When to order
Every portrait is made to order, printed, framed and then shipped. With free shipping, a portrait arrives in about 4 to 8 business days after you approve the preview. Faster shipping is offered at checkout with its own arrival estimate shown before you pay.
Business days skip weekends and holidays, and carriers are at their busiest in December. A simple plan:
| When you order | What to expect |
|---|
| By the end of November | Plenty of room with free shipping. The safest choice. |
| First two weeks of December | Free shipping should still arrive in time. Check the estimate at checkout. |
| Mid December and later | Choose faster shipping and check the arrival estimate before you pay. |
If you are cutting it close, print the preview and put it in a card. A picture of the portrait unwrapped on Christmas morning, with the frame following a few days later, still makes the moment.
Getting the photo without spoiling the surprise
The portrait is made from one photo, so this is the main bit of detective work.
- Their social media. Pet owners post their pets constantly. Save the clearest photo where the face is in focus and fills a good part of the frame. A screenshot is fine if it is sharp.
- A family member. A partner, roommate or sibling can send you a few photos from their own phone.
- The pet's own account. Many pets have one. These photos are usually the best lit.
- Take it yourself. If you visit before Christmas, a few photos of the pet at eye level, near a window, is all you need.
Our photo guide explains what makes a photo work, so you can pick the best of what you find.
Matching the style to the person
Choose the style for the person who will hang it.
Royal is the safest choice when you do not know their taste well. It is funny, it suits almost every pet, and it looks good in most homes. Our Royal style guide shows it on four pets.
Watercolor suits someone with a light, calm home or a softer sense of style. See the Watercolor guide.
Pop Art is for the friend with a colorful apartment and a big sense of humor. The Pop Art guide has samples.
Storybook is a good choice for a family where the pet is part of the kids' world. Astronaut is for the household that treats their pet like a superhero.
Size and frame
For a gift, the 8 x 10 in framed portrait is the easy choice. It fits on a desk, a shelf or a mantel, so the person does not need a free wall to enjoy it. The 12 x 16 in size is a bigger statement, best when you know there is a wall waiting for it. For frame color, black is classic, white is modern, and natural wood suits a warm home or a cabin. The size guide goes deeper.
Gifts for pet people, beyond their own pet
A portrait also works as a thank you to the people who look after pets all year:
- A dog walker or pet sitter who knows the pet as well as the owner does.
- A groomer or vet who has cared for the same animal for years.
- Grandparents, who often have the dog on the fridge already and would love it framed.
For a family whose pet died this year, a portrait can be a meaningful Christmas gift too, with a little extra thought about timing. Our memorial portrait guide covers that with care.
Updated October 8, 2026