How to get the very best Dog Portrait Painting

Take a look at our gallery of dog portraits!

Creating a stunning dog portrait not only takes technical proficiency but also artistic sensibility, and you will be pleased to know that we have both! Capturing the essence of your dog requires attention to detail, patience, and a good understanding of what you want to achieve from your portrait. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the 7 key steps and techniques to help you achieve the perfect dog portrait.

1. Preparation
2. Lighting
3. Composition and Framing
4. Focus on the Eyes
5. Patience and Interaction
6. Editing
7. How Best to Display your Portrait

1. Preparation

Before we can paint you the perfect portrait of your pet pooch we need a great photo of them. First off is to ensure you have the right equipment for the job. A high-resolution camera is essential; either a DSLR or a high quality smartphone will suffice. Choose a lens or a filter suited for portraits that will focus on your dog and give the background a beautiful blur (bokeh) that will really draw the eye into the portrait.

2. Lighting

Lighting plays a crucial role, especially so for portraits. For outdoor shots, opt for soft, diffused natural light during the golden hours of sunrise or sunset. Avoid harsh midday sunlight that can create unflattering shadows. Indoors, use bright lights or position your subject near large windows to capture soft, flattering light. Avoid direct flash, which can lead to harsh highlights and unnatural shadows.

3. Composition and Framing

Consider the composition of your shot to highlight the dog's unique features and personality. Experiment with different angles – a low angle can make the dog appear larger and more dominant, while shooting from above offers a different perspective. Pay attention to the background; a clean, uncluttered background or a softly blurred one helps the dog stand out. Avoid distractions that draw attention away from your subject. Don't worry too much about this as our designer will remove any distractions from the background, and we can change it entirely to anything you like!

4. Focus on the Eyes

The eyes are the window to the soul, even in dog portraits. Ensure the eyes are sharp and in focus, as they convey emotion and personality. Capture a range of expressions – playful, curious, serene, happy, asleep, barking – and pick the best one that you think best showcases your dog.

5. Patience and Interaction

Working with dogs requires patience and a keen eye for candid moments. Allow the dog to relax and be themselves, capturing natural expressions and behaviors. Use treats, toys, or sounds to engage the dog and elicit playful or curious reactions. Be prepared to wait for the right moment, as spontaneity often results in the most captivating images.

6. Editing

This is where we come in. Send us your photo, (or photos if you can't decide which one you like the most). Our designer will remove any distractions, adjust the lighting and colouring to show your dog off to the very best. Perhaps cropping the image, or even adding to it in order to balance the composition. We will then show this to you and you can see what it looks like, (this is completely FREE and there is no obligation to continue with your order if you don't want to.).

7. How Best to Display your Portrait

If you are happy with what we have done so far it is time to place your order! But before you do, you need to decide how you want to display your painting. We offer a number of frames as well as a gallery wrap where the painting is stretched over a wooden frame and your painting flows over each edge. Have a think about where your painting is going to be hung and look at any other pictures that are in the room. It is wise to choose a finish that will match the other pictures in the room so choose a similar coloured frame and size, or if you want it to stand out, make it slightly larger with a more impressive frame!