Portraits
A custom pet portrait starts with a single photo. The better the photo, the more your portrait will look like your pet: their exact fur color, the shape of their ears, that look in their eyes. Good news: you do not need a professional camera. A recent phone photo is perfect, as long as you follow a few simple rules.
1. Natural light is your best friend
Take the photo near a window or outside on a bright but cloudy day. Soft daylight shows the true color of the fur and avoids harsh shadows. Avoid the camera flash: it flattens the face and creates glowing eyes.
2. Get down to their eye level
Photos taken from above make heads look big and bodies small. Crouch or sit on the floor so the camera is at the height of your pet's eyes. The result looks much more natural, and it is the angle our studio works best with.
3. The face must be sharp and fully visible
Both eyes, the nose and the ears should be clearly visible and in focus. Avoid photos where a toy, a hand or a blanket hides part of the face, and photos where your pet is moving. A favorite treat held just above the camera works wonders to get their attention.
4. Choose a high-resolution original
Use the original photo from your phone or camera rather than a screenshot or a picture saved from social media, which are compressed. The more detail we have, the finer the fur and the eyes will be on your portrait.
5. Pick a photo that shows their personality
A tilted head, a happy open mouth, a calm and noble pose: choose the expression that feels most like them. For costume portraits like the Mona Lisa or The General, a front-facing photo where your pet looks at the camera works best.
What about a pet who has passed away?
For a memorial portrait, use the photo you love most, even if it is older or not perfect. Our team refines the details and checks every portrait before printing, and you see a preview before you order.
Two pets in one portrait
For The Duo, you can upload one photo of each pet. They do not need to be in the same picture: we place them side by side.
Quick checklist
- Daylight, no flash
- Camera at eye level
- Sharp face, both eyes visible
- Original high-resolution file
- An expression that feels like them
Have your photo? Create your custom pet portrait and see a preview in minutes.