Which photo should you choose for your pet's portrait?

Wondering which photo to choose for a pet portrait? It's the right question to ask, because everything starts with that image. The sharper, brighter and better framed it is, the more precise and lifelike the portrait will be. Good news: you don't need a professional camera. A phone and a few good habits are enough.

Why the photo matters so much

The portrait reflects what the photo shows: the shape of the head, the colour of the eyes, the shades of the coat, the expression. If a detail is blurry, too dark or cropped in the photo, it will be hard to bring it back on the canvas. And since a canvas can measure up to 60×90 cm, the image needs to be sharp enough to be enlarged.

At ThinkArt, you upload the photo on the product page and you see the preview of your portrait in a few seconds, free of charge, before you pay. Make the most of it: try several photos and keep the one that gives the best result.

Light: go for daylight

• Near a window, during the day: the light is soft and shows off the coat.
• Outdoors, on an overcast day: the clouds diffuse the light, with no harsh shadows.
• Avoid the midday sun: strong shadows, squinting eyes, “burnt-out” bright areas.
• Avoid backlighting: your pet becomes a dark silhouette.
• Turn off the flash: it makes the eyes shine (green, red or white) and flattens the texture of the fur.
• Beware of lamps in the evening: their yellow light distorts the colours.

Framing: the whole head and the top of the chest

The ideal photo shows the whole head, both ears and the top of the chest. Leave a little space around them: a photo that is too tight, with the ears cut off, leaves less freedom to frame the portrait on the canvas. Conversely, a photo taken from too far away and then cropped loses precision. Move closer rather than using the digital zoom, which degrades the image.

At their eye level

This is the tip that changes everything. Photographed from above, an animal looks smaller, with a big head and eyes looking upwards. Get down to their level: crouching for a large dog, sitting or lying on the floor for a small dog or a cat. You'll get a direct gaze that gives the portrait real presence.

To draw their gaze towards the lens, call them softly, make a little noise, or ask someone to hold a treat just above the phone. A good photo for a dog portrait often comes down to a single second: be ready to take the shot.

Sharpness: it's all about the eyes

• Tap the screen on your pet's eyes to focus there.
• Clean your phone's lens: a single fingerprint makes the image blurry.
• Hold the phone with both hands, or rest your elbows on your knees.
• Turn on burst mode if your pet is moving, then keep the sharpest photo.
• Send the original file: screenshots and photos sent through some messaging apps lose quality.

A simple test: zoom in on your pet's eyes in your gallery. If they stay sharp, the photo is good.

Background: simple and uncluttered

A simple background helps to clearly distinguish your pet's outline. Avoid clutter (toys, furniture, passers-by) and anything that hides part of their head: a hand, a lead, a bowl, another animal. Look for contrast: a black dog stands out better against a light wall, a white cat against a darker background. Ideally, choose a photo where your companion is on their own.

Photographing your cat well (and tricky coats)

The cat is often the most difficult model: they move, turn their head away and walk off as soon as the phone comes near. A few tips for photographing your cat well:

• Make the most of calm moments: when they wake up, after a meal, during a nap in the sun near a window.
• Don't chase them: settle near their favourite spot and wait for them to come to you.
• Make a little noise (rustling paper, clicking your tongue) just above the lens: you'll get a second of attentive gaze.
• Use burst mode and keep the photo where the eyes are wide open and sharp.

Black, white or tabby coats

For a black coat, place your pet near a window, with the light coming from the side: the texture of the fur appears and the eyes shine naturally. For a white coat, avoid direct sunlight and white backgrounds, which wash out the outline. For a tabby or spotted coat, soft, even light reveals the markings. These tips also help you get the right photo for a portrait of a dog with a very dark or very light coat.

With an old photo or a pet who has passed away

When your pet is no longer here, you can't retake the photo. You have to work with the ones that exist, and that's often possible.

• Search all your devices: old phone, computer, online backups, photos shared with family and friends or posted on social media.
• For a printed photo, scan it. Otherwise, photograph it lying flat, in daylight, with the phone parallel to the photo and no reflections.
• Choose the image where the eyes are visible and sharp, even if it's not the most recent.
• Bear in mind that the result depends on the quality of the photo. The free preview lets you check the result before deciding.

We've gathered more advice, for you or for someone close to you, on our memorial portrait of a pet who has passed away page.

Mistakes to avoid

• The photo taken from a distance and then cropped: the head only takes up a small part of the image.
• Flash: shiny eyes and flattened texture.
• Filters and effects (black and white, beauty retouching, saturated colours): send the photo as it is. If you like black and white, the Charcoal style takes care of it.
• Backlighting: your pet becomes a shadow.
• Screenshots: the quality drops with every copy.
• Your pet in full motion: blurry fur and eyes.
• Part of the head hidden: an ear cut off, a nose behind an object, a lead in front of the eyes.

Checklist before you send your photo

• The photo is taken in daylight, without flash.
• The whole head is visible, ears included, with a little space around it.
• The phone was at your pet's eye level.
• The eyes stay sharp when you zoom in.
• The background is simple and nothing hides the head.
• The photo has no filter or effect.
• It's the original file, not a screenshot.
• Your pet is alone in the picture, or clearly separate from the rest.

All ticked? All that's left is to try. Choose a style, upload your photo and see the preview in a few seconds, free of charge. To get started: personalised dog portrait or personalised cat portrait.