Turn a style preference into a clear brief

Describe the effect you want

A style label is a useful beginning, but it does not settle every artistic decision. Watercolor can be subtle or vivid; a painted portrait can preserve a setting or simplify it. Describe the result in ordinary terms: soft colours, visible texture, a quiet background or stronger graphic shapes. Pick two or three priorities instead of combining every attractive adjective into one instruction.

Decide how much stylisation you are comfortable with. If recognisable faces matter most, say that explicitly and list distinctive features that should remain. If you prefer a looser interpretation, explain where simplification is welcome. Neither choice guarantees a perfect result; it gives you a clearer basis for reviewing a preview and requesting a specific correction when something feels wrong.

Set the arrangement before decoration

Choose who appears, where they sit within the frame and how much of each person is visible. A close portrait of two faces has different needs from a full-length group. State whether the source poses should remain or whether a new arrangement is wanted. Changes to pose, clothing or location are artistic changes and should be reviewed with the same care as the faces.

Give the background a role. It might preserve the place where the photo was taken, suggest a simple colour field or introduce an invented setting. Identify meaningful objects separately from visual clutter. If the portrait is a gift, consider whether a new setting might accidentally imply an event that never happened. An artistic invention can be welcome when it is intentional and understood.

Try writing the brief in four sentences: who appears, how the image should feel, what must remain and where it will be used. For example, the portrait might show two people from the main photo, use a quiet painted style, preserve their glasses and smiles, and fit a vertical frame. Add decorative preferences only after those four decisions are clear. This order makes corrections easier because you can explain whether a problem affects identity, style, composition or delivery instead of changing several unrelated choices at once.

Make the wording and review specific

Write names, dates and dedications exactly as they should appear, including accents and punctuation. A short line usually gives the image more room than a long paragraph. Indicate where the words should sit without covering faces or meaningful details. Keep the text as a separate item in the brief so that spelling can be checked independently from colour and composition.

Read the brief once from the perspective of someone who has never met the subjects. Could they identify the primary reference, the intended style and the details you will judge? Remove conflicting instructions and rank the remaining priorities. This gives a future preview a concrete review standard, while leaving room for artistic choices that do not undermine the purpose of the portrait.

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