Make sure you use natural lighting if possible. Have your pet face the light and then snap a photo. Make sure your pet isn’t backlit- this will distort the colors and small details and make your painting less accurate.

Use a favorite toy or a yummy treat to keep your pet distracted while you take the photo. This will help keep them sat in the position you want and will make sure that they’re looking at the camera and their eyes are visible.

Make sure you can see your pets eye/eye color, their fur color and any distinct patterns in their fur, and their collar if you want it painted. keep in mind that if you want certain partes of your pet painted, they will need to be in the photo! You can submit multiple photos to give me a better reference, too.