How to take pictures that result in most pleasing portraits

Send me your favorite pose/view. Send several poses from different vantages, if you can, but mark your favorite one. The more information I have the better. What is purpose of the portrait? Some written description regarding personality, personal interests, eye color, skin tone, etc. goes a long way in helping me interpret the photo to produce a watercolor portrait pleasing to you and the subject.

Do you want a very serious formal portrait or an informal one?

The best photos capture the personality of the subject, are clear sharp close up photos, and are taken without flash. Clear sharp focus is of paramount importance. If you want a group or family portrait, take several photos as a group. A close up of each head in the group would also be helpful.

Photos taken outdoors in full even light shade generally work best. This reduces the severity of contrast between sunlight and shadow and reveals far more detail so important for a good portrait. In a similar way, photos taken indoors near a north window allow the face to be defined by the resulting shadow of the side lighting. Indoors if you must use flash, leave enough distance between you and your subject so facial features are not flattened out, faded or obscured by the flash. Use your telephoto camera features to do this as well as 400 speed film.

It's important that both eyes are clearly visible, unless you or your subject prefer a profile portrait. A head turned slightly away with eyes looking directly into the lens generally works very well. Avoid glare from eyeglasses.

It's important that the apparel worn in photo is what the subject would prefer to see in a portrait and it's equally important that the color of the apparel be correct for the room where the portrait will hang, if it's to be a watercolor portrait. If the apparel in the photo isn't color appropriate, let me know the color scheme of the room where it will hang.

All the above being said, if the portrait is to be a surprise gift to the subject and the likeliness that you love most doesn't fit the suggestions above, send me what you have. Let me see if it's a workable photo. I've done portraits from old beat up partially faded daguerreotype photos. I've done portraits of a single person taken from a group photo. I've done combined portraits of two people from separate photos, and a portrait of a group of four people from elements of more than 10 photos. In combining more than one subject from separate photos the key element is that the light source of all photos come from the same direction.

At heart, I prefer informal candid poses that reveal the character of the subject. But you must remember the purpose of the portrait. An informal pose of the head or a firm is not apropos.

In the end, it's your money. I am for 100% satisfaction. Send me what you like. And don't worry, all photos you send me by USPS will be returned with the portrait.

If you wish to have the artist take the photo

If you're located in Connecticut: if you prefer, I will gladly meet with you at an agreed upon time and place to discuss the portrait's purpose, size, subject's pose and apparel, background, and where the portrait will hang. More important, I want to get to know as much as I can about the subject's interests, personality, preferences, as well as physical characteristics. A number of photos will be taken of different expressions, poses, lighting, and background.

You will review photos and I will proceed with the portrait based on your selection of the photo that best reflects the purpose of the portrait and personality of the subject(s). The rate for this process is $100.

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