It’s a question I hear often — and it’s a fair one:
What’s the difference between a pet photography session and a custom pet portrait?
While both are created to celebrate the pets we love, they are very different experiences. Understanding that difference can help you decide which option is right for you — especially when you’re looking to create something meaningful and lasting.
A custom portrait created in memory of our dog Freckles, many years before I began my professional journey in photography and fine art.
Pet Photography: Capturing the Moment
Pet photography sessions are designed to capture your pet as they are right now — their expressions, movement, and personality in a specific moment in time.
These sessions result in a curated gallery of professional photographs that can be enjoyed in many ways: as digital files, printed photographs, or wall art such as canvas or acrylics. Photography sessions are ideal if you want variety — multiple images that reflect different moods, poses, or interactions.
The focus of pet photography is on preserving moments and creating images that feel authentic and alive.
Custom Pet Portraits: Commissioned Fine Art
A custom pet portrait is something different entirely.
Custom portraits are commissioned works of fine art. They begin with a photograph, but the final piece is not intended to be a photographic replica. Instead, the image is artistically interpreted into a painterly portrait that emphasizes presence, mood, and timelessness.
Each custom portrait is created exclusively on canvas and designed as a singular statement piece — artwork meant to live on your wall as art, not simply as an image.
The process involves additional artistic decision-making, refinement, and craftsmanship, resulting in a one-of-a-kind piece created specifically for you and your pet.
When a Pet Is No Longer With Us
Custom pet portraits can be especially meaningful when a beloved companion has already crossed the rainbow bridge. In these moments, a portrait becomes more than artwork — it becomes a way to remember, honor, and celebrate a life that continues to hold a place in your heart.
When photography is no longer possible, existing photographs — whether professional images or treasured snapshots — can be thoughtfully transformed into a painterly portrait. Artistic interpretation allows for refinement, softness, and intention, creating a timeless piece that reflects not just how your pet looked, but how they are remembered.
For many clients, these portraits serve as a lasting tribute — a gentle, visible reminder of a bond that endures.
How the Two Experiences Relate
Pet photography and custom pet portraits are not competing services — they complement one another.
Many clients begin with a photography session to create a range of professional images. From there, some choose to elevate a favorite photograph into a custom, painterly portrait. Others come directly to custom portrait work using photographs they already have.
Neither option is “better” than the other — they simply serve different purposes.
Photography captures a moment.
A custom portrait interprets and honors it.
Which Option Is Right for You?
A pet photography session may be the right choice if you:
- Want multiple images to enjoy and share
- Love seeing your pet’s natural expressions and movement
- Prefer flexibility in how your images are displayed
A custom pet portrait may be the right choice if you:
- Want a single, statement piece of fine art
- Appreciate artistic interpretation and painterly detail
- Are looking for something timeless and heirloom-quality
- Wish to honor a beloved pet when photography is no longer possible
Many clients choose both — beginning with photography and later commissioning a custom portrait from an image that holds special meaning.
A Thoughtful Way to Remember Our Pets
At the heart of both offerings is the same intention: honoring the bond we share with our pets.
Whether through photography or a commissioned portrait, the goal is to create something meaningful — artwork that reflects love, connection, and memory in a way that lasts beyond the moment.
If you’re unsure which path is right for you, I’m always happy to talk through the options and help guide your decision.
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