A useful baby portrait reference makes the face easy to read and captures an expression the family recognizes. Start with an existing photograph you love; there is no need to arrange a new pose just for a painting.
Look at the original photograph
Open the original file rather than a screenshot from a message. Check whether you can see the eyes, nose and outline of the face. If the favorite image is small or blurred, include a clearer photograph from the same period as a detail reference. Identify which image should determine the expression.
Choose a crop with room for the details
A close portrait emphasizes the face. A wider composition can include a blanket, hands or clothing. Keep the uncropped photograph available and specify which of those details matter. An accessory can be meaningful without needing to dominate the finished portrait.
Including parents or siblings
When combining photographs, explain the intended arrangement and relative sizes. References taken from different angles may need a different composition. Ask to review that arrangement before the painting stage rather than assuming the separate images will fit together unchanged.
Plan the background and presentation
Choose whether to retain the original room or simplify the background. Compare the baby gallery and family gallery, using similarly cropped examples when evaluating a medium. Review sizes and prices and the approval process. For a gift deadline, contact the team to confirm what is feasible before ordering.
Share only reference photographs you are authorized to use. Include the intended crop, the essential details and any requested changes in one brief so that the references have an unambiguous purpose.