Pet Portraits by Cheryl Kelley
Beautiful keepsake portraits of your dog, cat or any pet.
E-mail to: Cheryl Kelley
Last Updated 04.24.2008

The Pet Portraits on this site are original works © Cheryl Kelley, all rights reserved.



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Dog Portrait Gallery

Cat Portrait Gallery

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Pet Portrait - Photo Tips

Portraits of Pets - FAQ

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Photography Tips

  1. Outdoor, natural lighting is best for accurate color. Avoid direct sunlight; this can alter the pet’s natural coloring. Try to avoid dark shadows. The environment should not be too bright or dark. Don’t use a flash if possible. This can cause red eye and distort the coloring. For a black pet, it’s best to take the photo on a cloudy day.

  2. Try to keep the background contrasting. It’s hard to see a white dog on a sandy beach.

  3. Go to where your pet is comfortable instead of making your pet come to you. So if you’re in the backyard, don’t be shy about getting down on the grass with your pet. This is especially true for full body shots.

  4. Get several close ups of your pet’s face in focus. It’s important that your photography doesn’t show your pet as a small spec on a landscape.

  5. A three-quarters view is often more interesting than a side view or a straight on shot.

  6. Try to capture your pet’s personality.

  7. Try to keep your patience and sense of humor. It helps to have at least one other person there to either take the picture, or help distract the pet. It might help to keep some of his/hers favorite toys nearby.

  8. Call or e-mail me for any other questions or tips.


Pet Portraits Home
Dog Portrait Gallery    Cat Portrait Gallery
Pet Portrait Pricing    Artist's Bio    Contact Artist & Events
Pet Portrait - Photo Tips      Portraits of Pets - FAQ

Hand-painted Photography & Fine Art