Pet portrait guides & advice
Whether you're commissioning your first pet portrait or simply exploring your options, these guides are designed to help you make informed decisions with confidence.
From choosing the best reference photograph and understanding the commissioning process to comparing artistic styles and learning what influences pricing, each guide is based on real experience creating hand-drawn pet portraits from photographs.
If you're not sure where to begin, start with the recommended guides below or browse the full collection of articles.
Recommended guides
If you're new to commissioning a pet portrait, these are the best guides to begin with.
They answer the questions people ask most often before ordering and provide a great introduction to the commissioning process.
How to Commission a Pet Portrait from a Photo
A step-by-step guide explaining what happens from your first enquiry through to receiving your finished portrait.
How to Choose the Best Photo for a Pet Portrait
Simple advice on selecting reference photographs that will help create the strongest possible portrait.
Hand-Drawn vs Digital Pet Portraits
Learn the differences between traditional hand-drawn artwork and digital illustrations to help you choose the style that's right for you.
Browse all guides
Whether you're looking for practical advice before commissioning a portrait or simply want to learn more about hand-drawn pet artwork, you'll find a growing collection of helpful guides below.
Each article is written from real experience creating commissioned pet portraits and is designed to answer common questions clearly and honestly.
Why read these guides?
Commissioning a pet portrait is a personal decision, and it's natural to have questions before getting started.
These guides are here to help you understand the process, choose the right reference photographs and feel confident about commissioning artwork that's created especially for you.
Rather than overwhelming you with information in one place, each guide focuses on a specific topic, making it easy to explore the areas that matter most to you.
Looking for a memorial pet portrait?
Some portraits celebrate joyful moments, while others are created to honour the memory of a much-loved companion.
If you're considering a memorial portrait, visit the dedicated page to learn more about the process, view previous commissions and find answers to common questions.
Ready to commission?
If you've found the answers you were looking for and feel ready to begin, you can explore portrait sizes, pricing and everything that's included before starting your commission.