📱 Pre-Setup: Prepare Your Phone First.  Do this before you get your pet ready:

1. Turn off all filters, beauty modes, and auto-enhance – you need true colours and sharp details, not smoothed fur or altered tones.

2. Set highest resolution/quality – go to your camera settings and select maximum resolution; turn on RAW/Pro photo mode if available for best colour accuracy.

3. Disable flash – camera flash creates harsh glares, red-eye, and washes out details; we will use natural light only.

4. Clean your lens – wipe gently with a soft cloth; smudges make photos look soft and hazy.

5. Turn on gridlines – in camera settings, this helps you frame your pet evenly.

💡 Step 1: Get the Lighting Right (Most Important for Painting)

Artists need to see fur texture, eye detail, and true colours – lighting makes or breaks this:

• Best option: Soft, even natural light. Position your pet 1–2 metres from a large window or glass door, facing the light source (not with their back to it).

• Avoid: Direct bright sun (creates harsh shadows), dark corners, or overhead room lights (cast unflattering shadows under eyes/chins).

• Direction tip: Light coming slightly from the front/side shows off fur depth and facial structure perfectly – avoid lighting from directly above or behind.

• No windows? Stand outdoors on an overcast day, or in a shaded spot out of direct sun – this gives the same soft, even light.

🐾 Step 2: Prepare Your Pet & Environment

• Choose a calm time – pick a moment when your pet is relaxed, sleepy, or happily resting; avoid times they are hyper or distracted.

• Groom lightly – brush away loose fur, wipe eyes/noses if needed; you want their natural look, not over-styled.

• Keep background simple – plain walls, soft rugs, grass, or neutral fabric work best. Busy backgrounds (clutter, loud patterns) will confuse the artist and distract from your pet.

• Get on their level – this is critical: kneel, sit, or lie down so your camera is exactly at your pet’s eye height. Photos taken from above make pets look smaller/unnatural; eye-level shots capture their true personality and proportions.

📸 Step 3: Framing & Composition for Painting

Take multiple shots in these formats – the artist may need different views:

1. Close-up portrait (head + shoulders): Fill most of the frame with their face; leave a little space around edges so ears/tails don’t get cut off. Focus clearly on their eyes first.

2. Half-body/three-quarter shot: Show head, chest, and front legs – great for showing body shape and coat pattern.

3. Full-body shot: Include all of your pet in their natural relaxed pose, so the artist gets their correct proportions.

4. Angle guide: Shoot mostly front-facing or slightly turned (3/4 view) – this is the classic, most flattering angle for portraiture. Avoid extreme side profiles or looking up/down at them.

🎯 Step 4: Taking the Photo

1. Lock focus & exposure: Tap your pet’s face/eyes on your phone screen until you see an AE/AF LOCK banner. This stops the camera from shifting focus or brightness unexpectedly.

2. Keep still: Hold your phone with both hands, or rest it on a steady surface like a table/fence to avoid blurriness. Use your phone’s volume buttons or earphone controls to take the shot – tapping the screen often causes camera shake.

3. Get their attention: Use soft toys, quiet treats, or call their name gently to get them to look alert and relaxed. Avoid loud noises that make them tense.

4. Take lots of photos: Pets rarely hold a perfect pose for long – take 10–20 shots quickly. You can pick the sharpest, most natural one later.

5. Capture extra details: Take 2–3 extra close-ups of their eyes, unique markings, paw shape, or fur texture – these help the artist capture their exact look.

✅ Step 5: Final Checks Before You Finish

Review your best photos and confirm:

• ✅ Eyes are sharp and clear (this brings the painting to life)

• ✅ No blurriness or camera shake

• ✅ Colours look natural (no weird blue/yellow tints)

• ✅ No part of their face/body is cut off

• ✅ Shadows are soft, not dark or patchy

• ✅ You have a mix of close-up and full-body reference shots