This is one of the questions we’re often get
“Which photos should I send?”
People worry when they don’t have professional photographs of their pet, we may not be able to see their pets just as they were.
The truth is, we don’t need the photographs to be perfect.
We need photographs that help tell us who your companion was.
Some of the most meaningful memorials we’ve created have come from everyday snapshots—a dog waiting patiently by the bedroom door, a rabbit curled up in their favourite blanket, or a cat stretched across the top sofa cushion exactly as they always did.
We hope to build a "picture" that can help you choose the photographs that will allow us to capture not only how your pet looked, but who they were.
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Beginning with the face
If we could only choose one photograph, it would almost always be a clear image of your pet looking straight towards the camera.
The face is where personality lives.
It’s where we notice:
* the shape of the eyes
* the length of the schnoz
* the position of the ears
* unique markings
* how they looked like when they stared at you or your family
The clearer this photograph is, the easier it becomes to create a memorial that immediately feels familiar.
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Onto more angles
Though more preferably, we would also love to include, whenever possible:
* The front
* The left profile
* The right profiel
* Three-quarter angle
* Standing pose
* Sitting pose
* Their back
* Favourite resting position
This collage of images would help us build the image of your pet in our head.
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Are the studio photos required?
Studio-quality photographs though appreciated, we often find that photos in their natural states are the ones that help us understand your pets the most.
A photo taken on your phone in good natural light is often more useful than an edited portrait with heavy filters or dramatic lighting.
We’re trying to understand your companion—not create a magazine cover.
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Please show us the little details that friends and family recognise first.
If your pet had:
* a white patch on their chest
* one ear that always folded over
* freckles on their nose
* different coloured eyes
* a favourite collar
* a unique tail curl
please include photographs that show those details clearly.
They’re often what makes a memorial feel unmistakably personal.
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Include their favourite pose
Every pet has a pose that immediately feels like them.
Perhaps your Labrador always sat with their butt tucked to one side.
Maybe your rabbit tucked their paws underneath themselves while resting.
Perhaps your cat always dangled one paw down from whichever throne they were resting on.
Those familiar postures often become just as recognisable as facial features.
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Lighting, lighting, lighting
If your pet is still around for photos, try to use soft natural daylight whenever possible.
Avoid:
* strong flash
* heavy shadows
* coloured lighting
* filters
Natural lighting reveals fur colour, texture and markings much more accurately.
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Even if your photos aren't perfect
It is totally fine
Many families tell us,
“I wish I’d taken more photos.”
Please don’t let that worry stop you.
We understand that most people never imagine those everyday snapshots might one day become so important.
We’ll always work with the photographs you have.
Sometimes a slightly blurry image captures a familiar expression that no perfectly posed portrait ever could.
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What we might avoid
To help us create the most accurate memorial possible, try to avoid photographs that:
* are heavily filtered
* are very dark
* crop off, unless it is a close up of a particular detail
* are taken from a great distance
* only show one side of your pet
* fully clothed, unless you wish for us to recreate the clothing as well
But if these are the only photographs you have, don’t worry—we’ll always do our best.
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Final words,
One thing we’ve learned after creating hundreds of memorials is that families almost always choose the “best-looking” photographs first. Or they feel this pressure to find "the one" photo.
Interestingly, those aren’t always the ones we use most.
Very often it’s the ordinary photo, the ordinary moments that made you pick up your phone or your camera because "oh they're just being a goofball" that tells us the most about who they really were.
The photographs that make you smile are usually the ones that help us the most.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many photographs should I send?
We generally recommend between 8 and 10 photographs from different angles.
After reviewing the photos, if we feel like we can benefit from having more, we will make sure to contact you, so even after you have sent us the photos, keep your eyes on that inbox!
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What if my pet has already passed away?
That’s completely okay.
Most of the memorials we create are based entirely on photographs families already have.
We’ll work together to choose the most suitable images.
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Can I send old printed photographs?
Yes. If they’re the only photographs you have, scanned images can still provide valuable reference material.
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Can I combine photographs from different stages of their life?
Absolutely. Sometimes one photograph captures the perfect expression, while another shows the clearest markings. Using several images often helps us create the most complete picture of your companion.
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What if I’m not sure which photos are best?
Don’t worry about choosing the “right” ones. Simply send us your favourites. We’ll happily help you identify the images that will work best for your memorial.
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If you’re ever unsure, send us more rather than less.
We’ll help you find the photographs that tell their story best.