How to Take a Pet Photo That Makes a Great Custom Portrait
A custom pet portrait captures your pet's face, markings and expression. The better the photo you send, the more the final portrait looks like your pet, not just any dog or cat. You don't need a good camera. Your phone and these tips are enough.
1. Use daylight from a window
Soft natural light shows true fur colour and detail. Sit your pet near a window during the day, with the light falling on their face. Avoid the camera flash: it flattens fur and makes eyes glow.
2. Get down to their eye level
Photos taken from above make pets look small and distorted. Crouch or sit on the floor so the camera is level with their eyes. It's also how portraits are usually drawn.
3. Focus on the eyes
Tap on your pet's eyes on the screen before you take the photo. If the eyes are sharp, the portrait will feel alive, even if the ears are slightly soft.
4. Show the whole face
Make sure both eyes, the nose and both ears are in the frame. Distinctive markings, like a white patch or a different-coloured ear, are what make a portrait recognisable, so make sure they're visible.
5. Keep the background simple
A plain wall, floor or sofa works best. Busy backgrounds don't matter for the portrait, but they can make it harder to see the outline of your pet's fur.
6. Use a helper and a treat
Have someone hold a treat or squeaky toy just above the camera. Your pet will look towards the lens with an alert, happy expression.
7. Take lots of shots
Use burst mode or take 15 to 20 photos. Pick two or three of the sharpest and send them all. More angles help capture your pet accurately.
8. Send the original, unfiltered photo
Filters change fur colour, and screenshots or forwarded images lose detail. Send the original photo file, ideally as a document on WhatsApp or straight from your gallery.
Ready to order?
Once you have a good photo, order your custom piece and DM us the photo. We'll send a preview for you to approve before anything is printed.