How to Choose the Best Photo for Your Pet Portrait Tattoo in Singapore

Oct 29

2 min read

Updated: Oct 31

The photo you send decides how much of your pet ends up on your skin. I draw every portrait from your own photos, so a good reference makes the difference between "that looks like a dog" and "that is him."

Why the photo matters more than the style

Likeness comes from the small tonal shifts around the eyes, nose and muzzle, not from the fur. If those are hidden by blur, flash or a bad angle, I have to guess.

Reference photo of a black pet dog taken at eye level, the kind of clear photo that works well for a pet portrait tattoo in Singapore

Finished black and grey realism pet portrait tattoo of a dog on a forearm, made from the reference photo above, by a Singapore pet tattoo artist

What makes a good reference photo

You do not need a professional photo. A phone picture is fine as long as it gives me the information I need. These are the five things that help the most.

1. Take it at eye level

Photos taken from standing height, looking down, distort the shape of the head and shorten the muzzle. Get down to your pet's level if you can, or ask a friend to hold the treat while you crouch.

2. Make sure the eyes are sharp

Blurry eyes are the hardest thing to fix, because the eyes carry most of the likeness. If you have two similar photos, send the one where the eyes are crisp, even if the rest of the picture is less flattering.

Close-up of a small colour dog portrait tattoo with sharp, detailed eyes, done at my Singapore studio

3. Use soft, natural light

A window on an overcast day is ideal. Flash flattens the face and removes the shadows that show the shape of the nose and brow. Harsh sun does the opposite and turns dark fur into a solid shape with no detail inside it.

4. Turn portrait mode off

The background blur on many phones also softens the edges of ears and whiskers, which are exactly the details that make a portrait read as your pet.

5. Send several photos, not one

Send your favourite expression, plus a few that show the markings and ear shape from other angles. Each photo answers a different question, and together they let me draw the parts that one picture cannot show.

If your photos are old or imperfect

Old or imperfect photos are fine too. Send what you have and I will tell you honestly what is possible. A photo that is a little soft can still show me the markings, the ear shape and the expression I need.

Small pet portrait tattoo of a cat with sparkles and the words Forever by my side, done in Singapore

How to send your photos

Send your photos over WhatsApp, Telegram or Instagram. Chat apps compress images, so if you can send the original files, the details in the eyes and fur come through much better.

When you message me, it also helps to include the size you have in mind in centimetres, whether you want face only or full body, and whether you would like colour or black and grey. A photo of the body area with the exact spot circled saves a lot of back and forth.

Next steps

Once you have picked your photos, message me on WhatsApp or Instagram (@onubyink). Sessions at my private studio in Singapore are by appointment only. If you are still deciding between colour and black and grey, or wondering what size will hold up on your skin, those are covered in their own guides.