# What to Write in the Portrait Notes for a Custom Pet Necklace
The photograph should do most of the visual work when you order a custom pet necklace. Portrait notes have a different job: they tell the artist which details matter most to you.
You don’t need to describe every whisker or explain the entire history of your pet. A short note about a familiar expression, an uneven marking, or the way one ear sits can be more useful than a long paragraph.
Start with what makes the face instantly familiar
Think about the feature you notice before anything else. It may already be clear in the photograph, but naming it helps explain where your attention naturally goes.
Useful details might include:
- one ear that always folds forward;
- a white stripe that sits slightly off-center;
- a round muzzle or unusually narrow face;
- a small notch in one ear;
- one eyebrow marking that gives the face a particular expression;
- long cheek fur that changes the outline of the head.
Keep the note visual and specific. “Please keep the small notch in her left ear” gives clearer direction than “Please make sure it looks exactly like her.”
Mention the expression you want to preserve
Two photographs of the same pet can feel completely different. One may show an alert, upright expression. Another may capture the soft, sleepy look you saw every evening.
If the expression matters, say so plainly:
Please use the relaxed expression in this photo. The slightly tilted ears are very typical of him.
Or:
Her serious expression is part of what makes this photo feel like her. Please don’t make her look as though she is smiling.
The note should support the photograph rather than ask the artist to invent an expression that is not visible.
Explain unusual markings carefully
Markings can help distinguish one pet from another, especially when several pets of the same breed or color share a necklace. Point out the marking and where it appears.
For example:
- “The dark patch surrounds his right eye.”
- “She has a narrow white line between her eyes.”
- “His muzzle is lighter on the left side.”
Remember that a small metal portrait uses simplified linework. Very subtle color changes may not appear in the same way they would in a printed photograph. Notes can guide attention, but they cannot create detail that the source image does not show clearly.
For multiple pets, identify each photograph
Animorie’s current custom pet portrait necklace can include one to three pets. When you upload more than one photograph, make it easy to connect each name with the correct image.
A simple note is enough:
Photo 1: Milo, golden retriever, floppy left ear. Photo 2: Luna, tabby cat, white chin. Photo 3: Poppy, black dog, small patch on chest.
You do not need to make the photographs match perfectly. Clear identification is more important than identical backgrounds or lighting.
What not to put in the portrait notes
Avoid using the notes box for requests that conflict with the selected product options or cannot be supported by the photograph.
Try not to:
- request an extra pet that was not selected in the pet-count option;
- ask for hidden facial details to be guessed;
- provide delivery instructions that belong in the shipping address;
- replace a clear visual description with phrases such as “make it perfect”;
- submit a long life story without identifying the detail you want preserved.
Your pet’s story matters. The notes field is simply too small to carry all of it. Use it for the few visual instructions that help interpret the image accurately.
What if you have nothing to add?
That is completely fine. Portrait notes are optional. If the photograph clearly shows the face, ears, markings, and expression you want, you do not need to search for something extra to say.
Before submitting the order, check the original image at full size. A clear, front-facing photograph usually provides the strongest reference. If you are uncertain, read the Animorie photo guide or email support@animorie.com before production begins.
A quick portrait-notes checklist
Before you finish, ask:
- Have I matched each pet’s name to the correct photograph?
- Is there one distinctive feature the artist should notice?
- Does the expression in the photograph feel right?
- Am I describing something that is actually visible?
- Have I kept the note short enough to understand at a glance?
Good portrait notes do not try to control every line. They point to the detail that makes a familiar face feel unmistakably familiar.
If you are ready to begin, view the Custom Pet Portrait Necklace and choose the material and number of pets that fit your piece.