• WHAT QUALITY DO I ACCEPT: I am actually quite flexible when it comes to reference photos. While I do love referencing a reasonable quality photo, I am able to work with a low quality photo. I have an extensive background in photo editing and increasing photo resolution. I have also drawn so many animals over the years, I have a good understanding of hair direction and typical features for different animals and breeds. Additionally, I grew up with horses, dogs, cats, and more animals so I've been able to study their features in reality pretty much my whole life.

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• LOW QUALITY PHOTOS: I have created so many drawings and paintings from low quality photos that I actually enjoy the process now. It's so special to see a clients reaction when all they had were low quality photos of their beloved pet.

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• UNSURE WHICH PHOTO TO CHOOSE? You can send me as many photos as you want, then I can advise which would work best as reference for a painting. Sometimes there is a hidden gem amongst your many photos.

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• POSE, LIGHTING, COLOUR, QUALITY - WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT? Above all, pose is most important. I want to capture your animal in the best way possible, and their features are unique to them. I can add in missing detail, adjust colour, or lighting, but I can't add in missing features without reference as I've never met your animal. I can adjust some things if needed - maybe add some missing neck or chest, an ear, etc cut off in the photo, change the position of a tail or forelock. But I can't make major adjustments like turn their head a certain way. If given multiple photos I can sometimes soften their expression, or turn their ears forward, etc.

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• CAN I REMOVE GEAR/COLLARS? Yes! I am very good at removing halters, bridles, collars, etc. I recently had a beautiful horse reference photo (it was fairly low quality but the colour and pose was nice), but the halter was heavily skewed and a person was blocking the horse's neck. I made some edits in photoshop to straighten the halter and remove the person, and the client was over the moon about the result (I was pretty pleased myself) - both horses with halters I have as examples above, I completely altered the halters from the original photo.

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• TIPS FOR TAKING REFERENCE PHOTOS: If you have the opportunity to take more photos of your animal, a few tips to keep in mind.

  • Use natural light as much as possible (unnatural will almost always look harsh, too warm or cold)​

  • Photograph in the shade, NOT direct sunlight (sunlight is too harsh - best is in the shade on a sunny day, indoors, or on a cloudy day)

  • If using an iPhone, disable portrait mode (this applies a digital blur that does not help for a reference photo)

  • Try using a treat for pose motivation. When I photograph my pets I get some small treats, have them sit/stand and wait, then I get down to their eye level (or up for a large horse), focus on their face, and take as many photos as I can while they're posed nicely. Turn the sound OFF on your phone or camera so they don't get distracted. Holding the camera in my right (or vice versa if you're left handed) I make them focus on my left hand with the treat and reposition their head a bit until it's perfect by moving my hand around a bit.

  • For most animals a 3/4 or side view is best (3/4 is where you can see one eye and the other eye is slightly visible). Cats can get away with a front view since they have flatter faces like a person.

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See below some examples of nice reference photos! (Click to enlarge)