking a step closer to your subject rather than zooming in so as not to lose out on any detail.
Don’t look down – Try getting down to the same level as your subject. When a photo is taken above, from your normal view, it can look a little strange when drawn – giving the illusion of their feet coming out of their face.
Fill the shot – If you are looking to have a full body portrait, then it would be ideal to take an image where the subject fills the whole frame. A pro-tip is to have a couple of images in the same pose. One full body and one focused in on the face.
Three-quarter-angle - If you are commissioning a portrait of a person, and want to take a new photo for it, I've found a three-quarter angle to be the most flattering for a drawing. Try sitting them down in "flat lighting", so nothing too bright to cast shadows on their face. Ask them to look off to one side of the camera. Try out a few variations of looking slightly up and slightly down to see what works for them best.
Have fun – Don’t be afraid to play around with the angles, I welcome quirker commissions and would love to be able to convey the personality of the subject as much a possible. So if you end up with an action shot or a soppy smile, then send them across - we might just be able to use them!
If you are still struggling with taking the photo, I can recommend a local photographer who can work with you to take that portrait-worthy picture. Just be aware that this will be an additional fee.
If you are not able to take new photos for a commission, perhaps because the subject has passed on, there is still the possibility that I can use any existing photos you may have. If you have a few images, I can work with them and make slight tweaks to create a portrait you still recognise and love.
I hope you find these tips helpful, please let me know if you have any questions as I'm always happy to help.
KTx
P.S. A huge thank you to Fi (Pup), Maisie (Photographer) and Annie (Treat-giver/Dog handler)