To take a good phone photo of your cat or dog, get down to their eye level, use soft light from a window without flash, and tap their eyes on the screen to focus. For black or white fur, don't let the phone decide alone: adjust the exposure by hand (tap, then slide the brightness up or down) until you can see detail in the fur.
Tips gathered from animal welfare organizations (Battersea, Cats Protection, Cat Care Society), pet photographers and Apple's iPhone user guide, checked October 7, 2026. No AI-generated images in this guide.
8 checks before you press the shutter (printable list)
- At their eye level. Crouch or lie down. Shooting from above makes the head look big and the body tiny.
- Light in front of the pet. Put your back to the window and the pet facing it. A pet in front of a bright window becomes a dark silhouette (Cats Protection; Cat Care Society).
- Flash off. It can startle the animal and makes images look harsh (Battersea).
- Focus on the eyes. Tap the eyes on the screen before you shoot.
- No zoom. Move closer instead: zooming on a phone degrades the photo, and it's better to crop afterwards (Cats Protection).
- A plain background that contrasts with the fur: a light wall or blanket for a dark pet, a darker one for a light pet (Cats Protection; Battersea).
- Burst mode. Take a series and delete the blurry ones later (Cats Protection).
- Nothing cut off. Check the ears, paws and tail are in the frame, and wipe the lens with a soft cloth.
Tip: to print this list, use your browser's Print command and keep only this page.
How to get their attention
- Ask someone to help: they stand behind you and dangle a toy or make a funny sound (Cats Protection; Cat Care Society).
- Make the sound at the moment you shoot, not before: otherwise the animal gets used to it.
- Pick a calm moment. A sleepy cat after a nap or a tired dog after a walk holds still longer. Battersea also advises watching body language and stopping if the animal looks uncomfortable.
Black or white fur: problems and fixes
| Problem | Fix | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Black fur: a dark blob with no detail | Use daylight from the front or side. Raise the exposure a little until you see the fur texture; lower it if the black turns grey. A light behind and slightly to the side outlines the fur. | Mental Floss (auto modes can under-expose a black cat; rim light); Battersea (natural light brings out darker fur) |
| White fur: "burnt", no detail | Lower the exposure a little. Avoid direct midday sun; open shade or a window is softer. | Earthborn Holistic (on auto, photos of a white dog come out overexposed and blown out) |
| Glowing red or green eyes | Turn off the flash and use daylight. | Battersea; Cats Protection |
| Blurry photo | More light, burst mode, tap to focus on the eyes. On iPhone, touch and hold the focus area to lock focus and exposure. | Cats Protection; Apple |
| Pet in front of a window: silhouette | Turn around: the light should come from behind you. | Cats Protection; Cat Care Society |
| Busy background, pet lost in it | Use a plain background or portrait mode to blur it. | Battersea; Mental Floss |
How to adjust the exposure on your phone
- iPhone: open Camera, tap where you want to focus, then drag up or down next to the focus area to change the exposure. Touch and hold to lock the setting for several shots (Apple iPhone User Guide).
- Android: on many phones, tapping the screen shows a brightness slider next to the focus point. Its place and name vary by brand: look for a sun icon or "exposure" in your camera app.
- Check on the screen before you shoot: you should see the hairs, not a flat black or white patch.
Photos for a portrait, a figurine or a lost-pet poster
- The face comes first: sharp, eyes visible, at eye level.
- Add the whole body and a close-up of any unique marking (a white spot, a folded ear, eyes of two colours).
- No filters: artists and makers copy the colours they see in the photo.
- For a figurine, see which photos to send in our guide How to turn your pet into a custom figurine.
- For a surprise gift, our guide Cat lover gifts made in Canada explains how to get photos without spoiling the surprise.
- If your pet has passed away, old photos can still work: gather the sharpest ones and describe the colours and markings in words.
One photo is enough to start
For transparency: this guide is published by Chibiyo, a small shop in Québec (currently in pre-launch) that turns pets into chibi figurines (about 8–10 cm, 3D-printed in PLA with up to 4 colours). One sharp photo of the face is enough; up to 4 more help (whole body, from the side, their back, a unique detail). You get a free chibi image before paying. The figurine costs $89 CAD with free shipping in Canada (founders' price: $79 for the first 100 figurines, at the latest until November 30; regular price after that: $89), and we ship within Canada only. AI helps us draw the chibi version and build the 3D model. A person checks every model, and you approve the preview before printing.
Keep reading
- How to turn your pet into a custom figurine (from a photo)
- Sculpted vs 3D-printed vs AI pet figurines: how to choose
- How much does a custom pet figurine cost in Canada? (2026)
FAQ
How do I take a good picture of my black cat or dog?
Use daylight from the front or side, turn off the flash, choose a lighter background, and adjust the exposure by hand until you can see the fur texture. Raise it a little if the pet is a dark blob; lower it if the black turns grey.
Why does my white dog look burnt in photos?
On automatic mode, the phone often overexposes white fur. Lower the exposure a little and avoid direct sun; soft window light or open shade keeps the detail.
Should I use flash to photograph my pet?
No. Flash can startle the animal, makes the image harsh and causes glowing eyes. Use daylight near a window instead.
How do I get my cat to look at the camera?
Ask someone to stand behind you with a toy, and make a small sound just as you press the shutter. Burst mode helps catch the right moment.