If indoors, for a pet or family portrait, it is best to position the subject near a window with the light falling half way between the side and the front of the face. This can often be difficult with a pet portrait, but well worth the effort! Remember that direct sunlight may cast unwanted shadows onto the face. 

If outside, for a pet portrait or a family portrait, take the photograph with the light falling half way between the side and the front of the subject.  House portraits are often best taken in full sunlight.

Be close enough to the subject you are photographing for it to fill up at least half of the frame. This will mean that there are enough details in the photograph to paint from. However, do not take the photograph too close to the subject as the camera can distort features at very close distances.

With both family portraits and pet portraits, take the photograph on the same eye level as the subject you are photographing, so that the subject is looking neither up nor down, but straight at the camera.

Choose the viewpoint. A three-quarter view is often the most interesting. This is when the subject is turned slightly to one side, but is looking into the lens of the camera. Experiment with the viewpoint to find one that you like the best.

Be aware of how you would like the subject to look. Is it looking at it's best? Tidy it up if necessary and make sure that it looks as you wish.

When photographing people, ask for a big smile! The best photographs are often of happy or contented faces.

Take a series of photographs rather than just one, as it is more likely that you will come up with one that you really like.

You can send me a selection of photographs to choose from if you wish and we can decide between us which one will make the best portrait.