To do the most detailed drawings to truly capture the subject, I will need to be sent a clear and well lit photograph to work from.
Sometimes this is not possible (e.g. memorial drawing, based on old photograph) and in these situations I will do what I can do make sure you receive a quality drawing.
Subject: Please make sure the subject is well framed in the photograph. This means, if you want the head of a dog drawing, you will need to make sure nothing is cropped out!
Lighting: Good lighting, daylight if possible. Lighting is tough, but it makes all the difference to the subject. Good lighting, taken in daylight, is ideal as it produces the most natural colours, tones, shadows and highlights.
For pet portraits: Angles are important! Ideally, the photo should be at eye level as the animal so I can draw the face as anatomically correct as possible. Some angles cannot be helped, such as looking up at a horse, down at a smaller animal etc, so please send me the images you have in mind and I will see if they are suitable.
Internet sourced images: If your subject is taken from the internet (such as a MotoGP photograph) please make sure that the image you want to use is free from copyright, or you have permission to use it from the rider/photographer. This also includes wildlife photos. There are many free photo websites that are quick and easy to google.
If you're unsure, please send me any reference images you have available. It is rare I cannot work from an image so there are many options available. Enquiries are free so please get in touch!