How a Custom Family Portrait Is Made from Your Photos

1. Choose the people and photos

The process begins by deciding who should appear in the portrait and selecting clear reference photos. A single group photo can work well, but separate photographs can also be useful when the best images of family members were taken at different times. Clear facial detail is more important than having everyone in one frame.

2. Select the portrait size

The number of subjects affects how much space is needed. A portrait of one or two people can work at a smaller size, while larger family groups generally benefit from a larger format so that faces and expressions have enough room to remain detailed.

3. Confirm the composition

Reference images help establish clothing, expressions, hairstyles and other visible details. When photographs come from different sources, the artist considers how the subjects can be arranged so the final composition feels balanced rather than like separate pictures placed side by side.

4. The portrait is drawn

The artist develops the drawing with attention to likeness, proportion and the details that make each person recognizable. For hand-drawn work, this stage takes time because the image is built gradually rather than generated instantly.

5. Review the digital proof

Before the original artwork is dispatched, a digital proof gives the customer an opportunity to view the completed portrait. This is useful for checking the overall result before shipping.

6. Protective delivery

Physical artwork needs careful packaging during international shipping. SKETCH X STUDIO LTD ships original portrait artwork rolled in a protective tube rather than framed, helping protect it during transit and allowing the customer to choose framing locally.

Plan your family portrait

You can compare available formats on the custom family and couple portrait page and read more on the family portraits page.