If you have more than one pet, you already know the problem: there is no photo of everyone together. One is always looking away, one has wandered off, and one is a blur. The good news is that a hand-drawn portrait doesn’t need a group photo. An artist can combine animals from separate pictures into one composition. Here’s how that works and how to plan it well.

Option 1: Draw from a single group photo

If you do have a decent photo of all your pets together, it’s the easiest route. Everyone is already lit by the same light, at the same scale and in a natural arrangement. Check that:

  • Every animal’s face is reasonably clear and in focus
  • No face is hidden behind another animal
  • The photo is large enough that each face holds enough detail

A group photo where everyone is small, perhaps all the dogs on a distant lawn, may not have enough detail for each face. In that case, an artist may use the group photo for the layout and separate close-ups for each face.

Option 2: Combine separate photos

This is the more common approach. The artist takes each pet from its own photo and arranges them on the page as if they’d been photographed together. It works very well, as long as a few things line up.

Similar lighting direction

If one dog is lit from the left and the other from the right, putting them side by side looks subtly wrong, even if you can’t say why. Photos with similar lighting, like all taken outdoors on overcast days or all near the same window, combine more naturally. An experienced artist can adjust shadows somewhat, but it’s easier with similar sources.

Similar angle

Photos taken from a similar height combine more convincingly. A dog photographed from above next to a cat photographed at eye level can look as if they’re in different worlds.

Realistic scale

The artist needs to know how big each animal is compared with the others. A Great Dane and a Chihuahua can share a portrait, but the size difference should be believable. Tell the artist the breeds and approximate heights or weights, or send a photo where both animals appear together, even a blurry one, for reference.

Layouts that work

Side by side

Faces at a similar height, slightly overlapping or touching. This works well for two or three pets of similar size and suggests companionship.

Staggered

One pet slightly in front and lower, another behind and higher. This adds depth and works for pets of different sizes, such as a large dog lying down with a cat sitting behind.

Cluster

Heads grouped closely, overlapping, like a family photo. This works for three or more pets and gives a warm, close feeling.

Separate vignettes on one sheet

Each pet drawn on its own, arranged on the page without overlapping or a shared background. This is the most flexible option, ideal when photos don’t match in light or angle, or when one pet has passed and the others are living.

Including a pet who has died

Many multi-pet portraits bring together pets from different times: a dog who died years ago alongside the current family dog. A combined composition can be very moving, but think about how you want it to feel. Some owners want everyone together as if in one scene. Others prefer the vignette approach, which gently acknowledges they lived at different times. Either is fine; just tell the artist which you’d like.

Choosing a size

Every additional pet needs space on the page. If you squeeze three faces onto a small sheet, each face ends up small, with less room for detail. As a rough guide:

  • Two pets, heads only: A3 (around 12×16 inches) gives each face enough room.
  • Three or four pets, heads only: 16×20 inches or larger.
  • Full bodies, or five or more animals: larger sizes still.

The right size also depends on the layout. Overlapping heads take less room than side-by-side full bodies. The artist can suggest a size once they see your photos.

Cost and time

Multi-pet portraits take longer than single portraits because each animal is essentially its own detailed drawing, plus the work of composing them together. That’s why they’re usually quoted individually rather than priced per size. They also take longer to complete, so allow extra time if you need one for a date.

Planning checklist

  • Collect the best close-up of each pet’s face, eyes in focus
  • Note which way the light falls in each photo
  • Note breeds and rough sizes so scale is believable
  • Decide: shared scene or separate vignettes
  • Pick a size with room for every face
  • Mention anything to include or leave out: collars, toys, names
  • Ask for a layout sketch or progress photo before the details are finished

Common questions

Can people be added too?

Yes. People and pets together are a popular choice. The same rules apply: similar light and angles make combining easier, and the size needs to allow room for every face.

Can the pets look at each other?

Interaction between animals is lovely but needs photos that support it. If one dog is looking left in its photo, it can be placed on the right side of the drawing so it appears to look toward its companion.

Ask for the layout first

With a single pet, the composition is fairly simple. With several, it makes a huge difference: who sits where, who overlaps whom, which way each one faces. A quick layout sketch or early progress photo lets you rearrange things before the artist commits hours to detail. That small step avoids nearly all disappointment with group portraits.

Done well, a multi-pet portrait captures something no single photo ever could: the whole crew, together, looking their best at the same time.