Your photo or digital image should be accurate in colour, good quality and/or high resolution. The detail in the painting depends on the detail in the photograph.

Sending supplementary photos is always useful because this gives the artist additional reference material and extra information about coat and eye colour, bone structure, facial expressions and the personality of your pet.

Here are some examples of 'good' and 'bad' photography, as well as some tips to help you take a great photo of your pet:

• If taking photos indoors find a place with lots of natural light and avoid using the flash. This will always distort colour and depth, and create red-eye.
  
  
• If outdoors, avoid direct sunlight and pick a spot in the shade or somewhere the light is diffuse and indirect. This will cast an even and accurate tone over your pet and reduce sun/shade marks.
  
  
• Keep your back to the sun, this will prevent glare and halo marks.
  
  
• Try taking photos from your pets eye level, this creates a more realistic and intimate portrait. However if you have a composition in mind that differs from this that is perfectly OK too.
  
  
• Be mindful of your pet and choose a place that they are most comfortable in. If they are at ease it wont be such a big deal to have you snapping photos around them.
  
  
• If you have a suspicious or uncooperative pet have someone there to assist you, hands from helpers can easily be omitted from the painting. Better still have a pile of sweet treats or a toy nearby to convince them the camera is a good thing and photos are fun!
  
  
• Additional photos of the face/head are appreciated and give the artist more information about the facial structure of your pet, and a small insight into their personality.

  
  

  
  
• REMEMBER to be patient. If you are frustrated and tense your pet will sense this and you'll be unlikely to get a good photo.