Portrait painting: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What portrait painting is

A portrait painter creates a painted likeness of a person, a family or a pet, usually from photographs or sittings. The painting is built in layers, and the artist works to capture the face, the pose and the mood you want.

Signs you need it

  • You want a painted portrait of a parent, child or spouse to hang at home
  • You are marking an anniversary, a retirement or a memorial with a painted likeness
  • You want a family portrait with several people in one composition
  • You want a portrait of a pet in a formal or classic style
  • You have an old photo that you want turned into a painting

What the pro does

  • Asks about the subject, the size, the pose, the background and the style you want
  • Reviews your reference photos and checks their light, sharpness and angle
  • Sketches the composition and shares it for you to approve
  • Underpaints the canvas, then builds up the face, the skin tones and the details in layers
  • Shows progress photos, and makes changes to the likeness before the piece is finished
  • Varnishes the painting and gives you framing and care advice

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The number of people or animals in the portrait
  • The size of the canvas and the detail needed
  • Whether the portrait is made from photos or from live sittings
  • The medium, such as oil, acrylic, pastel or watercolor
  • The number of sketch stages and revisions before the final work
  • Whether a frame, varnish or delivery is included

What a written quote should spell out

  • The subject count, the size, the pose and the background
  • The medium and the number of sketch and revision stages
  • Whether sittings are included, and how many
  • Whether varnish, framing and delivery are included
  • The completion date and who owns the painting

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can I see portraits you have painted of people or pets in the style I like?
  • How many reference photos do you need, and what should they look like?
  • Will you show me a sketch before you start the painting?
  • How many changes can I request before the painting is finished?
  • What medium do you use, and how will it age over time?
  • Do you offer varnish, and how do you protect the painting?
  • How will the portrait be shipped or delivered?

Red flags

  • Works from a low-quality or cropped reference without asking for better photos
  • Will not show a sketch or a progress stage before the final painting
  • Cannot show finished portraits that look like real people or animals
  • Pressures you to pay for the full painting before you see a sketch
  • No written terms for changes, delivery or who owns the painting

What you can do yourself

You can take good reference photos in soft, even light with the subject facing the camera, and print them at the size you want. Keep the photos sharp and free of distracting backgrounds. Hire a portrait painter for the painting itself, because the likeness, the skin tones and the expression depend on years of practice and careful layering.

Licenses and permits

A license is often not required for portrait painting, but rules differ by state and city. Ask for a portfolio of finished portraits and proof of art training or exhibition history.

Portrait painting questions

How many photos should I send?

Send several clear photos of the subject, in good light, from the angle you want. Ask the painter which photos they need and which angle works best for the pose.

Will the painting look exactly like the photo?

A painter works to capture the likeness and the mood, not a copy of the photo. Ask the painter to explain how they will adjust the lighting, color and pose.

How long will the painting last?

A painting in oil or acrylic can last a long time with good care. Ask the painter about the medium, the varnish and the framing that will protect it.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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