Best photos to send for a pet portrait

Every pet portrait is only as good as the photograph behind it. An artist can tidy a background or remove a lead, but they cannot invent detail that the camera never caught.

We make cards, pin badges and prints in house, printed in the UK. We don't paint pet portraits ourselves, so where we mention a portrait studio it is a recommendation rather than our own product.

Ten minutes with a phone and a bit of daylight is usually all it takes.

How to take the photo

1. Go outside, or stand by a window. Daylight beats every indoor light in the house.
2. Get down to their eye level. A photo taken from standing height gives you a portrait of the top of a head.
3. Fill the frame with the animal. Step closer rather than zooming.
4. Turn the flash off. It flattens fur and turns eyes into discs.
5. Get their attention just before you shoot - a squeaky toy or their name held one second too long.
6. Take thirty and delete twenty-nine. Burst mode is free.
7. Shoot in the shade on a bright day; direct sun blows out white fur completely.
8. Keep your own shadow out of the picture.

What makes a photo usable

• Both eyes visible and sharp - the eyes carry the whole portrait.
• Fur texture you can actually see, especially around the face.
• The original file, not a screenshot and not one sent through a chat app that compresses it.
• Their normal expression rather than a one-off funny face.

What to avoid sending

• Photos taken at night with flash.
• Anything cropped so tightly that the outline of the ears is cut off.
• Screenshots from a video, unless nothing else exists.
• Heavily filtered photos - the colours will not match real life.
• A black dog or cat photographed against a dark sofa; there is no detail to work from.

When the pet has died

• Send everything you have and say which one matters most - artists are used to piecing detail together from several pictures.
• A slightly blurry photo with the right expression often beats a sharp one that doesn't look like them.
• Say what you want left out: a hospital blanket, a cone, a lead.
• Tell them if the markings changed with age and which period you want.

Browse pet cards

Frames, prints and cards

What we make ourselves, for once the portrait arrives.

How to write it so it lands

• Take the photo a week before you order, not the night you order.
• Check the eyes at full zoom before sending.
• Keep the best shot - it makes a good card front too.

Where to shop next

• Pet portraits UK: costs and how to choose
• How much does a pet portrait cost?
• Gifts for dog lovers
• Gifts for cat lovers
• Christmas gifts for pet owners
• Pet loss keepsake ideas
• Pet memorial gift ideas
• New pet gift ideas
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges

Frequently asked questions

What photo is best for a pet portrait?

A daylight photo taken at the animal's eye level, close enough to see fur texture, with both eyes sharp and the flash off.

Can I use an old or blurry photo for a pet portrait?

Often yes, especially for a memorial. Send several and let the artist tell you what they can work with before you pay.

How do I photograph a black dog or cat?

Shoot in bright shade against a light background and expose for the fur, not the sky. Avoid dark sofas and night-time flash.

Should I send the original photo file?

Yes. Messaging apps compress pictures heavily. Email the original or use a file transfer link.