Foreword: this may seem like a lot to consider. Fret not! I will be happy to look at as many photos as it takes to determine the best one for a portrait, if you're not sure which one would be best. In fact, I prefer when clients bring me a variety of photos to choose from. One usually stands out as the clear winner to me.
The single most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a photo is the clarity of the photo. A crisp photo with plenty of detail is what I need in order to achieve the best results. Additionally, there are other aspects of the photo to pay attention to, including:
* Lighting and Shadows: A photo that is too bright or too dark may not produce a good portrait. Dynamic lighting is often a good choice in a photo, as it has a way of revealing character in a portrait. Often, the best time to take a photo for a portrait is right before the sun sets; this type of lighting typically produces amazing results.
* The Pose: The best portraits always come from a photo that was taken when the subject wasn't posing. If you can, try and get a picture of the subject doing something they love or "in the moment"; this will really bring the portrait to life.
* The Big Picture: Please keep in mind that I do not personally know the person in the photo; I can only draw what I see. Choose a photo that best represents the person. Think about details, like "Are they normally that heavy?" or "Do they always wear their hair that way?" Try and make sure the photo represents the person as they would want.
The single most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a photo is the clarity of the photo. A crisp photo with plenty of detail is what I need in order to achieve the best results. Additionally, there are other aspects of the photo to pay attention to, including:
* Lighting and Shadows: A photo that is too bright or too dark may not produce a good portrait. Dynamic lighting is often a good choice in a photo, as it has a way of revealing character in a portrait. Often, the best time to take a photo for a portrait is right before the sun sets; this type of lighting typically produces amazing results.
* The Pose: The best portraits always come from a photo that was taken when the subject wasn't posing. If you can, try and get a picture of the subject doing something they love or "in the moment"; this will really bring the portrait to life.
* The Big Picture: Please keep in mind that I do not personally know the person in the photo; I can only draw what I see. Choose a photo that best represents the person. Think about details, like "Are they normally that heavy?" or "Do they always wear their hair that way?" Try and make sure the photo represents the person as they would want.