Anyone who has loved a pet knows the deal we make the day we bring them home. We know their time with us is shorter than we want it to be. We know that someday, we'll be the ones left behind. And still, we say yes — because the years we get are worth the grief that follows.
This past weekend, I had the privilege of being at the 40th Anniversary celebration for the Town of Newburgh's animal shelter. It was a beautiful day — with lots of locals stopping by to show support for the shelter. But something happened that I haven't been able to stop thinking about.
Over the course of the day, at least 3 people people came up to my booth. They weren't looking for event photos or session bookings. They were looking for a way to remember a pet they'd already lost. One person showed me a phone full of photos of a dog who had passed a few years ago. Another talked about a cat they'd just said goodbye to. Each of them asked, in their own way, the same question: Is there a way you could help me create something beautiful to remember them by?
Why I've Been Hesitant Until Now
If you've followed Breen Photo for a while, you know I've been experimenting with mixed media artwork — a process where someone uploads a photo of their pet and I turn it into a stylized, artistic piece. It uses AI as part of the workflow, and most of the time, it produces something really fun.
But "most of the time" isn't good enough for a memorial portrait.
When the pet in the photo is still with us, a small quirk in an AI-generated image is a curiosity — maybe even something to laugh about. When the pet is gone, that same quirk can feel like a betrayal. The ear isn't quite right. The eyes don't have that look they used to give you. The marking on the chest is missing. Suddenly the piece doesn't honor your friend — it reminds you that they aren't really there.
I wasn't willing to offer memorial portraits until I felt confident I could get it right. After this past weekend, I knew it was time to figure it out.
The New Process
Here's what I've been building over the past few days.
Instead of working from a single photo, the new process invites you to upload several images of your pet — different angles, different lighting, different moments. The more reference material we have, the better we can capture not just what your pet looked like, but who they were. The tilt of the head. The particular way the fur caught the sun. The expression that was unmistakably them.
From there, I've added a series of checkpoints along the way where I personally review the work in progress. If something isn't right, we don't move forward. We adjust. We refine. We try again. You'll have chances to weigh in too, because no one knows your pet the way you do.
It's slower. It's more involved. And honestly, that's the whole point. A memorial portrait shouldn't be something you click a button and receive five minutes later. It should be something thoughtful — something made with care, by someone who understands that this isn't just an art project.
What I Hope This Becomes
I want to be honest about something: no portrait, no matter how beautifully done, can fill the space a pet leaves behind. I know that. You know that.
But I do believe that a really good portrait — one that captures the spirit of who they were — can be a comfort. Something to hang on the wall and smile at. Something that says: you mattered, you were loved, and you are not forgotten.
If that's something you've been thinking about for your own furry friend, I'm here when you're ready. No pressure, no timeline. Just reach out whenever it feels right.
If you want to check out the information on this, you can find it here:
ps. I haven't made this widely available yet as I'm still testing it out. If you have read this far, and want to try it out. I have a few coupon codes available that will waive the $49 fee, just send me an email at dave@breenphoto.com and ask to for a try it code. This is only for the first few people, so act fast if you want to try it out for free!
