Portrait of a Family Member
 

This is a portrait of cousin of mine (Mike). I would like to have worked from a better photo but he liked his hair and smile in the photo he provided. Given a better photo I'm sure the end result would have been better. The photo I used was only a 5x7 with the head measusement at less than 1 inch.

Portrait of a Family Member
 

Here is the Photo.

Hi Bryan,

It's very hard almost impossible to work from a photo that small...I would suggest you check the slight tilt of the head...the drop in the shoulders, the angles of his jaw and the lightness of his ears. Family have a way of twisting your arm. If your cousin could come and sit for you that would be great. You need more information than what you are getting from a one inch head shot. In the future for commissions, if they have a photo that is a favorite, see if they can come for a sitting or a photo sitting and try and match the photo. If that's not possible I always turn the commission down because that compromises the quality of your work and the potential client doesn't know you had poor reference material. Remember that's your name out there.

Portrait
 

Diana,

Thank you for your valuable input. I hated doing this portrait from such a small photo. In future portraits I will definetly have the person come in for a sitting or use a photo that is large enough that all the information is readable.

Take care,
and God bless