Photo Pointers
The illustration that I create can only be as detailed as the photos that you send. They should be in accurate color, and of high quality if possible. E-mailing me high resolution photos taken with a digital camera will provide me with the best material with which to work. Photograph the house when it is in sunlight, with no deep shadows. If I can’t see it, I can’t draw or paint it.
You can NEVER send too many photos!
If you have existing photos of the house you wish me to draw, but can’t take the shots I describe below, for example if the property is too far away, no longer exists, etc. please send or e-mail the photos that you do have, but remember, I can only draw what I can see. You'll have to describe what I can’t see, so I know what to draw.
- Click here to see examples of photos that I took myself to for drawing a beautiful but “troublesome” house.
- Click here to download a one-page PDF version of these pointers to take with you on your photoshoot! When your computer opens the page, select “Print…” under your “File” menu and follow the prompts to print it out..
PLEASE SEND 5-10 FULL SHOTS OF THE HOUSE, INCLUDING:
Full Shots:
- Several photos that show the entire building, centered in the viewfinder of your camera. I need these for the overall shape and lines of the house and roof.
The Angle
- Take full shots from a variety of angles: one head on, some from slightly to each side, some with a larger angle showing more of either side of the house as well as the front.
- Try a picture from the other direction if...
- you have tall front stairs, etc. that stick out past the front corner of the house, leaving nothing but air above them, wasting drawing space and forcing me to draw the rest of your house smaller.
- your garage or part of the house obscures the front porch or front door.
Detail Shots:
- Close-ups showing unique architectural details e.g. elaborate trim, decoration, grillwork, bannisters, statuary, “gingerbread”, etc.
- A straight-on shot showing the side of your house that is visible in your “preferred full shot”, if the “preferred shot” is at an angle.
Hidden Shots
- Photos (not necessarily close-up) that show obvious aspects of the property obscured in the full shots by landscaping, vegetation, cars etc. For example, if your front door, windows, railings or an angle of your roof line aren’t visible in the full shot. Even if the angle of the picture is odd I can still draw what’s there if you show me.
Please situate both your HIDDEN SHOTS and DETAIL SHOTS in the frame in such a way that I can tell where they are in respect to the rest of the house. E.g. If you have trees blocking several sets of windows, and take hidden shots at a tight angle between the trees and the house, be sure that I can tell which set of windows is in the photo.