Frequently Asked Questions
How does this work?
How many pictures do you want me to send?
You can either email me with pictures of your pet or fill out the form on my contact page and I will get back to you. The more pictures, the better. Invoicing is done through PayPal. Once I approve a photo I will send a down payment and get to work on your painting. Once finished I’ll send a final invoice and once paid your painting is on its way to you. When I’m able to make your painting depends on my current wait list.
The more pictures you can send me the better. I won’t be upset or overwhelmed with 50-100 photos. Knowing which photos make good reference photos can be difficult and I only have the photos to see your pet through so the more the better! Plus, who doesn’t want to see cute pictures of dogs and cats fill up their inbox.
I have two or more pets. Can you paint them together?
Painting two pets together on a single canvas is not something I like to do because of the “Photoshop” or “Cerberus” effect where you have a two headed cat/dog. Combining photos that have different light sources and angles does not make for a high quality painting. It looks disjointed. Below I have some examples to illustrate what I mean by showing how crowded a painting can be and how certain features and emotions are lost from combining two photos.
I really like this specific picture of my pet, can you paint this one?
What should I look for in a photo?
Sometimes; if the photo is good enough to be painted. I like to say every picture of your pet is a great picture. But not every picture makes for a great painting. There are certain features such as the light, angle, quality, spacing, and pose of the photo that I take into consideration first. Whichever photo is the best example of the features will make the strongest painting and is therefore the one I would paint.
A good rule to follow is to make sure the lighting highlights your pets features and to have the picture focused on them. Too close and their features will be distorted, too far and the detail is lost. Try to be 4-5 feet away from your pet when you take your photos. Make sure the photos are accurate to your pet. I only have the photos to go on so some details may be lost in pictures.
Past Reference Photos
How do I know if a picture is good quality?
My pet won’t stay still. Can I take a video and use a still from the video?
The original source of the photo will always be the best photo. Taking a screenshot or downloading photos from social media pages like Snapchat, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram compress the photos drastically lowering the quality of them. Use that option only if necessary or as a last resort. As always see my tips on my commission page for more advice on taking photos.
Short answer, no. A still from a video is not a photo it is a screenshot. The quality of a still is horrendous compared to a photograph. Tire your pet out or bribe them with their favorite toy or treat to get them to cooperate. Sometimes pets will lose interest. That’s okay. If needed; take a break and try again later.
What’s the best way to send you photos?
I want this to be a surprise, so my options for photos are limited. Will that be okay?
Email is the preferred way to send me photos. I do not discuss commission information though other social medias such as my Instagram page. The best way to receive photos is through email because there is no limit on the size of the pictures and email will not compress the photos.
Paying for the painting is surprise enough. If you can, take the photos yourself; following my advice. If someone has the best photos of their pet, find a way for them to send you the originals. Surprise or not, they will want the best painting of their pet, and that comes from the best photos. There are times where I paint a lesser quality photo for the sake of a surprise, but it always helps everyone to have the best photo.
How much is shipping? Do you ship internationally?
My pet has passed on. Would you still be able to paint them?
Shipping within the United States on average ranges from $10 USD – $15 USD. depending on the size of the canvas. International shipping is available as well though pricing will vary.
Yes. I have done this many times. These make up most of my paintings and I am very passionate about bringing these pictures to life. In these times I understand reference photos are hard to come by and while I do my best there will be times when a photo is too rough to be made into a painting.
