About ordering a portrait
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f85153_329f28eb54a94246a4f9bb0f9a9aa01c~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_1,w_960,h_651/fill/w_959,h_651,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/f85153_329f28eb54a94246a4f9bb0f9a9aa01c~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f85153_cb477f0ac6114144bf2c7a1b67e5b73a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_300,h_94,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/f85153_cb477f0ac6114144bf2c7a1b67e5b73a~mv2.jpg)
I only do portraits from photographs, or rather, digital photo documents. Please do not send me a printed photo. I need the original digital photo, ready for the computer so I can blow it up, and see every detail in the picture. Photos must be good quality. The better the photo, the better the portrait.
There is a deference between a nice picture and a good photo. A nice picture is where everyone is happy, or something neat is happening. It is a good way to remember an event. That is not what makes a good photo.
I work from “head shots” or pictures that only show head and shoulders. It is critical that I am able to see eye color, eye lashes, wrinkles, everything that ads to a person’s personality.
A professional photo is the best. Portraits lighted from the side have more definition. Flash photos are not good. I have always had bad results with flash photos. When the subject is lighted from the front, dimension is lost. Here are some examples.
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This photo is fuzzy, the lighting is bad, the angle is bad and it is a bad pose, the eyes are almost closed and it is just a bad picture in general. It is not acceptable. I will not work from photos like this.
I cannot pull a portrait out of a picture where the face is only 1 % of the picture. I had to do this once and I was not happy with the results. There is no detail in the picture and I cannot create information that is not there. Please do not send me a picture like this.
These two photos are good examples of portraits. They are lighted from the side, without a flash, which gives them character and definition. The expressions are good, and the pictures are clear and hi definition. I can see eye color and eye lashes. This is the degree of detail I need in a photo. The person does not have to face the camera, so the pose is up to you, but the better the photo, the better the painting. It’s as simple as that.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f85153_1cdd29018be54d7dbcfb8d4a6ca8927d~mv2_d_1600_1200_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_78,h_59,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/f85153_1cdd29018be54d7dbcfb8d4a6ca8927d~mv2_d_1600_1200_s_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f85153_1969abb8b5304a84a6b06a9978af165f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_59,h_59,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/f85153_1969abb8b5304a84a6b06a9978af165f~mv2.jpg)
To order your portrait, send the photo by way of a Facebook message, (find link at bottom of page) then text the word “portrait” to 440-830-1839. I will return your call to discuss other information. Remember that a portrait takes time, so if you are ordering one for a present form someone, please order a couple weeks in advance. Thank you so much for your order.
(I also do advertisements - please click the button to see examples – text “advertisement” to 440-830-1839)