Help and advice for selecting your reference photo(s)
and taking your own photos for reference use
When booking a portrait, the reference photograph that will be used for the portrait is paramount to the outcome final Artwork and so I have put this page together to offer some help & advice before choosing your photograph for your bespoke portrait. This Artwork is created to last a lifetime so it is important you choose the right composition so you will enjoy your painting for many years to come.
What type of portrait are you looking for?
The 2 main questions when booking your portrait is what stance do you require and do you want a background too? The standard portrait I am most asked to do is the 'Head & Shoulders' portrait where the focus is all about the subject, do you require a background and if so do you prefer tonal or full detail? The other option is if you have that perfect photo where the surroundings compliment the subject and would prefer a full portrait, these are more effective on larger sizes and can make a real statement in a room. These choices are entirely your own.
If you need help deciding what would make a good stance or composition for a portrait , simply take a look through this slideshow which has some great photograph ideas that would make the perfect portrait - It does not have to be a typical pose, if you love the photo for whatever reason, then it would be a great choice to go with.
Remember: the more detail in the photograph, the larger the portrait you can choose too if you are looking for size impact. If you are looking to take your own photographs there is lots of helpful advice below, but if you need any more help, please just ask! |
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Help & Advice on taking your own photographs for the portrait
If you are looking for a little help taking good photographs that will be perfect for your portrait, here are a few hints & tips. Good quality images are always a must for the type of finely detailed work that I undertake but I do understand that it is not always possible to provide such perfect photographs, hopefully though this page will help you on your way to capturing a suitable photo to be turned into a bespoke portrait that will adorn your wall for many years to come.
Quick Checklist
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WHY PHOTO QUALITY MATTERS
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This subject was taken at a distance (and through a window pane) meaning once I zoomed into the image, all detail was completely lost and the image is now completely out of focus. I would be unable to take on this Commission.
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This image was taken on a mobile phone which is not usually recommend but as it was taken outside in the shade of a bright day, zooming into the image still offers some detail, although a little flat. I would be able to take on this commission for smaller portraits only.
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This image has been taken using an SLR camera on the largest format (3872x2592) this allows me to zoom right in to the photo and pull out the tiniest detail. The final portrait will be of the highest standard with large size portraits being possible too.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF LIGHTING
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This photo although taken outside in the daylight, was taken using flash. Flash photos are rarely a friend of the Artist as there is very little to take from it - too much shine on the fur, lack of natural tones, green eyes and an overall lack of real detail. I would be unable to use this for a portrait.
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Too much sun hitting one side of the Labrador has resulted in any detail on the left side being completely lost - this is also the same for white animals which suffers from over exposure on the right side bleaching any detail out. Always avoid high sun and ensure the sun is at your back whenever taking photos.
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Black dogs are difficult to photograph as are white ones - taking an outdoor photo during a bright but cloudy day ensures a natural balance of light and dark tones with lots of detail too. Filling the frame with the subject ensures great detail and throws the background out of focus resulting in minimal distraction. Perfect!
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HUMAN PORTRAITURE PHOTOGRAPHY
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This photograph was taken using an IPad - the quality of these cameras are not great and makes it look as if there is a filter on the photo, although it has eliminated my wrinkles and took a few years off me, it is not a photograph that I would be able to create a lifelike portrait from, simply an impressionistic view.
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Flash is very harsh on people - the main things that stand out are ugly dark shadows accentuating my nose, the shiny skin and the complete change of eye and hair colour! This photo is as unnatural and unflattering as possible (especially for a woman) and for this reason I would only ever work from daylight images.
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As this was taken using natural light from a large window on a fairly bright day it provided ample and balanced lighting which captured a natural photo well. Filling the camera with the subject ensures the detail can be seen when zooming in and every freckle and tiny detail can be seen. This could be used to create small and large portraits too.
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MULTIPLE SUBJECTS
If you are looking to book a portrait with all your Pets/portrait subjects together it is far better to provide single photographs of each subject and 1 photograph of all together simply so I am able to gauge sizing. Without seeing the 3 dogs together as shown in the first image here, there is no way I could guess the huge difference in the size of each dog. Each single photo should follow the same guidelines ensuring the frame is filled, taken in natural lighting & large quality image format. Again the better the quality of each photo, the larger the portrait size you are able to choose (upto a 20" x 30")
COMPUTER EDITED MOCK UPS
I am always open to taking on a very specific idea such as this Commission shown here. This was a very complicated painting and I spent many hours searching for suitable images online and in my own photo reference library to be able to create this mock up even before the painting had begun. For bespoke Commissions such as this, there are extra charges on top of your chosen portrait size, simply because of the work that goes in, so please get in touch, outlining your idea and I can give you a quote. If you wish to read about this painting and the commission process to create it, click the image above to go to the LISBON LANDSCAPE page.
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PRINTED PHOTOGRAPHS
There will always be times that all you own of your commission subject are actual photographs that are a little blurry or only have minimal detail. Although this makes the creation of a painting difficult at times, I may be able to work using a collection of images that you do own of them, to take something from each image and add it to the final painting. Obviously the end result is only as good as the photograph, but I do make sure that if I am working on a Pet portrait, I may be able to study the breed online, using other images to create the final piece, so all is not lost. However, human portraits pose a problem as I cannot do this, so the more images you can provide me with of the person, the better. If you only have physical photographs, you can choose whether to scan those photos and E-mail them to me (recommended) or post them (make sure you send them special delivery and always have copies in case they do get lost in the post) |
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BOOK A FREE PHOTOSHOOT
If you live in the Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland area, or Chesterfield, Derbyshire and would prefer me to come and take some photographs of your chosen subject for you, there is no extra charge to the Artwork. If you prefer not to go ahead with the commission, but would like the photographs, I am happy to put the full size images onto a disc, allowing you full copyright to use wherever you wish (except for commercial use or monetary gain) for £50.
If you live in the Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland area, or Chesterfield, Derbyshire and would prefer me to come and take some photographs of your chosen subject for you, there is no extra charge to the Artwork. If you prefer not to go ahead with the commission, but would like the photographs, I am happy to put the full size images onto a disc, allowing you full copyright to use wherever you wish (except for commercial use or monetary gain) for £50.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Please Note: All Artwork copyright remains with the Artist and may be used for future advertising literature (please read and accept the Terms and conditions before you go ahead with your commission(s).
Most Importantly: Please make sure you have copyright to any photograph(s) you wish me to draw/paint.
If you wish me to use an image that has been taken by a professional photographer, due to copyright laws, I require written permission from the photographer - the exception is if you have purchased the images AND the copyright of which you should have written proof - before commencing a piece, I will require a copy of this.
Please Note: All Artwork copyright remains with the Artist and may be used for future advertising literature (please read and accept the Terms and conditions before you go ahead with your commission(s).
Most Importantly: Please make sure you have copyright to any photograph(s) you wish me to draw/paint.
If you wish me to use an image that has been taken by a professional photographer, due to copyright laws, I require written permission from the photographer - the exception is if you have purchased the images AND the copyright of which you should have written proof - before commencing a piece, I will require a copy of this.
