What Makes a Good Photograph for a Pet Portrait?
You have 4,000 photos of your pet. Possibly more. And somehow, when someone asks for "a good one" to paint from, none of them seem right.
That's normal. A photo that's lovely to look at isn't always a photo that's easy to paint from. Here's what actually helps.
Clear and well-lit beats cute and blurry
The single most important thing is clarity. If the artist can't see a detail, they have to guess it, and you don't want your pet's face to be a guess.
Look for:
- Sharp focus, especially on the eyes.
- Natural light. Daylight from a window is perfect. Avoid harsh flash, which flattens features and can make eyes glow strangely.
- Even lighting, without one half of the face in deep shadow.
Face first
A portrait lives and dies by the face. Choose photos where your pet's features are clearly visible: eyes, nose, ears, markings, that one wonky whisker.
Taking the photo at your pet's eye level makes a big difference. Photos taken from above, looking down at them, tend to squash their proportions.
Natural poses, real expressions
The best reference photos usually aren't the posed ones. Look for an expression that feels like them: the head tilt, the hopeful stare, the "I know what you did" face.
If you love a particular expression but the photo isn't very clear, send it anyway along with a clearer one. It helps us understand their personality, even if we paint from the sharper photo.
Go easy on the filters
Filters change colours, smooth out fur and sometimes add things that were never there. Send the original, unedited version if you can. True colours make for a truer portrait.
Why more than one photo helps
One photo shows one moment. A few photos show the whole pet. Different angles help with markings, ear shapes and colouring that might not be obvious from a single picture.
Don't worry about choosing perfectly. Send us a handful of options and we'll help you pick. (Zoomies photos are lovely, by the way. Just maybe not for this.)
What if your pet never sits still?
We know the type. A few tricks:
- Try just after a walk, play session or meal, when they're calmer.
- Hold a treat or toy just above the camera so they look towards it.
- Use burst mode and pick the best frame later.
- Ask someone else to hold their attention while you take the photo.
- Sit on the floor. Getting down to their level often helps them settle.
Cats, in particular, will cooperate exactly when you've given up. Keep your phone nearby.
Sending your photos to us
You don't need to upload anything to our website. Once you've picked a design from our collection, just send your photos to us on WhatsApp. We'll look at them together and let you know if we need anything else before we begin. If you're new to all this, our guide on how to get your dog painted on canvas walks through the whole process.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a phone photograph for a pet portrait?
Yes. Your photograph doesn't need to come from a professional camera. A clear, well-lit phone photograph can be a useful reference.
Should my pet look directly at the camera?
Not necessarily. A photograph that captures your pet's personality can be a good starting point, as long as the important features are visible.
Can I send multiple photographs of my pet?
Yes. Sharing multiple photographs can help the artist understand your pet's appearance, markings and distinguishing features.
Can I use an old photograph of my pet?
You can share an older photograph with the artist. The important thing is that it clearly shows the features you want represented in the painting.
