Photo Guide

Great embroidery starts with a great photo. Choose or take a clear, front-facing image of your pet in bright, even light. A sharp, well-framed photo lets our artists capture expression, markings, and texture accurately.

Quick checklist

  • Front view: face looking toward the camera, eyes visible
  • Lighting: bright and even; natural daylight preferred; no backlight or heavy shadows
  • Sharpness: crisp focus; no blur or motion
  • Resolution: original file over 1 MB; at least 1500–2000 px on the shortest side
  • Framing: head and upper chest fill about 60–80% of the frame; shoot at eye level
  • Clean view: face unobstructed by hands, toys, muzzles, clothing, or hair over the eyes
  • Background: simple and uncluttered; a plain wall works well
  • No filters: avoid filters, heavy edits, screenshots, or compressed images

How to take the photo

  • Position: kneel or lower your camera to your pet’s eye level
  • Distance: fill the frame without cropping off ears or chin
  • Light: stand near a window or go outdoors in open shade; avoid direct harsh sun
  • Timing: take 2–3 shots in the same light and pick the clearest one

Upload specs

  • Formats: JPG or PNG
  • Source: upload the original file from your camera roll (not a screenshot or chat-compressed image)
  • Size: over 1 MB is ideal for stitch detail

Common pitfalls to avoid

  • Backlit or dim rooms causing grainy images
  • Motion blur from a moving pet
  • Extreme angles (from above or below) that distort proportions
  • Strong filters or portrait modes that smooth or alter fur texture
  • Cropped photos that cut off ears, whiskers, or chin

Before you upload

  • Do a quick zoom-in check: eyes, nose, and fur edges should look crisp
  • Confirm the face is well lit and free of shadows
  • Make sure the composition shows the full face and features

Need a second opinion: Simply reach out to us through the live chat box, or email your photo to dokkapawtrait@gmail.com, and we’ll confirm suitability before you order.