The quality of your portrait depends first and foremost on the photo you send us. Follow these simple tips to capture your companion's essence and get a result worthy of a true work of art.

1. Lighting: the key to a great portrait

Natural light is your best ally. Take the photo during the day, near a window or outside in the shade. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates harsh shadows and glare on the fur.

Indoors: place your pet facing a window for soft, even lighting.
Outdoors: an overcast day is ideal — the light is naturally diffused.
Avoid: the built-in flash, which distorts colours and causes red-eye.

2. Pose and angle: show your pet at their best

The shooting angle changes everything. A front-facing or three-quarter portrait gives our artists the best results.

Face to face: capture your pet looking straight into the lens for an expressive portrait.
Three-quarter: a slight side angle highlights the shape of the muzzle and the detail in the fur.
Eye level: get down to your pet's level instead of shooting from above. It creates an immediate emotional connection.
Avoid: pure profile or from-behind shots — they limit the detail our artists can reproduce.

3. Resolution and sharpness: every detail counts

For the best result, especially on our XL sizes, your photo needs enough detail.

Minimum resolution: 1500 pixels wide. The bigger, the better.
Sharpness: make sure your pet's face is perfectly in focus. A slightly blurry photo loses impact once enlarged on canvas.
Format: JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB through our configurator.
Avoid heavily compressed photos: images saved from social media are often too low in quality.

4. The background: less is more

A simple, uncluttered background lets our artists focus on what matters: your pet.

Choose a plain background (white wall, green grass, neutral sofa).
Avoid busy backdrops: crowds, cluttered furniture, distracting patterns.
Don't worry if the background isn't perfect — our artists can replace it while creating the portrait.

5. Expression: capture your companion's personality

The best portrait isn't the technically perfect one — it's the one that reflects your pet's true personality.

Photograph your pet in a calm moment, after a walk or a play session.
Use a treat or a toy to draw their eyes toward the lens.
Take plenty of shots — the perfect photo is often the fifteenth.
Pick the expression that speaks to you: mischievous, gentle, majestic, playful.

Your quick checklist

✓Photo taken in natural light, no flash
✓Face sharp and well centred (front or three-quarter)
✓Resolution of at least 1500 pixels wide
✓Simple, non-distracting background
✓An expression that reflects your pet's personality

Still have questions? Our FAQ covers the most common ones, and our team is available by email to help you at every step.

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