Pet Photo Guide for Custom Portraits
The best photo for a custom pet portrait is a sharp, well-lit close-up of your pet's face, taken at their eye level in natural daylight, with both ears fully in the frame. A good photo lets us capture your pet's real markings and expression. Here is exactly what to aim for.
The six rules of a great pet photo
1. Get close
Fill most of the frame with your pet's head and chest. Tiny pets in the distance lose detail.
2. Shoot at eye level
Crouch or lie down so the camera is level with your pet's eyes. Photos taken from above make heads look small and noses big.
3. Use daylight
Natural light from a window or a shady spot outdoors is ideal. Avoid flash, which causes glowing eyes, and harsh midday sun.
4. Keep it sharp
Tap the screen to focus on the eyes and hold still. Burst mode helps with wiggly puppies and kittens.
5. Keep the ears in frame
Don't crop ears, tufts or fluffy cheeks. They are a big part of your pet's look.
6. One pet per photo
For multi-pet portraits, upload a separate photo of each pet. They don't need to be photographed together.
Photos to avoid
- Blurry or very dark photos
- Heavy filters or face-changing effects
- Faces hidden by toys, hands or costumes
- Screenshots of tiny thumbnails
Memorial portraits and older photos
If you're creating a pet memorial portrait, choose the clearest photo you have where the eyes are visible. Because you can preview the result first, you can try a few photos to find the one that feels right.
Ready? Choose a portrait style or read our longer article on how to take the perfect photo of your pet.