Photographing a flat face
Frenchies are brachycephalic, which is the vet's word for a short, flat muzzle. In photos that causes three predictable problems, and each has a simple fix.
- Deep shadows under the brow. Overhead light, like a ceiling fixture, puts the eyes in shadow. Turn the dog toward a window instead, so the light hits the face from the front or slightly to one side.
- A giant nose. Shooting from very close with a phone stretches whatever is nearest the lens. Step back an arm's length and zoom in a little, or crop afterward. The face will look like your dog again.
- Lost wrinkles. Flat light from the camera flash erases the folds that give a Frenchie its expression. Turn the flash off and use daylight.
Ears are the other half of the look. Bat ears are at their best when the dog is alert, so make a small noise just above the camera. You get upright ears and eyes looking near the lens in the same moment.
Coat colors and how they print
French bulldogs come in fawn, cream, brindle, pied and the darker shades, and each behaves a little differently.
- Fawn and cream are the easiest. Our sample Frenchie, Biscuit, is fawn, and the color carries cleanly into every style.
- Brindle has fine stripes that can look muddy in a dim photo. Daylight keeps the striping visible, and Royal or Storybook show it best.
- Pied (white with patches) photographs well but can blow out in sun. Shade is your friend.
- Black or dark brindle needs the most light. Our photo guide has a section on dark coats.
The phone photo Biscuit's portraits started from
Sample portrait: Biscuit, a French bulldog, in the Royal style
Sample portrait: Biscuit, a French bulldog, in the Pop Art style
Sample portrait: Biscuit, a French bulldog, in the Astronaut styleStyles that suit a Frenchie
Pop Art might have been invented for this breed. Bold outlines love the shape of the head and those ears, and the flat bright colors turn a fawn coat into something that looks like a gallery poster. Biscuit's Pop Art portrait, above, is the one we use to show the style. The Pop Art guide shows it on a cat and a dachshund too.
Royal is the other natural fit. A Frenchie's serious face in a velvet cloak and gold medallion is the joke and the compliment at the same time. It works especially well for a dog with a big personality and a small body. Read the Royal style guide for the details.
Astronaut suits the Frenchie who acts like the bravest dog on the block. Watercolor and Storybook are softer and work well for a puppy or a gift for someone who prefers a quieter look.
Frame colors
| Coat | Frame we would pick |
|---|
| Fawn or cream | Black for Royal, white for Pop Art |
| Brindle | Natural wood, which picks up the warm stripes |
| Pied | Black, which frames the white areas cleanly |
| Black or blue | White or natural wood, so the dog does not merge into the frame |
Where a Frenchie portrait hangs
Frenchie portraits tend to be playful, so they end up in more relaxed spots: an entryway, a home office, the wall above the dog's bed. The 8 x 10 in size suits a shelf or desk and makes a strong gift. The 12 x 16 in size has enough presence for a living room wall. The size guide has measurements and a few hanging tips.
Giving one as a gift
Frenchie owners tend to have hundreds of photos, which makes the surprise easy: one clear, front facing photo from their social feed is usually enough. If the dog has passed, choose the photo where the expression feels most like them, even if it is not perfect technically. Our memorial portrait guide has more on that.
Updated October 8, 2026