Portraits and pets: choosing useful reference photos

Choose a picture in which you truly recognise the person or your pet: their look, expression or head position. Send several if useful and explain what you like about each. The prettiest photo is not always the best tattoo reference.

If available, send the original rather than a screenshot or an image forwarded many times. The eyes, hair and forms should be visible, without filters that remove features. You do not need to edit it into a drawing yourself.

By the Xandro Tattoo editorial team.

Include the full photograph without cropping it to just the face, and point out the gesture or object you want to keep. If you send another picture of that detail, indicate which of your references it belongs with.

In the Michael Jordan portrait, the hand and cap are part of the recognisable image. This example can help you identify the details essential to your idea; it does not mean that everything in the photograph has to be included in the tattoo.

A photo is interpreted on skin with curves and movement. Size and placement affect how much detail can work and how the composition is arranged. We can discuss black and grey, colour or supporting elements while keeping the face central.

Send it as it is and tell me which features matter. We will assess its limits before promising an outcome. Another picture may help fill gaps; we will not invent an expression or story and present it as real.