Choosing Elements of Your Custom Portrait
I create custom portraits from reference photos uploaded by clients. The questions I hear time and again:
“Can you choose the photo? Which photo would work best with your style!?”
The photos often have sentimental value, and the portrait is meant to capture a special occasion or an intimate moment. The photo quality ranges. Sometimes it’s a quick selfie taken on the fly, a professional shot, or a faded photograph of a photograph from an old album. And sometimes, there is no perfect photo and I work with multiple photos to capture a moment that was missed on camera. As you are contemplating which photo(s) would work best for your custom portrait, here are a few things to consider.
Three things I look for in a photo that make for a striking portrait.
1) Posture
Strong body language makes for some really cool line art. Whether it’s a slouched shoulder or a warm embrace, posture can add a lot of dynamic to a rendering.
2) Bold Colour
If you are selecting a “colour pop” custom portrait, I’ll pick one or two shades from the original photo and create a bold colour block. Something as simple as a bright blue sweatshirt or rose-tinted shades can add that “colour pop” to your portrait.
3) Accessories or Garment Detail
Do you have a cool watch? A fancy button-down shirt? A new engagement ring?? Accessories are a great way to add some texture to your custom portrait. I’m a fashion illustrator first, and no detail will go unnoticed.
