Why I Choose the Reference Photo

One of the questions I sometimes receive from clients is:

"Can I choose the photo for my portrait?"

The answer is both yes... and no.

I absolutely want to see your favorite photos.

In fact, I encourage it.

I love seeing the images that make you smile, the ones that instantly remind you of your pet's personality, and the photos that hold special memories.

Those photos tell me a lot about the animal I'm about to draw.

But when it comes time to create the portrait, I make the final decision on which image I use.

And there's a good reason for that.

My Goal Isn't Just to Copy a Photo

When I create a portrait, I'm not trying to recreate a photograph exactly as it appears.

I'm trying to create a portrait that feels like your pet.

Sometimes the photo that holds the most meaning isn't necessarily the one that will create the strongest drawing.

A favorite photo might be slightly blurry.

The lighting may hide important details.

Part of the face may be in shadow.

The eyes might not be as clear as they need to be.

The expression might be wonderful, but the technical details needed for a successful portrait simply aren't there.

That's where my artist brain takes over.

I Look at Things Differently

When I review your photos, I'm looking at things a little differently than most people do.

Of course I'm looking at personality.

But I'm also evaluating:

🐾 Lighting

🐾 Eye detail

🐾 Fur detail

🐾 Expression

🐾 Composition

🐾 Colour accuracy

🐾 Overall portrait potential

Sometimes I'll see something in a photo that immediately tells me:

"This one is going to make a beautiful portrait."

It isn't always the photo people expect.

Sometimes the Best Photo Isn't the Favorite Photo

This happens more often than you might think.

A client may send ten photos and tell me their favorite is photo number three.

And then I find myself drawn to photo number seven.

Not because it's prettier.

Not because it's more dramatic.

But because everything comes together.

The lighting is better.

The details are clearer.

The expression feels natural.

The eyes tell a story.

The portrait almost begins drawing itself the moment I see it.

Those are the photos that catch my attention.

Your Favorites Still Matter

Even though I make the final decision, your favorite photos are incredibly important.

They help me understand your pet.

They show me the expressions you recognize.

The personality traits you love.

The moments that feel familiar to you.

Often, the favorite photos tell me more about the animal than the technical reference photo ever could.

I study all of them.

Sometimes I even pull little details from multiple images to help me better understand the animal I'm drawing.

Trusting the Process

When clients hire me, they're not just hiring someone to copy a photograph.

They're trusting me to create the strongest portrait possible.

Part of that process is selecting the image that gives me the best opportunity to capture both the details and the personality that make your pet special.

That's why I ask for multiple photos.

That's why I look at all of them.

And that's why I ultimately choose the reference image.

Not because your favourites aren't important.

But because my job is to take everything you've shared with me and create a portrait that feels like them.

And sometimes the best photo for that is the one you least expected.

The funny thing is, once the portrait is finished, clients rarely ask which photo I chose.

Instead, they usually say something much better:

"That looks exactly like them."

And that's always the goal. 🐾