How to Choose a Photo for a Family Portrait
The photo you send is the starting point for a hand-painted family portrait. I paint from your photographs. You do not need a studio or a special camera. If you have more than one photo, send them to me and I will help choose the best ones.
A sharp, well-lit photo where the faces are clearly visible
What helps most is a photograph in good light, with the faces visible and in focus. Natural light is better than flash. Soft daylight beside a window, or open shade outdoors, usually shows a face more evenly than a dim room or a direct burst of flash, which can throw hard shadows and flatten features.
Before you send a photo, look at it on a larger screen. If a face is lost in shadow, turned away, or looks soft when you zoom in, it is harder to paint from. Flash often leaves a bright patch on the forehead or a hard shadow behind the head. If the room is too dark for a clear shot without flash, move closer to a window or step outside. Try to have the light fall on the faces, not from behind them, so the features are not lost in silhouette.
Send the original file, not a screenshot
Screenshots and pictures passed through a messaging app are often smaller and less detailed than the file that came off the phone or camera. If the photo is on your phone, send it from the camera roll or files rather than photographing the screen or copying it out of a chat. A straightforward photo is enough; you do not need to edit it first.
Combining people from different photos into one portrait
Yes, people from different photographs can be combined into one family portrait. I paint from the photos you send of each person.
Changing clothing or the background
Yes, clothing or the background can be changed. Tell me what you would like when you send the photographs.
Including a pet in a family portrait
Yes, a pet can be included in a family portrait if you would like that. A photo taken at the animal’s eye level, with the face in sharp focus, is the most useful reference. For more on what to send, see how to choose the best photo for a pet portrait.
Using old or lower-quality photos for a memorial portrait
Yes, a memorial portrait can be painted from older or lower-quality photographs. I work from the photos you already have. A clearer photo gives more detail, but you can send what you have. If the portrait is to remember a pet, there is a guide to how pet memorial portraits work.
What to include when you request a quote
When you are ready, send the photo or photos you have and tell me what you have in mind. If you are still thinking about size, there is a practical guide to how to choose the right size for your portrait. You can also read about commissioning a custom oil portrait from your photo, or about a hand-painted family portrait as a gift.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of photo should I send?
A sharp, well-lit photo with the faces clearly visible works best. Natural light is better than flash. Send the original file if you can, not a screenshot. If you have more than one photo, send them and I will help choose the best ones.
Can a pet be included in a family portrait?
Yes, a pet can be included if you would like that. A photo taken at the animal’s eye level, with the face in sharp focus, is the most useful reference. For more, see how to choose the best photo for a pet portrait.
Do I need a professional photo?
No. You do not need a studio or a special camera.
Can people from different photos be combined into one portrait?
Yes. People from different photographs can be combined into one family portrait.
Can you paint a memorial portrait from old or lower-quality photos?
Yes. A memorial portrait can be painted from older or lower-quality photographs. A clearer photo gives more detail, but you can send what you have.