Can They Compete With Real Pet Photography?

Do you want a special way to capture memories to immortalize your furry friend?

Perhaps you’re hosting their birthday party and want to send fun invitations. Or, unfortunately, they passed away, and you’re holding a memorial.

Maybe you want to capture the puppy stage, or you’re planning to include the new family member on your next Christmas card. There are tons of reasons why you would want images of your pet, and there are also numerous options to choose from.

There are plenty of AI portrait services available online, as well as many professional pet photographers. After doing some googling, you’re probably more confused than ever and are wondering which way to go.

Some people might be hesitant to invest in a photography session when AI offers artsy portraits for just a few bucks. Others may dismiss AI services, labelling them as gimmicky.

In this article, I dive into this question and test out some AI pet portrait services to see what all the hype is about and whether they deliver something worth framing.

I’m sharing with you the good, the bad, and the ugly of my experiences.

I’ll also provide you with a list of pros and cons of both AI pet portraits and professional pet photography to help you decide which one is best. Plus, I’ll share my take on when it might be more advisable to use each one.

If you want to learn more about pet photography, check out some of the Shotkit articles dedicated to this wonderful subject. Like these dog photography tips and this beginner’s guide to snapping the perfect pet portrait.

Now, let’s dig in!

A Hands-on Test of 4 AI Pet Portrait Services

I often write articles testing AI services, hoping to help people understand what to expect, especially whether it’s worth their time, the hassle of creating an account, and the risk of handing over personal information.

One of the most common issues I run into is what each platform defines as “free”. With AI pet portrait services, I encountered an even more frustrating problem: after submitting my info, I didn’t get the service.

I will provide you with more details about this while discussing each service I tried. Fortunately, I haven’t seen any unauthorized charges on my card or any blatant misuse of my data yet.

However, I wanted to raise awareness that this particular corner of the AI space may be more prone to scams or sketchy practices. Therefore, please use this and other reviews to verify if the service that interests you is legit.

Having said that, let’s see which ones are all bark and which ones bite.

DreamPets

DreamPets is available both via browser and as an app. It supports all sorts of animals, which is something to be appreciated, as most of the others I saw only work for cats and dogs. It also generates both photos and videos.

I tried using the browser version on my computer, but I couldn’t get it to work. Every time I uploaded my photo, it said the upload was successful, but the file wasn’t there, and I couldn’t move forward.

I’m not sure if it was due to bad luck, a problem with my browser (Chrome), or something else. In any case, I stopped trying because DreamPets offers more templates to work with on the app, so I just moved on to working on my phone.

I suggest you go straight to the mobile version. Launching the app, you’ll land on the Instant mode. This is very welcoming because you immediately see the option to upload your image by tapping ‘Select Photo’. Below, there’s a gallery with examples for you to choose from.

There’s no hesitation or wondering how it’s supposed to work – you can start creating immediately. You can use this feature for free with some limitations.

The first point is that you can’t use all the templates. If you see a crown in the corner, it means that it’s a Pro template, which is not available to free users.

Also, you’ll see ads while using the app, specifically while the request is being processed. Lastly, you’ll only be able to download the resulting image with a watermark.

It’s not a bad deal because you get to see if you like the image before paying. This is more than what other AI pet portrait services offer, as free trials aren’t commonly available.

The results were just as good as the examples in the gallery, which I liked – it gave me exactly what I was expecting.

The waiting time was very fast for the photos and longer for the videos. Nothing out of the ordinary, though: less than a minute for photos, and around 8 minutes for a 3-second video.

Another feature from DreamPets is the AI Studio. You can also try this service for free, but it has more limitations. It will generate five images with a watermark, and one of them is locked. These images aren’t downloadable.

To unlock the hidden image and download the others without a watermark, you’ll need to subscribe. The yearly membership is US$29.99, or you can buy lifetime access for US$59.99.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start with how AI Studio works. You’re required to upload 8 to 16 images of your pet, including multiple poses and angles. Then, you’ll be asked to input some data like your pet’s name, breed, color, sex, and birthday (optional).

Once this is done, you’ll simply have to wait. In my case, it was estimated to be 45 minutes. After the first processing is done, you get to choose which templates you want, or you can select Random, and it will choose for you.

Then, each image is generated within seconds. Here, you can choose whether to subscribe to unlock and download them, or simply leave it if you didn’t like the results.

If you like the images but feel they need a few tweaks, there are refining tools available, but you have to subscribe first.

Your pet’s photos are saved, allowing you to generate more images later without having to go through the process again. You can also save multiple pets on your account.

I found the face and fur textures to be much more realistic in the AI Studio images, and the fact that you can retouch the image allows for a more realistic look.

While I think it’s fair that a more advanced service requires payment, I don’t like that you can’t simply buy this set of images as a bundle.

The fact that you have to commit to a yearly subscription or pay a much more expensive lifetime license makes it less appealing, in my opinion.

The app offers a few freebies, such as three free downloads or unlocking your photo by sharing a code with a friend. However, it’s only valid once your friend subscribes – simply sharing isn’t enough.

AI Pet Photos

AI Pet Photos is an AI Image Generator for Pets. Unlike DreamPets, it only supports cats and dogs.

I appreciate that all the information is clear and easy to find, from prices to FAQs.

There isn’t a free trial, but there are three different bundles for you to try. The starting price is US$3.99 and goes up to US$10.99. All images are in high resolution, and the only changes are the number of random characters.

In addition to the random characters, you’ll have five manual images included, regardless of the bundle. The delivery time is also the same for all packages, which is 17 minutes.

AI Pet Photos doesn’t have a printing service, but they do have a list of recommended options in various countries. As an unrelated fun feature, they have free pet name generators.

To generate your pet’s images, start by choosing a bundle. You’ll see what’s included – while the exact results are random, it lists the themes in the pool. For dogs, options included gladiator, video game characters, samurai, Paris café, and more.

Then, you’ll be asked to input the name of your pet and choose whether it’s a cat or a dog.

Next, you’ll be asked to upload at least 15 photos of your pet. They recommend using professional photographs. If you don’t have any, it doesn’t matter – follow the guidelines they offer.

These are nothing out of the ordinary; the photos just need to have sufficient lighting, contrast, sharpness, and resolution. This will ensure better results. The platform even offers some examples of good photos vs bad photos.

I like that you can upload from many storage services and devices, not just your computer. You can also upload directly from a camera, connect to your Dropbox, and more.

Once uploaded, you’ll have the opportunity to review and modify them as needed. Then, you’ll be prompted to create an account if you don’t have one yet. Lastly, proceed to checkout.

Once you’ve completed all the steps, the 17-minute waiting period starts. You’ll receive a notification email when the images are ready.

This’s what it promises. I, however, couldn’t test it.

I tried the service twice within two weeks, and both times, after payment, I received a notice stating that there were some technical difficulties and that my money had been refunded.

In any case, based on the example images in their gallery, I noticed some inconsistencies in fur color, and it’s often obvious that the result isn’t the same dog from the original photo.

I do wonder if the small bundle carries more risk of disappointment. With a larger bundle, at least you have a better chance of getting a few good ones to choose from.

The poses and situations are fun and well rendered. I do prefer the ones where you can see the pet in a more natural position, as standing or extending the legs shows an awkward perspective and odd proportions between head and body.

Since I couldn’t try the service, I’m unable to comment on the custom images, which is what attracted me to this particular service the most. I hope you have better luck than I did.

Petbooth

I decided to try Petbooth.app because it offers a single bundle that costs US$9.99 for 100 images.

I wanted to review the quantity-over-quality aspect, as I saw a YouTube review from about a year ago where many images were only fillers. The dog didn’t look like the original, and some were even a different breed.

When you land on the website, you’ll see a huge gallery. Petbooth showcases a wide range of themes, far more than its competitors, and I was impressed. Unfortunately, they also focus only on cats and dogs.

Once you click on Get Started, it will ask you to upload pictures of your pet. You can upload between 10 and 20 images.

Once you click Upload, you’ll receive a pop-up disclaimer informing you that the images will be used to train the model for your pictures and then will be deleted.

I appreciate the transparency. Usually, I have to go read the fine print to find information about what will happen to my images. Sometimes it’s not even published – so, kudos to Petbooth.

Next, I was asked to choose ten themes. I’m not sure why ten, given that they’re providing me with 100 images – I suppose they want to get a broad idea of my taste and interests.

I tried to choose themes that were similar to the original photos, like trekking. Other themes I chose were similar to images I already had from a different AI service, such as a magician, so I could make comparisons.

The rest were just different scenes that seemed challenging, such as surfing or boxing, to see how it handled motion and body proportions.

The next step required my payment information and my email. After payment, I was told that I would receive an email when the images were ready – the expected time was one hour.

In the meantime, I didn’t receive any receipt or order confirmation. I didn’t like this at all, as I wouldn’t have any proof of purchase if something went wrong.

Fortunately, I didn’t have any problems. After exactly one hour, I received an email with a link that allowed me to download my images.

Within the hundred photos, I received ten variations from each of the ten themes I chose. Some are better than others, but I’d say that more than half of them are keepers.

So, going back to my argument from AI Pet Photos, in this case, the large quantity works in your favor. Even if you discard the ones you don’t like, you’re still left with enough good images to feel like you got your money’s worth.

I still prefer the images with realistic scenes, as they’re the ones where you can see better texture and more similarities with the animal in the picture.

Something else I like about Petbooth is that it offers more action scenes, such as swimming. This is something that many pet owners will surely appreciate.

Pawcassoai

I decided to try Pawcasso because it offers three free previews before you decide to buy.

I like this no-risk policy, so I took a look at it. Once I read about how it worked and its pricing, I was ready to try it.

So, I clicked on the Start Now button. At this point, a Google Forms query appeared asking for my email address so I could receive the three free portraits. I provided one and submitted the response.

That’s all I could do. I didn’t receive any codes or promos in my email, so I couldn’t claim the three portraits. Disappointed as I was, I tried to move forward as I was planning to buy the bundle anyway.

Unfortunately, whichever bundle I clicked linked me back to the Google Form, where it said that my response had already been registered.

I tried again, starting from the Home page, where there are two separate buttons: “Create My Pet Portrait” and “Try Beta for Free.”

I figured that the problem I’d been having was because I’d somehow entered the beta sign-up. So, I clicked on “Create My Pet Portrait” – it was the same.

Obviously, the service is not active yet. Unfortunately, the website is presented as if it were ready to use. Aside from that “Try Beta for Free” button, all the other call-to-action options are made to look like they’re already operative.

There’s also no information about when the Beta will start or anything – all the FAQs are about a service that doesn’t yet exist. I really didn’t appreciate this as it made the experience very frustrating.

Hopefully, my experience can save you some time, and if you decide to try it in the hope of getting the offer, at least you now know what to expect.

AI Pet Portrait Services vs Pet Photography

Now that it’s clear some AI pet portrait services are legit – and the results aren’t necessarily gimmicky – let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using AI-generated portraits versus hiring a traditional pet photographer.

Pros of AI Pet Portrait Services

Generated with Petbooth

• Budget-friendly, ranging between US$5 and US$60
• Styles, poses, and scenes impossible to create in real life
• Available anytime, from anywhere
• Readily available services take between a minute and a few hours
• No need for your pet to be in the mood, deal with strangers, or be willing to cooperate in any way

Cons of AI Pet Portrait Services

• Loss of spontaneity
• Loss of authenticity
• Randomness
• Lower level of customization
• You need a set of good-quality photos to start with
• Neither you nor your other pets can be in the portrait
• May require editing to correct problems and errors

Pros of Pet Photography

Credit: Jamie Street

• It’s your pet with all its original poses, movements and facial expressions
• Together with the photographer, you have complete control over which props and scenery to use
• You get to live the experience of a photoshoot, which is a bonding moment
• You can be in the photos with your pet
• The picture can portray more than one pet
• You get expert lighting, composition and post-production

Cons of Pet Photography

• More expensive than AI services
• Physical limitations for props, locations, etc
• You need your pet to be collaborative
• It requires planning, and possibly transportation
• Longer delivery times

Pet Photography or AI Services  – Which one should you choose?

Credit: Jamie Street (left) / Petbooth (right)

As you can see, both pet photography and AI pet portrait services have pros and cons.

In reality, AI pet photo services aren’t meant to replace professional pet photography – they’re simply a different way to create visual memories.

You can see how AI services aren’t attempting to replace photography because some of them even recommend that you work with a professional photographer to create a good set of images to upload. AI Pet Photos even has a few photographer recommendations in different cities.

AI pet portraits are a fun way to create images of your pet whenever you want, and as whimsical as you wish. There’s no way in real life that you can get your dog to pose as a boxer standing in the ring, ready to fight.

You don’t even need to go to an extreme example. Perhaps your pet doesn’t enjoy wearing costumes or glasses and becomes stressed if you even attempt to put them on. Then, AI portraits can be a great way to create pictures with props involved.

That said, with AI, you can’t yet choose the exact props or decorations you want. You lose control over the final look of the scene. Yes, AI services offer a series of themed packs to choose from, but you can’t select every item and the composition.

If you choose a Halloween-themed photo, you might end up with pumpkins, skeletons, or spiders – but what if you’re arachnophobic? With a pet photographer, you can discuss your preferences, choosing what to include and what to avoid. With an AI service, you don’t have that level of control.

Even if you like the template – say, a Christmas tree – it’s still just a generic one. It won’t be your tree in the background, right? That personal touch is missing.

Another thing to consider is that AI portraits may not capture the pet’s unique essence. They won’t portray their goofy face while trying to catch a treat or the puppy eyes they give when they know they broke one of your things. With AI, you’ll get standardized poses.

Additionally, the impossibility of being in the portrait with your pet or including your other furry family members is a significant difference. You also won’t be able to have certain angles of your pet if you rely only on AI services.

In my opinion, one service doesn’t exclude the other. So, when is it better to choose one over the other? Let’s recap.

When is it better to use AI pet portrait services?

• When you want the images today.
• When you don’t have a big budget.
• When you want something crazy and surreal.
• When your pet isn’t collaborative.

When is it better to use pet photography?

• When you want heartfelt memories.
• When you want more control over the results.
• When you want to be in the photos.
• When you want to have more than one pet in the pictures.
• When you want authentic images that reflect your pet’s personality.

What do you think about the growing trend of AI pet portrait services?