The Ultimate Guide to Taking the Perfect Photo for Your Custom Portrait

You've decided to order a custom portrait—congratulations! Whether it's a family portrait, couple illustration, or a gift for someone special, you're about to create something truly meaningful. But before your artist can work their magic, they need one crucial thing: the perfect reference photo.

The quality of your reference photo directly impacts the quality of your final portrait. A great photo makes it easier for artists to capture expressions, details, and the essence of your subjects. This comprehensive guide will help you take or select the best possible photo for your custom portrait.

 

Why Your Photo Matters

Think of your reference photo as the foundation of your custom portrait. Just as a house needs a solid foundation, your portrait needs a clear, well-composed photo to achieve the best results.

A good reference photo allows the artist to:

• Capture accurate facial features and expressions
• Understand lighting and shadows
• See important details like eye color, hair texture, and clothing
• Create a composition that feels natural and balanced
• Deliver your portrait faster with fewer revision rounds

 

The Golden Rules of Portrait Photography

 

1. Lighting is Everything

Natural light is your best friend. Take photos during the day near a window or outdoors in soft, natural light. Avoid harsh overhead lighting or direct sunlight, which creates unflattering shadows.

Best lighting conditions:

• Golden hour (early morning or late afternoon)
• Overcast days (clouds act as natural diffusers)
• Indoors near large windows
• Shaded outdoor areas on sunny days

Avoid:

• Flash photography (creates harsh shadows and red-eye)
• Overhead fluorescent lights
• Backlighting (where the light source is behind your subject)
• Mixed lighting (combining natural and artificial light)

2. Focus on Faces

Your subjects' faces should be clear, sharp, and in focus. Blurry or out-of-focus photos make it difficult for artists to capture accurate features.

Tips for sharp focus:

• Tap on faces when using smartphone cameras to ensure they're in focus
• Hold your camera steady or use a tripod
• Take multiple shots to ensure at least one is perfectly sharp
• Zoom in on your photo to check focus before submitting

3. Get the Right Distance

The distance between your camera and subjects affects how they appear in the portrait.

For individual or couple portraits: Frame from the chest up or waist up. This provides enough detail while keeping faces prominent.

For family portraits: Step back enough to include everyone comfortably without making faces too small. Full-body shots work well for larger groups.

Avoid:

• Extreme close-ups (too close distorts features)
• Photos where faces are too small to see details
• Awkward cropping that cuts off heads or important elements

4. Choose the Right Angle

Eye-level shots are almost always the most flattering. Avoid extreme angles that distort features.

Best practices:

• Position the camera at eye level with your subjects
• For children, get down to their eye level
• Slight angles can add interest, but avoid extreme perspectives
• Ensure everyone's face is clearly visible (no one hiding behind others)

Composition Tips for Stunning Portraits

Expressions Matter

Natural, genuine expressions create the most beautiful portraits. Forced smiles or awkward poses rarely translate well to custom art.

How to capture natural expressions:

• Take candid shots during natural moments
• Make your subjects laugh or talk to each other
• Take many photos—the best expressions often happen between posed shots
• For children, let them play and capture genuine joy
• For couples, have them interact naturally (talking, laughing, embracing)

Background Considerations

While many custom portraits remove or simplify backgrounds, starting with a clean background makes the artist's job easier.

Ideal backgrounds:

• Solid, neutral colors (white, beige, gray)
• Simple, uncluttered outdoor settings
• Soft, blurred backgrounds (achieved with portrait mode)

Avoid:

• Busy, distracting backgrounds
• Objects appearing to "grow" out of heads
• Cluttered rooms or messy spaces

Clothing Choices

What your subjects wear affects the overall look of your portrait.

Best clothing choices:

• Solid colors or simple patterns
• Colors that complement each other (for group portraits)
• Clothing that reflects your personal style
• Comfortable outfits (comfort shows in expressions)

Avoid:

• Busy patterns or logos (unless intentional)
• Clashing colors in group photos
• Overly formal clothing if it doesn't match your style

Technical Requirements

Resolution and Quality

Higher resolution photos provide more detail for artists to work with.

Minimum requirements:

• At least 1000 pixels on the shortest side
• Clear, uncompressed images (avoid heavily filtered or edited photos)
• Original photo files when possible (not screenshots or downloads from social media)

Pro tip: Modern smartphones take excellent photos. Use your phone's main camera (not the front-facing camera) for best quality.

Avoid Heavy Filters

While Instagram filters are fun, they can alter colors, skin tones, and details in ways that make portrait creation difficult.

Submit photos that are:

• Unfiltered or minimally edited
• True to actual colors and skin tones
• Not heavily processed or distorted

Special Situations

Including Pets

Pets add personality to family portraits but can be tricky to photograph.

Tips for pet photos:

• Get down to their eye level
• Use treats or toys to get their attention
• Take many photos—pets rarely sit still!
• Ensure their eyes are visible and in focus
• Natural outdoor light works best for pets

Large Groups

Family portraits with many people require extra planning.

Group photo tips:

• Arrange people at slightly different heights (sitting/standing)
• Ensure everyone's face is clearly visible
• Take multiple shots to ensure everyone looks good in at least one
• Use a tripod and timer or ask someone to take the photo

Using Existing Photos

Don't have a recent photo? Older photos can work too!

When using existing photos:

• Choose the highest quality version available
• Scan physical photos at high resolution if needed
• Provide multiple photos if one doesn't meet all criteria
• Communicate with your artist about any concerns

The Photo Submission Checklist

Before submitting your photo, run through this quick checklist:

✓ Lighting: Natural, soft, and flattering
✓ Focus: Faces are sharp and clear
✓ Resolution: High quality, not pixelated
✓ Composition: Well-framed with good distance
✓ Expressions: Natural and genuine
✓ Background: Clean and uncluttered
✓ Everyone visible: All faces clearly shown
✓ No filters: True colors and details
✓ Original file: Not a screenshot or heavily compressed

What If Your Photo Isn't Perfect?

Don't worry if your photo doesn't meet every single criterion. Professional artists can work with less-than-perfect photos, though the best results come from high-quality references.

If you're unsure about your photo:

• Submit it anyway and ask for feedback
• Provide multiple photos from different angles
• Communicate any specific concerns to your artist
• Be open to taking a new photo if needed

Ready to Create Your Custom Portrait?

Now that you know how to take or select the perfect photo, you're ready to order your custom portrait! Remember, the time you invest in getting a great reference photo pays off in a beautiful final portrait that you'll treasure for years.

At Boreal Studio, our talented artists transform your favorite photos into stunning custom portraits. We work with you throughout the process, offering guidance on photo selection and providing previews before final delivery.

Have questions about your photo? Our team is here to help. Browse our portrait collections and start creating your custom artwork today!