Family Christmas Ornaments: How to Build a Tree That Tells Your Story

Pets are now a standard part of the Christmas tree in a lot of households, and pet ornaments are one of the fastest growing kinds of keepsake. They are also the ones most likely to disappoint, because photographing an animal well is genuinely harder than photographing a person.

Get down to their level

Almost every phone photo of a pet is taken from human standing height, looking down. That angle foreshortens the snout, hides the eyes under the brow, and makes every dog look like the same generic dog.

Crouch until the camera is level with their eyes. This single change does more for the finished ornament than anything else. The animal suddenly looks like themselves rather than like a pet from above.

Dark fur needs light, not flash

Black dogs and cats are the hardest subjects. A camera exposes for the whole scene, so a black animal against a bright background becomes a silhouette with no visible features.

• Photograph them in bright shade or near a window, never against a bright window
• Avoid flash, which produces reflective eyes and flattens fur texture
• Tap the screen on their face before shooting so the camera exposes for them
• Choose a light background so the outline stays clean when printed

For very dark pets, a silhouette or paw print design often produces a better keepsake than a photo, because it is not fighting the exposure problem at all.

Getting them to look at the camera

Standard advice is to make a noise, but the useful detail is timing. Have the camera already focused and your finger ready, then make the sound. Most people make the noise first, then fumble for the phone, by which point the animal has lost interest.

Burst mode is worth using. Ten frames gives you one where the ears are up and the eyes are open, which is one more than you usually get.

Which design suits which pet

• Photo acrylic suits pets with distinctive markings and lighter fur where the detail survives printing
• Layered wood flatters shape and silhouette, which works beautifully for breeds with a strong outline
• Paw print designs avoid the photo problem entirely and are the most common choice for memorial pieces
• Name only ages well for households with several pets, where a set of matching name ornaments looks better than a set of mismatched photos

Browse pet gifts.

Frequently asked questions

My cat will not sit still. What now?

Stop trying to pose them and photograph them where they already settle: a windowsill, a favourite chair, a sunny patch of floor. Cats photographed in their own spot look far more like themselves than cats wrestled into position.

Can I use a photo of a pet that has died?

Yes, and this is one of the most common reasons people order. Older or lower quality photos work better on designs where the photo sits within artwork rather than filling the whole piece. See pet memorial gifts.

Should I put the pet's name on it?

Almost always yes. Names are what make a keepsake specific, and years later the name is what triggers the memory. Add the years too if the ornament is a memorial.

Can I get several pets on one ornament?

Better to give each their own unless the design is built for multiple subjects. Cramming three animals onto a coaster-sized piece means none of them is recognisable, and pets rarely hold still together anyway.

What if my pet has an unusual colour or marking?

That is exactly what makes a custom piece worth it, and it is the reason generic breed ornaments disappoint. Send a photo in good, even light so the markings read clearly and the preview will show you how they translate.

Is an acrylic ornament safe with pets in the house?

Safer than glass, which is the main reason to choose it. Hang anything precious above tail height, and remember that low branches are within reach of a curious dog for the entire month.

Start with the photo

Crouch down, use daylight, take twenty frames. Then browse pet gifts or the wider Christmas ornaments collection.