Key Aspects
1. Detail
If details are unclear, it might not be suitable. Don't worry; you don't need an expensive camera. Most smartphones work well. Avoid filters and portrait mode, as they can blur essential details.
2. Lighting
Avoid nighttime photos, as they lack detail and may appear noisy. Opt for well-lit outdoor or indoor shots with neutral lighting, ensuring your pet faces the light source. Avoid warm lighting, which can distort colors.
3. Picture Quality
If the picture is low-resolution or of low picture quality (a camera setting), the picture will not work. It tends to be pixelated and I won’t be able to zoom in to study the details on the subject. This problem is especially present with pictures downloaded from the internet or from social media websites and I may not be able to use them. The higher the quality and the image resolution, the better!
4. Subject Placement
Make sure that the subject is close up without being cropped or zoomed in on. Especially ears are often outside the frame of the picture when people don’t pay attention. If the subject is far in the distance, I will not be able to see the details needed to create a quality work. Avoid Portrait Mode and and objects in the foreground that may obscure the subject!
5. Copyright
Even if your reference photo is gorgeous and perfect, it won’t do us any good if you don’t own the rights to the photograph. This means that if the photo was taken by anyone else that is not you, we can’t use it as a reference without that person’s permission. It's always best to take your own photos if you can, but we can still use pictures taken by others if you obtain their permission.
