Photography

Tips for selecting the best photo for your portrait

Each of the photos below has a caption that tells you what is good or bad about that particular photo. By reviewing the photos below, you will learn a lot about choosing the right picture for your commissioned portrait. The photo can make or break your portrait. 

When taking on a commission, I like for you to email me between 5-10 photos so I can select the one that is best for a commissioned portrait. If it's hard for me to see the detail in your photos, I can't get the likeness you want.

Feel free to email me the photos you want me to draw at portraitsbydonscott@gmail.com.

Photos to Portraits

This photograph has a number of elements that make it an excellent choice to draw from. First, the face is well lit allowing me to easily catch a likeness of him. It also has a lot of detail throughout the entire photo that makes for an interesting and dynamic drawing. What's best about the detail, is that all of the key elements are clear, in focus, have plenty of lighting, and are not in shadow. Moreover, it captures the boy doing something he loves to do, hanging out with dad in the auto shop.

Fun drawing to do! Yet, it had its challenges. Much of the face is in the shadow, especially around the eyes making it difficult to easily catch his likeness. However, the uniform has lots of detail and is well lit.

Love the cropping on this photograph. It also has nice detail and good lighting. The background also compliments the couple. What would make this photo better would be if it were in a higher resolution. The photograph I was provided was actually a color printout… it works much better to have the actual photograph.

Challenging photo to draw. Although there are a lot of small details that can add interest to the portrait, those details are buried with in the camouflage of the catchers gear. Also, the face is hard to see. You might notice the confusion between the lips and mouth guard.

Fun composition with great details in the hair and around the hands and bucket. However, the eyes are in shadow making it difficult for drawing.

Lots of small details in the clothing, both bodies are well lit which is great! However, the man’s face, specifically the eyes are hard to see.

Excellent photo to draw from. The faces are so well lit so I can easily see the colors and detail. The background is faded so it doesn’t compete with the foreground. Most of all, it is a really cute shot!

Excellent photograph. The face is lit ad shows lots of details, especially in the eyes. The less the image is in the shadows and the more the details showing, the better! This photo practically drew itself.