Portrait in Sepia

Portrait of Dad, hooked by Connie Bradley, Wellington, Ohio, 2009.

Hooking a portrait can be a daunting prospect. I've found that following a series of steps can make the process much more manageable—and increases the chances of ending up with a  portrait that truly captures the personality of the hooking subject.
 
Step One: Know Your Subject 

The key to creating a successful portrait is capturing the special something that sets your subject apart from everyone else.
 
My father had a friendly disposition and a contagious smile, so after he passed away, I decided to hook his portrait. I found two photos that captured my father's cheery attitude—and some well-worn smile lines and wrinkles, too.

This article is from the January/February 2010 issue. For more information on our issues, check out our issues page.