The difference between a good portrait and a great one usually starts before we even open your file. Here is what works.
Natural light is everything
Step outside or sit by a window. Overhead indoor lighting flattens a pet's face and makes it hard to read the fur texture. Side light from a window adds depth. Midday shade beats direct sun, which blows out highlights.
Get on their level
Shoulder height is not eye level for most pets. Crouch down. Lie on the floor if that's what it takes. A portrait taken at the subject's eye level is warmer and more personal than one shot from above.
Wait for the ears
For dogs and cats, the ideal shot has both ears visible and roughly symmetrical. It's the natural resting face. Photos taken mid-bark or mid-yawn can work, but they're harder to stylize cleanly.
One subject, one frame
If you have two pets, we can do two portraits. But trying to fit both into one photo usually means one of them is partially obscured or angled away. Order one portrait per pet and they'll each get the full treatment.
Resolution matters
Your phone's standard camera is fine. We just need at least 1000 pixels on the short side. Screenshots of screenshots, heavily zoomed crops, or group photos where your pet is a thumbnail in the corner don't give us enough to work with.
When in doubt, send us the original file from your camera roll, not a compressed version from a text thread.