How to Take the Best Pet Photos for Your Custom Hand-Drawn Portrait

By Julia & Jenna, PawsPal Studio

At PawsPal, we believe every pet is a muse. But to capture the exact way your dog’s ear flops or the precise shade of your cat’s judging stare, we need a little help from you. Because Julia hand-draws every single commission from scratch - no filters, no AI - the artwork is only as good as the reference photos you send us.

Jenna handles all our studio emails, and the number one question she gets is: "Are these photos good enough?"

To help you get the best possible custom digital pet portrait, we’ve put together our studio guide to taking (or choosing) the perfect reference photos.

1. Find the Light

Lighting is the secret to a great portrait. Natural, indirect daylight shows off your pet’s true coat colours and the details in their eyes.

• Do: Take photos outside on an overcast day, or indoors facing a large window.
• Don't: Use a harsh flash, which causes glowing eyes, or shoot directly into the sun, which turns your pet into a silhouette.

2. Get on Their Level

The most engaging portraits happen when we see the world from your pet’s perspective.

• Do: Crouch down, sit on the floor, or lie on your stomach so your camera is at their eye level.
• Don't: Stand over them and shoot straight down. While the "big eyes, tiny body" look is cute, it distorts their proportions and makes it harder for Julia to draw an accurate full-body or classic portrait.

3. Focus on the Eyes and Personality

The eyes are the focal point of any hand-drawn portrait. We want to see their expression clearly.

• Do: Hold a treat or their favourite squeaky toy just above your camera lens to get them to look directly at you with an alert, happy expression.
• Don't: Worry if they aren't looking exactly at the camera, as long as their face is in sharp focus and their personality is shining through. A sleepy, relaxed pose is just as beautiful as an energetic one if that’s their true vibe.

4. Send Us Options (3 to 5 is the Sweet Spot)

You don't need to capture the single perfect shot. In fact, we prefer it when you don't.

• Do: Send us 3 to 5 different photos. Jenna loves seeing a mix: one clear close-up of the face, one full-body shot, and maybe one that perfectly captures their goofy personality. Julia will often use the pose from one photo but reference the exact coat colours from another.
• Don't: Send screenshots, heavily filtered images, or photos saved from social media if you can avoid it. Send the original, high-resolution files from your phone's camera roll so we can zoom in on the details.

Ready to Commission Your Portrait?

Whether you're looking for a funky digital poster, a WhatsApp sticker pack, or a full-scene artwork, the process is the same. Explore the PawsPal catalogue, choose your vibe, place your order, and then reply to Jenna’s confirmation email with your chosen photos.

For a one-of-one portrait in the style that suits your pet, commission a custom digital pet portrait. Julia will get her iPad out, and your hand-drawn art will land in your inbox in 3 to 5 days.