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How To Get the Best AI Pet Portraits of Your Furry Friend: Top Tips

Here are our top tips for getting paws-itively amazing AI pet portraits for your dogs and cats.

Olga S

• 4 min read
Collage of AI-pet portraits from pugmug.ai

At PugMug, we know you adore your pets just as much as we do. And let's face it, there’s nothing quite as delightful as seeing your furry friend immortalized in a stunning AI-generated pet portrait.

But how can you ensure you get the best results and that your AI pet portrait is purr-fect? Buckle up, pet lovers! Here are our top tips for getting those paws-itively amazing AI pet portraits for your dogs and cats.

1. Keep It Solo

Left: Single german shepherd dog ; Right: Two german shepherd dogs

First things first, let's keep the spotlight on your star pet. Make sure every photo you share with the AI only features a single pet—no humans, no other animals, no exceptions. 

If you’ve got a zoo at home, no worries! Simply create separate PugMug profiles for each pet. Think of it as giving each of your beloved furballs their very own modeling portfolio.

2. Light It Right

Left: Photo of a gray cat in bright lighting ; Right: Photo of a gray cat in dark lighting

Lighting can make or break your pet’s portrait.

Avoid photos with super bright or super dark lighting. Why? Because weird lighting can mess with the colors of your pet's fur. A brown-furred dog could turn out looking like it had a run-in with a bag of Cheetos. 🙈

Aim for natural, balanced light to let your pet's true colors shine through, and check out these additional lighting tips for the best photos. A good rule of thumb for the best AI pet art is to make sure your pet’s fur looks like it’s the same color in every single photo. 

3. Feature Their Quirks

Left: Husky dog with two different colored eyes, Right: Husky dog with eyes half-closed

Does your pet have a unique spot, a charming scar, or a tail that’s MIA? Celebrate these quirks!

Zoom in on these unique features in your photos. This helps our AI recognize and incorporate these traits in the portraits, making sure your AI pet portrait is as special as they are.

4. Ditch the Duds

Left: Dog with no collar or accessories ; Right: Dog with sunglasses and a hat

We know, we know—your pet looks adorable in that tiny bow tie. But if you dress up your pet for their photo shoot, expect that outfit to appear in all their AI-generated portraits.

Unless you want every portrait to look like a pet fashion show, keep the pet photos you share with the AI au naturel. This goes for collars, bandanas, and any other accessories, too.

No worries, though, we have hundreds of amazing art styles to give your dog the outfit of their dreams - from pirate hats to Roaring 20s glitz and more!

5. Strike a Pose

Left: photo of pomeranian dog leaping ; Right: photo of a pomeranian dog sitting still in darkness

Variety is the spice of life—and pet portraits!

Upload photos of your pet from different angles and in various poses. The more dynamic, the better. Got a shot of your cat leaping like a ninja or your dog stretching like a yogi? Perfect! These will make your AI portraits much more lively and interesting. Here are some tips for getting your dog to pose for the perfect photo. 

 🎉*Real Paw-Rent Story* 🎉: "Providing different poses and action shots REALLY makes a difference!” - Frost

Side-by-side photograph and AI-generated pet portrait of a leaping dog
AI-generated portrait of Frost's dog, Ziggy

6. Keep It Colorful and Clear

Left: Clear photo of a black cat ; Right: Blurry photo of a black cat

Avoid black and white or low-resolution photos. Our AI loves detail and clarity, so give it what it craves.

Blurry photos might lead to equally blurry AI-generated pet portraits, and no one wants that. High-resolution, color photos will get you the sharpest, most vibrant results.

7. Frame Their Face

Left: Cat clearly in frame ; Right: Cat with ears cropped out

Ensure your pet's entire face, head, and ears are all in the frame.

We want to capture every whisker, every floppy ear, and every curious expression. Cropping out important features is a no-no if you want an AI pet portrait that truly captures your pet's personality.

8. Bonus Pro Tip: Skip the Portrait Mode

Left: Dog standing on clear beach background; Right: Dog with background blurred in portrait mode

We get it—portrait mode on your phone makes your pet look like a total superstar, with that dreamy blurred background and all.

But here’s the thing: while it’s perfect for your Instagram feed, it’s not exactly BFFs with our AI. That lovely blur (or bokeh, if you're feeling fancy) can confuse the AI, making your pet look like they were cut out and pasted onto the background.

Not the vibe we’re going for! Instead, snap a high-res pic with a clear background for the best AI magic. Your furry friend deserves to shine in all their glory!

So there you have it, folks! Follow these tips, and you'll be well on your way to getting the best AI pet portraits of your furry friends. Happy snapping, and we can’t wait to see the masterpieces you and your pets create with PugMug!