Reference Guide

Guide to Submitting Reference Images for Your Pet Pawtrait with Hops & Bean .co. 

At Hops & Bean .co, I create custom digital pet portraits based on the photos you provide. To make sure your portrait captures your pet’s unique personality and features, here’s how to submit the best reference images:

General Guidelines for All Portraits:

• Lighting: Clear, natural light is best for showing your pet’s true colors and details. Try taking photos outside or near a window to avoid shadows or dark spots. Even lighting is key—no strong shadows!
• Eye-Level: Take your photos at your pet’s eye level. This avoids awkward angles and ensures I can capture your pet’s true proportions.
• No Clipping or Cropping: Make sure no important parts of your pet (like ears, paws, or tail) are cut off. For full-body portraits, I need to see your pet’s entire body in the frame.
• No Filters: Please avoid using filters, as they can distort your pet's natural colors and features.
• Multiple Photos: Feel free to send multiple images! If you can’t get the perfect shot in one photo, send several, and I can combine them to create the specific position or pose that you want.

Full Body Portraits:

For full body portraits, the entire body of your pet should be clearly visible in the reference image. Here’s how to take the best shot:

• Position: Make sure your pet is standing, sitting, or lying down naturally. The entire body should be in the frame—no paws or tails cut off!
• Background: Keep the background simple or uncluttered. This ensures the focus is fully on your pet.

Head/Bust Portraits:

For head or bust portraits, the focus is on your pet’s face and upper body. Here’s how to capture their personality:

• Framing: Get a close-up of your pet’s head and shoulders. Both eyes should be clearly visible.
• Natural Expression: Try to capture your pet in a relaxed or natural state. Avoid extreme close-ups that distort their face—eye-level shots work best here too.

Multiple Pet Portraits:

If you’d like a portrait with more than one pet, don’t worry about getting them all in the same photo. I can combine separate images into a single portrait. Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Separate Photos Are Okay: You don’t need to have all pets in one photo. You can send individual photos of each pet, and I can combine them into a cohesive portrait.
• Consistent Lighting and Angle: For a natural look in the final portrait, try to take all the photos in similar lighting and at the same eye level. This will make it easier to match the pets in the final piece.
• Poses and Expressions: Each pet should be in a relaxed or natural position. If you have specific poses in mind for the group portrait, feel free to provide separate photos that show each pet in the pose you want.

Combination of Photos:

If your pet won’t sit still for the perfect shot, no worries! I can combine multiple photos to achieve the exact pose or look you’re envisioning. Just make sure each photo follows the guidelines for lighting, eye level, and clarity.

 

By following these guidelines, you’ll help me create a beautiful, detailed portrait of your pet (or pets!) that reflects their personality and charm!