When planning a charcoal portrait, consider which features will remain distinctive without depending on their color. A colored collar, a hairstyle and the shape of a face do not all rely on the same visual information.
Check the reference in light and dark
Look at the shape of the face and the separation between the subject and background. If dark hair disappears into a dark setting, add a reference that shows its outline. Keep the original color file available even when your intended result is monochrome.
Compare the treatment of detail
Use the charcoal gallery to compare the range from light passages to darker areas and the amount of visible line. Choose similarly framed examples. A highly cropped face and a full-body figure give detail very different amounts of space.
Name the essential features
For a pet, describe markings by location as well as color. For a family or memorial portrait, identify the main expression and any features that must come from a second photograph. Label the supporting images so they do not accidentally replace the main pose reference.
Match size and background to the brief
Use charcoal pricing for an equivalent size and subject count. Decide whether background objects contribute to the portrait or distract from the subject. Compare pencil examples if you are undecided, and discuss the reference through contact before ordering when the photograph lacks important detail.