Pet owners, open up the photos on your phone and just try to tell me in all honesty at least half of them aren’t of your canine, feline or otherwise-animal buddy. We can’t help but take photos of these friends of ours.

Artist and photographer Mandi Pratt of Greyboy Pet Prints takes these portraits (shot with a phone or pro-level camera) and turns them into commemorative art. Using photos she has photographed herself for clients, or portraits taken by other pet photographers, Pratt uses a home-etching system to burn the portrait onto a metal plate, then mixes some paint (and a bit of the animal’s ashes, if it’s created in memoriam) and rubs the mixture onto the plate. After wiping off excess ink, she then presses the plate onto a piece of Hahnemühle paper that had been soaking in water.

Pratt’s grandmother, an artist as well, taught her this method and is the one who inspired her to start this service. Check out the result, using a photo that Pratt shot as well:

It’s worth seeing the process for yourself, in the video below. What’s remarkable is not only the steps Pratt takes in producing a completely handmade custom print, but also the care she puts into packaging and presentation. All of it undoubtedly brings a great deal of joy and comfort to her clients.

Check out more Photos of the Day, and email submissions to rangefinder@emeraldexpo.com.