How to choose photos for your custom pet wallpaper

A good reference photo lets us see what makes your pet recognizable: the shape of their ears, the color around their eyes, the line of their muzzle and the markings you notice every day. You do not need a studio portrait. A clear original phone photo is a useful starting point.

Choosing a reference for an illustration is different from choosing a finished wallpaper. The reference should show the pet clearly; the final artwork can use a different background or layout. You do not need to crop your pet into a phone-shaped frame before sending the photo.

Start with the eyes and the markings

Open your favorite photo and look closely at the eyes. Can you see where the pupil ends and the fur begins? Can you distinguish the markings around the muzzle? If those details dissolve into blur, choose another frame. An attractive background cannot replace missing facial information.

For a dark-coated pet, face them toward gentle window light or move into open shade. Check that their eyes and the outline of their ears remain visible. For a white-coated pet, avoid a photo where the bright areas have lost all fur detail. Keep filters off so the reference shows the colors you want us to match.

Choose a useful angle

Try taking a photo near your pet's eye level. This usually makes it easier to see their face without the exaggerated proportions of a close overhead shot. Leave space around ears, whiskers and the muzzle. If the intended artwork shows the whole pet, include a side or full-body view that shows their proportions and tail.

A favorite toy can help attract their attention, but it should not hide the features we need. You do not need to make a nervous or sleepy pet perform for the camera. Take a few photos during a calm moment and choose the clearest one afterward.

Send the original, with a short explanation

Use the original photo from your camera roll when possible. Screenshots and images downloaded from social media may be smaller or more compressed. Cropping out the background can also remove useful detail, so keep a full-size copy.

For a custom order, the current starting request is 1–3 clear photos. Choose a main face reference and add another angle when it shows something important. If the photos were taken years apart, say which appearance to use. A gray muzzle, a changed collar or an old marking should not become a guessing game.

Multiple poses and multiple pets

A multi-pose design shows the same pet in different illustrated poses; it does not automatically mean you need one reference photo for every final pose. Send the clearest views you have, and discuss any must-have pose before work begins. For two or more pets, identify each pet and explain their relative sizes when requesting a Pet Family Quote.

Before you send

• Make sure the eyes, ears and distinctive markings are visible.
• Choose the photo that best matches the appearance you want.
• Send a full-size original and add a useful second angle if available.
• List the features you want retained, including age-related markings.
• Read the photo-processing and privacy information, and follow the order instructions for sending your photos.

Our custom artwork uses AI assistance and personal review. A reference helps guide the illustration, but the preview is where you check the likeness and tell us about corrections. See Your Pet Dreams for current package scope, availability and the preview process.