How to Choose a Photo for a Custom Portrait: A Simple Guide from an Artist

A hand-painted portrait usually begins with a photograph.
The quality of that photograph matters, but it does not need to be professionally taken. Some of the most beautiful portraits I have painted were based on simple family photos, holiday pictures, wedding photographs or spontaneous moments captured on a phone.
What matters most is not whether the photo looks perfect. It is whether it shows the person clearly and captures something real about them.
When clients send me photographs, I look at more than facial details. I notice the expression, the direction of the eyes, the posture, the light and the feeling of the moment. All of these details help me create a portrait that feels personal rather than simply copied from a photograph.
Before we begin, please do not worry if you do not have a perfect photograph. Most of my clients send me ordinary phone photos, family snapshots or several different images. My job as an artist is to help you choose the strongest reference and find a solution that works.
The suggestions below are not strict rules. They simply explain which details can make the painting process easier. A meaningful photograph is often more valuable than a technically perfect one.

Should you choose a formal or informal photograph?

That depends on the person and the purpose of the portrait.
A formal photograph can create an elegant and classic portrait. An informal photograph often feels more intimate and personal.
For wedding portraits, clients may choose a carefully composed professional photograph. For family or birthday portraits, a spontaneous image may capture the person more naturally.
I do not believe that every painted portrait should look formal. The right image is the one that reflects the person and the feeling you want to preserve.

Watercolor or oil: does the photograph affect the choice?

Yes, sometimes.
Watercolor works beautifully for soft light, delicate expressions, elegant portraits and airy compositions. It is especially suitable when the client wants a gentle, light and refined result.
Oil paint allows me to create richer colour, deeper contrast and a more textured surface. I often use a palette knife for oil portraits, which gives the painting visible movement and character.
A detailed photograph can work for either technique. The choice depends more on the atmosphere you want, the final size and where the portrait will be displayed.
When a client is unsure, I recommend the technique that best suits the photograph and the intended result.

My advice as an artist
Do not spend too long searching for one perfect photo.
Choose a few images that feel meaningful and send them together. Tell me which expression you like, what the portrait is for and what matters most to you.
Sometimes the photo a client considers secondary becomes the best reference for the face. Sometimes two or three photographs together create a much stronger portrait than one image alone.
My role is not only to copy a photograph. It is to understand what you want to preserve and then translate it into a painting.

Is your photo suitable for a portrait?
You are welcome to send me several photographs before placing an order.
I will look at them personally and tell you:

• which image is the strongest reference;
• whether additional photos would help;
• which composition would work best;
• whether watercolor or oil is more suitable;
• what size I would recommend.

There is no need to prepare everything perfectly before contacting me. A short message, a few photographs and the story behind the portrait are enough to begin.
A photograph captures a moment. A painting gives that moment a new life.