The single most important thing you can do for your pet portrait: get down to their eye level. I know it means lying on the floor. I know your knees hate you. But the difference between a photo taken from standing height and one taken at eye level is enormous.
From standing, you're looking down at a foreshortened animal with a big head and small body. From eye level, you're looking at a subject with presence, proportion, and direct eye contact. That's what makes a portrait work.
The Four Things That Matter
1. Eye Level
Already covered. Get low. It's the single biggest improvement you can make.
2. Natural Light
Near a window on a cloudy day is ideal. You want soft, even light that wraps around the face without harsh shadows. Avoid direct sun (too contrasty) and flash (too flat, causes weird eye reflections).
3. Face Visible
Both eyes showing. Ears visible. No hair covering the face. If your dog has a fringe, push it aside for the photo. We need to see the features to paint them.
4. Sharp Focus
Tap your pet's face on your phone screen to lock focus there. The background can be blurry, we don't use it anyway. But the eyes and nose need to be sharp.
What Doesn't Matter
What to Avoid
Blurry photos, heavy Instagram filters, extreme close-ups (we need some head/neck context), and costumes that hide the face. Also avoid photos where another pet or person is partially blocking the view.
That's it. Floor, window, face, focus. Four things.
