For many families the dog or cat is part of every day, and a portrait without them would feel incomplete. Here is how to choose a photo so your pet looks like themselves in the finished piece.
Start with one photo of everyone together
Our illustrators draw from the photo you send, so your pet needs to be in it with the family. A pet at the edge of the picture or far in the background will be just as small in the portrait. Look for a photo where everyone, pet included, is close together and facing the camera.
Bring them up to face height
A dog sitting at your feet often ends up cut off at the bottom of the frame. Have a small pet on a lap, or everyone sit on the floor or a sofa with a larger dog beside them. When faces sit at similar heights, the portrait feels balanced.
Show their markings clearly
The illustrator draws what they can see. A patch over one eye, a white chest, a crooked ear, or a favorite collar is what makes a portrait look like your pet and no other. Dark coats lose detail in dim light, so take the photo outdoors or near a window, where fur shows its color and texture.
Getting them to look
Hold a treat or a squeaky toy just above the phone, or ask someone to stand behind you with one. Take plenty of pictures, since pets and children rarely look at the camera at the same time. One photo where both are looking your way is all you need.
A pet who is no longer with you
If your pet has died, an older photo of the family together can still become the portrait. Choose one where their face is clear and well lit. Many families find a portrait like this becomes one of the pieces they treasure most.
Use your revision for the details
Every illustrated portrait includes one revision. When you see the draft, look closely at your pet: the shape of the ears, the markings, the color of the coat. Tell us anything that doesn’t look right, and the illustrator will adjust it before the portrait is printed and framed.
