A portrait can only be as good as the photo it starts from. The good news: you don't need a fancy camera. A recent phone and a little patience is plenty. Here's what to look for.
1. Use natural light
Daylight from a window or outside is the single biggest improvement you can make. Avoid flash, which flattens features and can cause glowing eyes. Overcast days are ideal because the light is soft and even.
2. Get down to their eye level
Photos taken from above make pets look small and distort their faces. Kneel or sit on the floor so the camera is level with their eyes. It makes a huge difference in how much personality comes through.
3. Make sure the face is sharp
Zoom in on the photo before you upload it. Can you see individual whiskers and the detail in their eyes? If the face is blurry, the portrait will lose the details that make them look like themselves. Tap the screen on their eyes to focus before you take the shot.
4. Show the whole head
Ears matter. A floppy ear or a torn one is part of who they are. Pick a photo where the ears and the top of the head aren't cropped off.
5. Keep their markings visible
If your dog has a white blaze or your cat has tabby stripes, choose a photo where those markings are clear and not in deep shadow. For all-black or all-white pets, bright, even light is especially important so the shape of the face shows.
6. Skip heavy filters
Filters change colors, and the portrait will follow them. Use the original photo if you have it.
7. Get their attention
A squeaky toy, a treat, or saying their name right before you press the button gets you that alert, ears-up look. Take a burst of photos and pick the best one.
8. Older photos are okay
For a memorial portrait, you may only have older photos. That's fine. Choose the clearest one where their face is visible. A slightly soft photo often still makes a lovely watercolor.
Quick checklist
- Daylight, no flash
- Camera at eye level
- Face and eyes in focus
- Ears and head fully in frame
- Markings clearly visible
- No filters
Try a few
Previews are free, so you can try more than one photo and see which one looks most like them before you order.