How to take the perfect photo for a dog portrait

The best photo for a dog portrait is a sharp, close photo taken in daylight at your dog's eye level, with their face and both eyes clearly visible. You do not need a good camera: the phone in your pocket is perfect. Here is how to get that photo, and what to do if you only have an older one.

1. Use daylight, not flash

Soft daylight shows the real colour of your dog's coat and the light in their eyes. Sit them near a window, or take them outside on a bright but overcast day. Flash flattens the face, turns eyes green or white, and hides the detail that makes a portrait look like them. Dark coats need the most light of all, so if your dog is black or chocolate, a window is your best friend.

2. Get down to their eye level

Most of our photos of our dogs are taken from above, looking down at the top of their head. Crouch or kneel so the phone is level with their eyes. The difference is remarkable: their face fills out, their expression comes through, and the portrait looks like your dog looking at you.

3. Make sure both eyes are clear

The eyes carry the likeness. Wait for a moment when your dog is looking at you or just past you, with both eyes open and in focus. On most phones you can tap their eyes on the screen to focus there before you take the picture.

4. Get close

Your dog's head and shoulders should fill most of the photo. A dog that is a small shape in the middle of a garden has too little detail to work from, however lovely the scene. Move closer rather than zooming in, because zoom softens the picture.

5. Take a few, then pick the best

Take a handful of photos in a row. Dogs blink, look away and lick their noses at exactly the wrong moment. A favourite treat or squeaky toy held just above the phone will usually earn you one perfect, alert look.

What if I only have an old photo?

Send us the best one you have. Many people order a portrait of a dog they can no longer photograph, and an older or less-than-perfect photo can still make a portrait you will treasure. If a photo is too blurred or dark to give a good result, we tell you when we send your proof, before anything is printed.

Before you order

Our photo guide shows a good photo next to the four most common problems: blurry, too dark, looking down and too far away. When you have your photo, choose a design and upload it with your order. We email you a proof within one working day, and nothing is printed until you are happy with it.