Pet Loss & Memorial Guide
There's no right way to grieve a pet, and there's no right day to decide how to remember one. Some families want something physical within weeks. Others wait a year, or two. Both are fine — a memorial doesn't have an expiration date.
This guide is about one of the most common choices families make: a custom pet portrait made from the photos they already have. We'll walk through the three portrait formats, the smaller keepsakes that sit on shelves or ride in pockets, and how to work with old or imperfect photos — so you can choose what feels right, at your own pace.
What's the Best Way to Memorialize a Pet?
The best memorial is the one that matches how you loved them. A custom portrait keeps your pet's face present — not as a sad reminder, but as the exact dog or cat you knew: the head tilt, the ear that always sat wrong, the patch of fur that made them easy to spot in a crowd. If a portrait feels like too much right now, a keepsake or simply holding onto the photos is just as valid.
- Hand-painted portraits — warm, classic, painted by a real artist on canvas.
- Hand-sculpted 3D portraits — raised mineral relief you can feel, a physical presence closer to the pet.
- Pet Portrait Prints — photo-accurate and affordable, the low-friction option.
- Keepsakes — mugs, necklaces, magnets, and keychains that keep them nearby.
None of these need to be decided today. Read through, and come back when you're ready.
Why a Portrait, Not Just Another Photo
You already have hundreds of photos. A portrait is different: a photo records one moment, while a portrait is built to hold a presence. The artist studies your photos, keeps the features your family would notice first, and gives your pet a version of themselves that can hang on a wall or rest on a shelf for decades.
A portrait isn't a way to reopen the wound. It sits quietly, and after a while it just becomes part of the room. Their pet is still there, in a way that doesn't ask anything of you.
Three Portrait Formats, Three Kinds of Presence
Every Luminipet portrait starts from your pet's photo and is made by a real artist — the difference is what the finished piece feels like in your hands.
| Format | What it feels like | From | Time to make | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-painted Pet Portrait | Real brushwork on canvas — you can see the strokes up close | $329 | 15–25 working days | Families who want the classic feel of paint and canvas, a warm centerpiece for a mantel or wall |
| Hand-sculpted 3D Pet Portrait | Raised mineral relief with depth you can touch | $399 | 15–25 working days | Families who want a physical presence they can touch — the format built for that |
| Pet Portrait Print | Photo-accurate artist artwork, professionally printed | $49 (digital download) / $89 (canvas) | 12–20 working days | An affordable way to keep their face close, or a second copy for family members |
Prices above are starting points — the exact price depends on the series and size you choose. Compare the three portrait formats side by side for the full breakdown.
Sizing: Where Will They Live?
Think about the room, not just the price. A small hand-painted portrait (400×500 mm) sits naturally on a bookshelf or nightstand. The mid size (500×700 mm) works over a sofa or bed. The largest (600×900 mm) is a statement piece — worth it when this is the one piece of art the room centers on. If you're not sure, a tape measure beats a guess: mark the wall space, then choose.
3D portraits use a smaller size range (200×200 and 200×300 mm) because they're sculpted relief rather than flat canvas — they're built to be seen close, held, and touched, not to fill a wall.
Keepsakes: When a Portrait Feels Like Too Much
Not every memorial needs to be a wall piece. Some families prefer something they can carry, or that lives quietly on a shelf:
Custom Pet Portrait Necklace — from $39
A laser-engraved pendant in gold, silver, or rose gold. If you want them close every day, this is the quiet way to do it — worn under a shirt collar, no one else knows it's there.
Custom Pet Portrait Mug — from $37
The morning coffee companion. Their face on the mug you reach for every day, in glazed ceramic that lasts.
Custom Pet Portrait Magnet — from $35
Small, cheap, and easy to gift — and an easy way to add a second copy for parents or siblings, so the pet's face shows up in more than one home.
Custom Pet Portrait Keychain — from $85
UV-printed or hand-painted on soft leather. The version that goes wherever the keys go.
All keepsakes are made from the same portrait artwork, so you can start with one format and add another later — a portrait for the wall and a necklace for the hospital appointment, for example. Browse the custom pet gifts & keepsakes collection when you're ready, or read our pet portrait gift guide for more ideas.
Old Photos and Blurry Ones: Yes, They Still Work
Here's the question that comes up over and over: "I only have old photos. Is that enough?" Usually, yes. The photo guidance for custom portraits asks for clear, well-lit images — but the guidance is about helping the artist, not about requiring perfect photos.
If the only photo you have is grainy, or taken on a phone from 2012, or has your hand in the corner, send it anyway. The artist will work with the face that's actually in it — see how custom pet portraits work for what artists look for in a reference image, and what to do when a photo needs help. If a photo truly can't carry enough detail, the artist will tell you honestly before production starts — nobody is going to guess your pet's markings and hope for the best.
What the Process Looks Like — and What's Protected
- Send your photos. Upload them when you order, and tell the artist what your family notices first about your pet.
- See a preview in 1–2 working days. You approve the design before any production begins — nothing is printed or painted until you've seen it.
- unlimited revisions included. Adjust the eyes, markings, expression, or background; . Your feedback drives the changes.
- The artist makes the finished piece. Hand-painted and hand-sculpted portraits take 15–25 working days; prints take 12–20 working days.
For memorial orders, this preview matters even more — this is the last time you'll "see" them from a new angle, and you should get it right before it's permanent. If something feels off but you can't say why, compare one feature at a time: eyes, then markings, then expression. Specific feedback gives the artist a clear target.
Other Ways to Remember — All Equally Valid
A portrait is one way to remember, and it isn't the right way for everyone. Some families plant a tree or a rosebush. Some keep the collar by the door for a year. Some donate to a local animal shelter in their pet's name — including, for some of our customers, through our stray animal program. Some write a letter to the pet and burn it. All of these are real memorials.
The only wrong choice is the one made under pressure — pressure from a store, a deadline, or a "limited time" countdown. You won't find any of that here. Ask us anything and decide when you're ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I wait after losing my pet before ordering a portrait?
There's no right answer. Some families order within days, when the need to keep them close is strongest; others wait months or years. The photos will still be there. What matters is that you feel ready, not that a certain amount of time has passed.
Will seeing the portrait make me sad again?
It might, at first — that's honest to say. It shows them the way they were, not the way they left — and that tends to settle into something quieter over time.
Can you work from an old or blurry photo?
Usually, yes. Clear photos make the likeness easier, but artists are used to working with grainy, old, or angled photos. Send what you have — if a photo truly doesn't carry enough detail, you'll be told before production, not after.
Which portrait format is best for a memorial?
It depends on the kind of presence you want. Hand-sculpted 3D portraits have raised texture you can touch, which can feel closer to the pet. Hand-painted canvases are the warm, classic choice. Pet Portrait Prints are the affordable option, and easy to duplicate for family members.
Can I include more than one pet in a memorial portrait?
Yes. Most portrait orders can include a second or third pet — hand-painted and print orders can include up to three, and hand-sculpted 3D portraits include a second pet. So a memorial portrait can include the companion who's still with them, keeping the pair together in the piece. Pet counts are chosen when you order.
What if I don't like the preview?
You get unlimited revisions to refine the eyes, markings, expression, and background — . Production only starts after you approve the design, so you won't receive a finished piece you haven't seen.
How long does a memorial portrait take to arrive?
You'll see a design preview within 1–2 working days of ordering. Once you approve it, hand-painted and hand-sculpted 3D portraits ship in 15–25 working days, and pet portrait prints in 12–20 working days. There's no deadline pressure on a memorial — you don't need to rush, and we won't rush it.
When You're Ready, Their Face Is Waiting in Your Photos
Open your camera roll, find the photo where they look most like themselves, and save it. That's the first step — nothing else has to happen today. When the time is right, a Luminipet artist can turn that photo into a portrait that honors exactly who they were.
