Pet Portrait Tips

How to choose the pet photo we stitch from

Your embroidery is stitched from the photo you send us. Here is what we would tell you if you were standing in the studio with us.

From the Namesake studio ✦ 4 minute read

Every pet portrait we make starts in the same place: the photo you upload. It's the only reference we have for your dog's wonky ear, your cat's white chest or the exact shade of ginger that makes them them. We choose every thread colour from that photo, so the better the photo, the more it will look like the animal you know.

The good news is you don't need a professional camera or a perfectly posed pet. A phone photo is all we need. It just helps to know what we're looking for, so here's our guide to picking the right one.

Step one

Choosing your Pet Portrait Style

Before you scroll through your camera roll, think about the kind of portrait you'd like. The framing of your photo shapes the whole design, and there are two directions you can go.

For more detail

Close up shot

A headshot gives us the most room to capture the details: the markings around the eyes, the shape of the nose, the whiskers, the expression.

Face fills most of the frame
Looking towards the camera
Ears and the top of the head in shot

For something softer

Full body shot

If you'd prefer a subtler, more understated design, choose a photo of your pet's whole body. It reads as a little silhouette, full of personality in the pose rather than the face.

Whole body visible, tail and paws included
A side-on or standing pose works well
A pose that feels like them

Neither is better than the other. Close up portraits feel like a likeness; full body designs feel more like a quiet nod to your pet. Pick whichever suits the way you'll wear or gift it.

Best lighting

Avoid shadows

This is the one we'd ask you to pay the most attention to. An evenly lit photo helps us select the truest thread colours. Shadows across the face can turn a cream coat grey or make dark markings disappear altogether, and we can only stitch what we can see.

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Daylight is bestA spot near a window or outside in the shade gives soft, even light.
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Skip harsh sunBright midday sun creates strong shadows and can wash out lighter coats.
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Steer clear of flash and warm lampsFlash flattens features and indoor lighting can tint fur yellow or orange.
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Keep it sharpA clear, in focus photo shows us the texture and direction of the fur.
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Send the originalUpload the photo itself rather than a screenshot, and skip any filters so the colours stay true.

Make it yours

Leave us a note

Your favourite photo doesn't have to be perfect. If there's something in it you'd like us to leave out or take off, just tell us in the note section when you order.