How to Choose the Right Photo for a Portrait Illustration
Most people aren’t sure which photo is best to send as reference for a portrait, and that's okay! My portraits represent likenesses and stories, rather than being a realistic representation. This makes it easy when it comes to picking a good photo to send over.
A good rule of thumb is: “If I can clearly see the face and hair, I can work with it.”
If you want a checklist, it's:
- Front-facing photos
- Clear view of hairstyle
- Natural light
- Full-length pose
If you want outfits other than what you have in your photos, just send over photos of those. I can mix and match!
And if you want to add people who aren't in the same photo, send multiple photos. I'll put everyone together in a nice composition!
What not to do:
- Heavy filters
- Very dark photos
- Faces turned fully sideways
- Tiny faces in group photos
Special cases
Couples / families
- Separate photos are okay
- I don’t need everyone in one perfect shot
Pets
- Eye level helps
- One clear photo is better than many blurry ones
Memorial portraits
- Old photos are welcome
If you're unsure...
Just send me a message via the contact form or on Instagram. I check my messages within a few hours, so you'll get an answer to your question! You can also upload multiple photos on the product page when you are ordering your portrait, so feel free to pick a few just to be sure.
Ready for a portrait?
Now that you have an idea of the sorts of photos that you can use for a portrait – and even if not, you can still get in touch – these are some handy links to visit and place an order for the most unique and personalised gift you can find :)
Ready for a portrait? Here are some handy links:
I have painted hundreds of portraits, of people, pets, families. All from single photos to combining multiple photos into one lovely composition. I will work with what you have, and this blog post just helps to smoothen the process.