Pet portrait guide · Before you order
The best source photo is the one that still feels like your pet. Use this short checklist to choose an image that gives a custom digital portrait enough recognizable detail to work with.
Start with the detail you want to remember
Before checking pixels or backgrounds, ask what makes this particular photo feel familiar. It might be the direct gaze, one ear that always tilts, a stripe across the nose, a pale patch on the chest or the way your pet rests their head. Choose the frame where that detail is visible without guesswork.
- Keep the eyes, muzzle and defining coat pattern readable.
- Choose the expression or posture that feels characteristic.
- If a collar, tag or toy matters to the memory, make sure it is not hidden.
Check light and focus
Soft daylight is helpful because it reveals shape and color without harsh flashes. A phone photo can work well when the original file is in focus. Zoom in before uploading: if the eyes are already smeared into a few pixels, a portrait cannot reliably recreate the missing detail.
- Prefer an original-size file from your phone or camera instead of a screenshot.
- Look for eyes and nose that remain distinct at 100% zoom.
- A dark image may still work when the face and markings are visible; severe shadow over the only defining feature is limiting.
Leave enough room around the subject
A little space around the head or body gives the composition room to breathe. A tight crop can still be useful for a close portrait, but avoid cutting through ears, whiskers or the feature you most want kept. If you are choosing between a close crop and a wider frame, send the one with more readable context and explain your preferred crop in the notes.
Old photos and busy backgrounds can be workable
Your photo does not need to look like a studio headshot. A favorite older image may be the right choice if the expression and markings are clear. Furniture, grass, blankets and other background details can become quieter in the finished direction. What cannot be safely recovered is detail that is fully blurred, blocked or outside the frame.
Use the Photo Guide to compare clear, workable and limiting examples. If you are still unsure, the free photo check can tell you whether the source is suitable before you place a paid order.
Write notes that protect recognition
A few concrete notes are more useful than a long description. Name the details that must remain true and the feeling you want the portrait to carry.
- Keep: “Please keep the white mark above the left eye and the slightly folded right ear.”
- Mood: “Quiet morning light, gentle and familiar.”
- Direction: “I prefer the gathered-paper look,” or “Please keep the background very restrained.”
KeptPaw currently works from one pet and one primary photo. The standard order includes a first proof and one focused refinement, so these notes help the studio start in the right direction.
Ready to choose?
Send a photo for a free check, or compare the three portrait directions before ordering a $9.99 digital portrait.