Custom Decoration Reference Image Guide

As the Decorations are laser cut and the image is burned onto the wood digitally, it's even more important than a regular illustration commission that your final reference image is right.

The guidelines and advice for the best types of photos to work from are still the same as in my regular Image Guide, but with some added stipulations! Please review this first, and then check that your reference photos don't go against the following:

No Unwanted Accessories - anything that needs to be photoshopped out of the image (like a harness) will incur an extra charge. You are very welcome, however, to have a favourite bowtie or collar painted in if its already being worn in the photo!

No Open Mouths - this is a general rule for all my portraits, but in the case of memorial portraits or where reference images are difficult to get hold of, I will do my best to make it work if it is possible.

No Obscured Outline - anything that is interrupting the flow of your Pet's outline is not ideal and requires additional editing. This might be long grass, sofa cushions, blankets or toys. 

As always, best practice for a reference image is one taken in good natural light, from your Pet's eye level at an appropriate distance, on a hard flat surface. This keeps all the colour and detail accurate, keeps their proportions looking true to life, and keeps the overall outline correct.

All I ever want as a Pet Portrait Artist is for you to get wonderful results that capture a great likeness of your Pet, but I can't do this without a workable reference photo. It may take a few goes to get the final image, but it's totally worth it for something that you will treasure forever!