By Sophie, co-founder of Beast + Bonbon. Updated October 2026.
Short answer: The best photo for a custom pet portrait is taken in daylight near a window, at your pet's eye level, with both eyes visible and the whole face and ears in frame. A phone camera is fine. Skip heavy filters, take several shots and send more than one. If your pet has passed, older or blurry photos can still work.
This checklist is for anyone ordering a pet portrait, blanket, pillow or painting, for your own pet or as a gift. According to Pew Research Center, 51% of US pet owners say their pet is as much a part of the family as a human member. So it matters that the portrait looks like them. A good photo is the easiest way to get there.
What makes a good photo for a pet portrait?
A good photo shows your pet's real colors, both eyes and the full shape of the head. Use this checklist:
- Daylight near a window. Soft natural light shows true coat color. Avoid harsh midday sun and flash, which can cause shadows and glowing eyes.
- Eye level. Get down on the floor. Photos from above make the head look big and the legs small.
- Eyes visible and sharp. On a phone, tap the screen on your pet's eyes to focus there.
- Whole face and both ears in frame. Do not crop the ears. Our designers need their shape.
- A phone camera is fine. Use the main camera, not digital zoom, and wipe the lens first.
- No heavy filters. Filters and beauty modes change coat color and soften markings.
- Take several. Get one straight on, one at a slight angle, and one full body to show markings.
How do you get your pet to look at the camera?
- Hold a treat just above the lens.
- Make a squeaky sound or say a word they know, like "walk."
- Ask a second person to stand behind you and call their name.
- Try after a walk or a meal, when they are calm.
- Use burst mode and pick the best frame later.
Photo do's and don'ts at a glance
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Shoot in daylight near a window | Use flash or shoot in a dark room |
| Crouch to your pet's eye level | Shoot from standing, looking down |
| Keep both ears and the whole face in frame | Crop the ears or the top of the head |
| Focus on the eyes | Send a photo where the face is blurred by motion |
| Send the original photo | Add filters, stickers or beauty effects |
| Send several photos | Rely on one photo that hides markings |
What if your pet has passed and you only have old or blurry photos?
It still works. Because our designers create the portrait rather than printing your photo, they can improve lighting and recreate details that are missing. Send every photo you have, even imperfect ones. Our designers can take the face from one, the coloring from another and the markings from a third.
To find more photos, search your phone's photo library for "dog" or "cat," scroll old texts and social posts, and ask family members what they have. Then check the proof closely before you approve it. If you are making a gift for someone else and cannot find any photo, see pet memorial gifts without a photo.
As one verified buyer wrote on Shop: "I couldnt be happier with the blanket I got of my sweet baby I recently lost."
Can you combine separate photos of two or three pets?
Yes. Your pets do not need to be in the same photo. Our designers create each one and place them together in a single design. For the best result:
- Send one clear photo of each pet.
- Choose photos with similar angles and lighting if you can.
- Say which name belongs to which pet.
- Note size differences, like "Rosie is much smaller than Duke."
What details should you point out in the order notes?
Tell our designers anything a photo might not show clearly. A short note saves a round of revisions. Useful things to mention:
- Distinct markings, like a white blaze or a spot on one ear.
- True eye color, if your photos show it wrong.
- Ear shape, such as one ear that flops.
- Whether to include or leave out a collar, tag or bandana.
- Whether to keep a gray muzzle or show them a little younger.
- The exact spelling of each name.
How our custom pet blanket works
- Our designers create your pet's portrait from your photo and check every detail by hand, then it is woven from 100% cotton yarn in the USA.
- Old, dark or blurry photos are okay. Email several to hello@beastbonbon.com.
- Free design proof within 24 hours. Nothing is woven until you approve, and revisions are free.
- Up to 3 pets on one blanket. Delivery 8 to 12 days after you approve.
Start on the custom pet woven blanket page, or read how a photo becomes a woven pet blanket to see each step.
Questions people ask
What photo do I need for a custom pet portrait blanket?
Use a clear photo taken in daylight at your pet's eye level, with both eyes and ears visible. A phone photo is fine. Send a few, including one that shows markings, and skip filters so our designers see true colors.
Can I use a blurry photo for a pet portrait?
Often, yes. Because our designers create the portrait rather than printing your photo, they can sharpen features, fix lighting and recreate missing details. Send several photos if you have them, so they can combine the best parts, and check the proof before you approve.
Can I put two dogs from different photos on one blanket?
Yes. Up to 3 pets can go on one blanket, and they do not need to be photographed together. Send one clear photo of each pet, say which name goes with which, and our designers combine them into one design.
Does the photo need to be high resolution?
Not really. A recent phone photo is usually plenty. Light, focus on the eyes and seeing the whole face matter more than file size. If you only have a small or old image, send it anyway along with any others you have.
Should I send more than one photo?
Yes, if you can. One photo for the face, one for the coat color and one for markings gives our designers the full picture. This helps most with pets who have passed or with photos taken in poor light.