Photos — 02
How to Take the Best Photos
The single most important thing you can do.
A great photo is a window into a child's soul. And the story artists look through every window you give them.
Your child's face will live inside every illustration — not as a cartoon shadow, not as a generic character, but as them, recognised at a glance by anyone who loves them.
Natural light is your best friend
Photograph near a window in the morning or afternoon. Overhead fluorescent lights flatten features and steal warmth from skin tones. Morning light through a window. A shaded spot outside. These are your studios.
The full face, clearly
We need to see their complete face: eyes, nose, mouth, the particular way their ears sit. Hats, hoods, and sunglasses are beautiful in real life. Here, they become obstacles. The story artists need to know the person behind the accessories.
Varied expressions are a gift
A hero has many faces. Capture a genuine laugh. A thoughtful, quiet expression. Looking directly into the camera. Slightly off to the side. A surprised moment. The more expressions you share, the more alive and consistent your child will appear across every scene.
Get close
The face should fill most of the frame. A beautiful photo of a child in a park — distant, surrounded by scenery — gives us very little compared to a simple, close portrait taken in a kitchen. The story will provide the scenery. You just need to provide the face.
Share 5 to 10 photos
Five photos is the minimum for a coherent portrait. Ten gives us the richness to achieve true consistency across twelve illustrated scenes. Think of it as a casting portfolio for your child's starring role.
Photo Checklist
✦ Photos that work beautifully
- ·Natural daylight portrait, child looking at camera
- ·A genuine laugh or smile, full face visible
- ·A profile or three-quarter view
- ·A quiet, thoughtful expression
- ·Outdoors in soft, even, indirect light
△ Photos to avoid
- ·Sunglasses, hats, or hoods obscuring the face
- ·Heavy shadows falling across the face
- ·Group photos where the child is small or distant
- ·Blurry, dark, or heavily filtered images
- ·Photos taken at night or under harsh artificial light
◇ Keep It Real
A final reassurance
If you are worried that your photos are not good enough — they probably are. Most parents underestimate the quality of the photos already on their phone. A simple portrait taken in natural light, with the face close and clearly visible, is all it takes. The magic does the rest.
Your child does not need to be perfect. They just need to be themselves.