Reference Photo Tips
To create a portrait from a photo, please provide me with GOOD QUALITY, HIGH-RESOLUTION Photographs. A single clear reference photo is strongly preferred to ensure accuracy and consistency. I do not recreate a subject from various photo references by piecing bits and pieces of a subject together. I can only draw and paint details that are clearly visible in a photograph. I should ideally be able to zoom in to see fine details without the image becoming distorted immediately. The more detail I can see, the more details I can add to your artwork.
Deceased Pet or Family Member
In case of a deceased pet/person with a limited number of poor-quality photos at your disposal, please send as many as you can – so that we can choose the best option for your artwork. I will do the best I possibly can with what is provided.
Professional vs Cellphone Photos
There is no need to have professional photographs taken, a good-quality cellphone photo is usually sufficient to work from. If you want to invest in your portrait and obtain the best quality reference photo possible – I can assist with that too. I am a professional photographer with close to 20 years of photography experience. You can book a photo session, at an additional fee, to capture the subject in the best possible way. My studio is based in Nigel on the East Rand, Gauteng. Celia van Niekerk Photography specialise in Family and Pet photography.
If you will be taking your own photographs, here are a few practical tips to keep in mind – these apply to human and animal portraits:
Taking or selecting the best reference photo.
QUALITY
✓ The better the quality of the photo, the more realistic I can make your drawing.
✗ It is very difficult to work from blurry, dark or grainy photos – that means that I do not have a proper reference and have to guess what I think I see.
✓ Natural colours – be sure that the eye, hair or fur colour as well as skin tones are accurate in the photo.
✗ Please do NOT download a photo from social media platforms or WhatsApp. These sites compress the original file size and result in a low quality photo.
✗ Avoid using portrait mode on your phone – it blurs some of the important details.
✗ Avoid screenshots or compressed images from social media platforms or WhatsApp. Please send the original image, rather than screenshots. The original photo will be the original high-resolution.
LIGHTING
✓ Natural light (e.g. outdoors in open shade) will light the subject well and give me a more accurate colour depiction.
✗ Avoid harsh direct sunlight
✗ When photographing indoors,be sure to avoid dark rooms and spaces and artificial lighting. Have your pet face a sunny window or open door.
✗ Avoid backlighting – the subject should face the light source (e.g. window).
✗ Avoid artificial light like tungsten or fluorescent lighting – it will make your photo look green or yellow.
✗ Beware of brightly coloured areas or objects that can give a colour cast on your pet, e.g. green grass can give a green tint to a light cat.
✗ Luckily, I can (most of the time) tweak the colour of a photo in Photoshop to give a more accurate version….unfortunately not always…
THE POSE
✓ Your pet most probably has his or her favourite or signature pose that holds a lot of sentimental value. Choose a pose that shows your pet’s personality best or something that is of sentimental value to you. It is also possible to include a favourite toy in your special artwork.
✗ Please be mindful of cutting off limbs in awkward places – it might be better to go for a closer crop of even a full body to avoid awkward poses.
✓ Bend down to the pet’s eye level and try to include the shoulders and chest for a good head & shoulder shot or the full body. Crouching down to eye level gives a better effect than standing above and looking down – this may distort your pet’s features.
Good vs Poor Quality Reference Photos.
❌ POOR QUALITY
- The photos are too dark.
- Taken too far away.
- The pet’s features are not clearly visible.
- Fine details are not visible at all.
- Photos become blurry when you zoom in.
✅ GOOD QUALITY
- Natural colours – be sure that the eye, hair or fur colour as well as skin tones are accurate in the photo.
- Well lit – taken in good natural light (daylight) – natural outdoor lighting is recommended.
- The photo MUST be in focus. TIP: Clean the lens before taking a photo.
- The pet’s features are clearly visible.
- Clear view of the eyes, well-lit eyes (pupils and iris colours must be visible)
- Cute facial expressions.
- Crisp details.
- Cute poses with loads of personality
- No obstructions
Combining Multiple Photos for a Reference
If I have to combine a few photos to create a multisubject composition, please choose photos that ‘fits’ naturally together.
These photos should be taken from the same angle, height, etc., so that they look realistic when combined. If photographs need to be combined in a painting, kindly send me individual photos where everyone is in the same pose e.g. either all standing or sitting, photograph from the same height and angle. Please provide me with photos where I can see the actual height and size differences between subjects.
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