Custom Pet Portraits, Explained

Choosing Your Photo

Your photo tells us how your pet LOOKS: coloring, eye color, and essential markings. The pose and scene come from the artwork. A great photo makes a great portrait, so please check these six things:

1. 01

   Face the camera

   Both eyes, the full muzzle, and both ears visible. (A three-quarter body turn is fine, as long as the face itself is toward the lens, not turned away.)

2. 02

   Sharp

   Zoom in on the face. If you can’t see individual fur strands, retake it. No motion blur.

3. 03

   Bright, natural light

   Daylight or window light. No dim rooms, lamp glow, or flash; we need your pet’s true colors.

4. 04

   Close, but not cropped

   Near enough to see facial detail, with the whole head, ears, and chest still in frame. Your photos must show only the pet in your portrait, with no other animals in the frame.

5. 05

   Their natural look

   No costumes, outfits, or accessories. (Collar on or off in the artwork? Tell us when you send your photos.)

6. 06

   The original file

   Full-size, straight from your phone. No screenshots, filters, or photos texted between phones (texting shrinks them).

Unsure between a few? Send them all and we’ll pick the winner.

How It Works

1. 1

   Place your order

   Tap the buy button on the design you love and check out on Etsy. You’ll share your pet’s details next.

2. 2

   Send your snapshots

   After you order, we’ll send you a private link to upload your best photos at full size. Keep your Etsy order number handy.

3. 3

   Perfected by hand

   Your pet is placed into our original artwork, then a real designer matches markings and colors to your photos and retouches by hand. Your finished portrait is ready within 3 business days of receiving your uploaded snapshots.

4. 4

   Receive & enjoy

   Receive your digital file, fine art print or canvas. Want a tweak? Digital portraits: within 7 days of delivery. Prints and canvases: at the proof, within 48 hours.

Choose a digital file to print anywhere, or order your portrait as a fine art print or canvas.

About Our Process

Every scene in our shop is an original design, digitally illustrated in a painterly vintage style. Your portrait is built with our own custom-built studio software, made in-house and used only by Retro Reverence, which places your pet into the artwork. Then a designer takes over, matching your pet’s markings and colors against your photos, retouching by hand in Photoshop, and approving every portrait personally before it reaches you.

FAQ

What You Get

Your made-to-order portrait is available as a high-resolution digital file, a fine art print or a canvas. The digital file is print-ready at 8" × 10", 12" × 15", 16" × 20", and 24" × 30", and also fits the standard European 40 × 50 cm frame with no cropping. Printing at 11" × 14"? Your print shop simply trims a hair to fit. Nothing for you to do. This is not an instant download: every portrait is made individually from your photo.

Start your pet’s portrait

From $19 · made to order · digital file, fine art print or canvas · reviewed and approved by a real designer before it reaches you.