How to Paint Your Pet's Portrait Tutorial

Last night I was inspired to paint Mister G's portrait.  

To paint your pet's portrait, you will need:

A copy of your favorite photo of your pet

Sharp scissors-- the tinier the better

Tape

Paper to paint on

Tracing Paper

Pencil

Paint

Paint Brushes

First, cut your pet's silhouette from your photo.

Then put a tiny rolled up piece of tape on his face and stick him on your paper.  

Choose your background color and use your pet's silhouette as a stencil.

Use the tip of your scissors or a toothpick to lift up the edge of your stencil and remove from the paper.

I needed a little help spacing out Mister G's eyes, nose, and mouth so I used tracing paper.  

Put a sheet of tracing paper over the photo of your pet.  Mark where your pet's eyes, nose, mouth, and other important features are.  

Line up the tracing of your pet on top of the painted silhouette.  Gently trace over the tracing to make soft marks on your paper.  Remove the tracing paper and sketch the features of your pet using the soft marks as a guide.  

Now you are ready to paint your pet!  Be patient and have fun!  

Newborn Photography Tips

• Make a list of pictures you love!  Find pictures that speak to you.  Pinterest is a great resource!
• If you are taking pictures for someone else, talk to them about their preferences and expectations.  Since I was taking pictures for my sister I asked her for her input-- what styles she likes, what shots she wanted.  Good communication in advance is especially important if you are taking pictures during delivery.  There is no time to clarify what mama wants as the baby is taking her first breath!  
• Be patient and flexible.  Know that you probably won't be able to get a great picture of every single shot you want.  For example, I wanted to get a cute black and white shot of Ivy on her belly with her legs tucked under... but Ivy wasn't having it!  I also wanted some cute naked booty shots... but Ivy has a skinny little butt and the pictures just didn't look right. 
• Babies are extra photogenic between 5-10 days old.  Sometimes their skin is irritated or splotchy after birth and it takes a few days for it to smooth out and their heads to settle into a lovely shape.  
• Newborns eat and sleep a lot-- so if you want a picture that doesn't involve sleeping or eating you need to work around the baby's schedule.  Right after feedings is a great time to take pictures because the baby is usually pretty content and their little hands and feet are relaxed. 
• Be prepared for accidents!  Have a change of clothes, lots of wipes, some washcloths, towels, blankets, and cute props ready for your session. 
• If you plan to take naked shots turn up the heat!  You should feel slightly sweaty for a naked baby to be comfortable and happy.  If baby gets too cold she will pee!  
• Know what your lighting situation is.  Where are the windows and what light will be available to you? 
• If you are going to get a shot of the baby taking her first breath make sure to meter your light and get your camera ready in advance.  Also, it's can be difficult to get a good shot of post-delivery activities because the doctors and nurses are busy doing their jobs!  Be respectful and creative to get the perfect picture!
• Make sure you have the right equipment!  A fantastic, low-cost lens ($100-150) that takes amazing pictures in low light settings is the 50mm/1.8.  Consider buying or renting a speedflash for your camera as well.  Also, research what kind of lens you will need to get the shots you want.  I wanted to get some close-ups of Ivy's tiny fingers and toes so I rented a macro lens (105mm f/2.8 micro) and am so pleased with my images!  

Here are some of my favorite photos of Ivy: