Realistic Pet Portraits in Amsterdam/Realistische Portretten van Huisdieren in Amsterdam

I am currently offering a realistic pet portrait service based in Amsterdam, each piece takes a number of days to complete working from the favourite photo of your pet, most digital compact cameras and smartphones take pictures of sufficient quality nowadays, also see my tips for taking photos below.

This service includes a consultation/discussion where I will carry out an analysis to check the photos that I will work from are of sufficient quality to result in a detailed piece of art when finished.

An A3 sized pencil or pencil crayon portrait such as those shown above are priced at €400. This size works best but previous clients have requested in A5/A4, priced €200/€300 respectively, for smaller properties such as a houseboat or to be displayed on a frame on a shelf – particularly handy if you are not allowed to hang pictures on walls.

Turn around is dependent on how many works I have lined up. If a picture is required for a specific date please let me know and I will see if I can accommodate i.e. a birthday or special anniversary.

Files are best sent using wetransfer: https://wetransfer.com/

My tips for taking photos:

Sit at your pet at the same level, small dogs are best placed on a table for this.

Think of a portrait rather than fitting the body in too, if your picture is mainly of the head then their features such as eyes, nose and ears with hold more details.

A full body picture works best when they are seated and facing you, portrait rather than landscape, try to include their tail.

If possible wait until they are relaxed and with what you consider their normal expression, similar as taking a picture of a person.

Without overexciting them, make sure that you have their attention, This often happens just holding your camera or phone to take the photo. Aim for a moment you consider that they look alert and happy.

Take plenty of pictures and choose which you like the most, a couple from different angles are nice to include for reference pictures for a drawing too.

Sometimes you may have to try another day or time if they are too active.

Make sure they are wearing their best or preferred collar.

If you like the idea, for a colour picture wearing something brightly coloured you may be able to recognise yourself in the reflection of their eyes.