How to take a photo that sounds like them

Start with the expression you’d know anywhere

The best portrait isn’t always the sharpest photo in your camera roll. It’s the one where you can almost hear them: the head tilt that comes with a little “mrrp?”, the stare that means dinner is late. Start there, then check the photo is clear enough to keep those details.

Get down to their level

Crouch, kneel, lie on the floor if you have to. At their eye level the face keeps its natural shape and both eyes are easy to see. Leave a little room around the ears and chin; a face cropped tight by the camera can’t be uncropped later.

Find soft daylight

A window, an open door, or light shade outside gives gentle light without flash. Check one side of the face hasn’t vanished into shadow, so markings, eye colour and whiskers stay visible.

Keep the original file

Use the photo straight from your camera rather than a screenshot or a copy from a messaging app, which are usually shrunk. The studio accepts JPG, PNG and WEBP up to 10 MB.