Getting the right photo of your dog is the most important step before getting a custom dog tattoo. A good reference picture lets the artist capture your dog’s personality, proportions, and expression accurately. The better the photo, the better the tattoo. Here are 10 simple guidelines to help you take (or choose) the perfect dog photo for your tattoo reference.

1| Instead of shooting from above - try getting down to your dog’s eye level.

That way you’ll get a proportional picture, and the neck will be shown!

2 | Don’t have them leaning or resting on something, try keeping their head free and unsupported.

When they lean, their head gets stretched a bit, or covered by something else ,and the whole silhouette is changing.

3 | Don’t use a messy detailed background, choose one that is bright and clean instead

If you don’t want your tattoo artist to spend half a day guessing where the head ends and the background begins…

4 | Don’t put them under harsh direct sun - Use natural, even light.

Direct sunlight will cause extreme contrast, we will loose so many details for them being either too bright under the sun or too dark hiding in the strong shadow.

5 | Have the gentle source of light in front of them, not behind

That will help the camera capture the shape and volume of your pet’s beautiful face. Otherwise we will see a flat figure

6 | Don’t stand too far

We sant a focused, detaild portrait

7 | But not too close, too.

I know it’s the cuttest thing, but if you’ll remove the background, we will be left with a pretty wrappy looking image

8 | Don’t have them holding toys or doing tricks

Let’s have nothing disturbing the portrait from being only about them.

9 | Don't miss out on their eyes

The eyes say so much about their character- especially the -not the smartest cat in the city-character

10 | Don’t bring just one option!

Dogs move. Expressions change. Lighting changes. Bring multiple angles and expressions so we can choose the strongest match.

Believe me: there is no such thing as “too many.”!

Hugs,

Shani