Portrait Photo Suitability Checklist for Miami Families (Angle • Lighting • Resolution)

📌 Key Takeaways

A suitable portrait photo protects the recognizability and dignity of your memorial tattoo as it heals and ages in Miami's sun.

• Three Standards Prevent Regret: Neutral angle, even lighting, and sufficient resolution create a reference photo that translates into a portrait that remains clear after healing—especially critical where UV exposure and humidity accelerate fading.

  
  

• Angle Preserves True Proportions: Straight-on or gentle turns (15-30 degrees) with both eyes visible prevent the warped features that come from extreme perspectives or close-range smartphone distortion.

  
  

• Natural Light Reveals Form: Soft window light from a single direction maintains the mid-tones and gradients artists need to create dimension, while harsh flash creates blown highlights or deep shadows that hide critical facial structure.

  
  

• Resolution Equals Recoverable Detail: The 300 pixels-per-inch standard (face height in inches × 300) ensures individual eyelashes, eye corners, and lip texture remain visible to the artist—details that can't be invented if the source photo lacks them.

  
  

• Shared Language Speeds Consensus: When families evaluate photos using the same objective criteria—testing shadow direction at a window, checking for distortion at arm's length, zooming to 200-300% on the eyes—emotional debates transform into constructive decisions that honor memory with lasting clarity.

  
  

Prepared families arrive at consultations ready to discuss placement and sizing rather than whether their photo will work.

Miami families choosing memorial portrait tattoos will find a practical framework here, preparing them for the detailed standards and at-home tests that follow.

Choosing the right reference photo for a memorial portrait tattoo protects the recognizability and dignity of the final piece. This checklist helps Miami families evaluate photos using three core standards—angle, lighting, and resolution—before booking a consultation. Clear standards reduce regret, speed family consensus, and ensure the tattooed portrait heals with the clarity and contrast needed to withstand South Florida's intense sun and humidity. Use this guide to test photos at home and arrive at your consultation prepared.

Think of a suitable reference photo as the blueprint before ink. Just as a contractor needs accurate architectural plans to build a home that lasts, a portrait artist needs a clear, well-lit photo to create a tattoo that remains recognizable for decades.

Picture a Miami family gathered around the kitchen table, two photos of their grandmother laid side by side. One shows her at a family gathering, face turned sharply to the side, shadows falling across one cheek from the camera's harsh flash. The other captures her straight-on in natural window light, every feature clear and evenly lit. The family debates which feels more "like her," but without understanding how these photos translate to ink, they're making an emotional choice that will become a permanent one.

You're facing a similar decision. The photo you choose becomes the foundation for a piece of body art that carries profound personal meaning. But emotion alone can't predict how a photo will perform when translated into the specific technical demands of tattooing—especially when that tattoo must survive Miami's relentless UV exposure, high humidity, and the natural friction that fades contrast over time. This checklist gives you a shared language to evaluate photos objectively, ensuring the portrait you commission heals into something that honors memory with lasting clarity.

What "Suitable" Means For A Portrait Tattoo (Qué Significa "Adecuada")

A suitable reference photo enables reliable likeness planning. It provides the visual information a portrait artist needs to make accurate decisions about facial proportions, feature placement, and the light-to-shadow balance that creates dimension and recognizability.

The closer a photo is to neutral angle, even lighting, and adequate resolution, the more faithful the healed likeness becomes. Memorial portrait tattoos in Miami face unique environmental challenges. The subtropical climate means year-round sun exposure that gradually lightens ink, especially in lighter values and mid-tones (medios tonos). High humidity and friction from clothing or daily activities further accelerate fading. These realities make the input photo even more critical.

A photo with clear facial details, even lighting, and sufficient resolution allows the artist to build a portrait with strong initial contrast—the kind that maintains readability even as natural aging occurs. Clear angles prevent warped proportions. Even light preserves the subtle tonal gradations that define facial structure. Sufficient detail ensures eyes, nostrils, and mouth corners don't collapse into flat patches during the healing process.

When families choose photos based purely on sentimental value without considering technical suitability, the artist must work around limitations. A side-angled photo might hide crucial details of one eye. Harsh shadows might obscure the true shape of the nose. Low resolution might make it impossible to distinguish between fine lines and scanning artifacts. These limitations force compromises during the design phase, and those compromises become permanent once the tattoo heals.

Clear standards are an act of care that protects dignity and memory. They transform what could be an emotionally fraught decision into a constructive process where family members can evaluate options using objective criteria. This shared language speeds consensus and reduces the kind of second-guessing that leads to regret months or years later.

Angle Standards: Head Position & Perspective (Ángulo y Perspectiva)

The angle at which a photo captures the face directly determines how much visual information the artist has to work with. Head position and camera perspective create the foundation for accurate feature placement and proportional relationships.

The Straight-On Or Slight-Turn Rule (Regla Frente / Leve Giro)

A straight-on view or a slight three-quarter turn provides balanced information about both sides of the face. This angle shows the natural symmetry of features and ensures no critical details are hidden or distorted by extreme perspective.

When a face is photographed straight-on with the camera at eye level, both eyes are equally visible, the nose appears in its true proportion, and the shape of the mouth is clear. This enables the artist to plan feature placement with confidence, knowing they're working from accurate spatial relationships rather than guessing at hidden details.

A slight turn—roughly 15 to 30 degrees from center—can work equally well, particularly if it captures the subject's natural resting expression. Many people have a preferred side they turn toward naturally in conversation. Honoring that subtle preference can make the final portrait feel more authentically "like them." However, the turn must remain gentle. Once the angle exceeds 45 degrees, one side of the face begins to obscure the other, and the artist loses critical reference information.

Avoid Lens Distortion & Extreme Angles (Evitar Distorsión/Ángulos Extremos)

Extreme angles introduce distortion that misrepresents true facial proportions. A photo taken from below exaggerates the chin and minimizes the forehead. A photo taken from above does the opposite, enlarging the forehead while making the lower face appear compressed. Neither perspective shows the face as it appears in normal, eye-to-eye human interaction.

Close-up photos taken with wide-angle smartphone lenses create another type of distortion. When the camera is held too close—within about two feet of the face—the lens magnifies features nearest to the camera while minimizing those farther away. This barrel distortion makes noses appear larger and pushes the ears back, creating proportions that don't match reality. The resulting tattoo may feel subtly "off" without family members being able to identify exactly why.

Quick distortion test at home: Hold the photo at arm's length and examine whether the nearest feature (typically the nose) looks unusually large relative to the far eye. If the proportion feels exaggerated, distortion is likely present. Standard portrait distance—roughly four to six feet from the subject with a normal or slightly telephoto lens—eliminates most distortion and captures the face in proportions that match how we perceive it in daily life.

For memorial portrait tattoos in Miami, where the goal is healed likeness and lasting recognition, these distortions undermine the piece's core purpose.

Lighting Standards: Even, Natural, Shadow Direction (Iluminación)

Lighting determines the tattoo artist's ability to create dimension and define form. Even, directional light provides clear information about the three-dimensional structure of the face without creating harsh contrasts that obscure detail.

Natural Light Beats Harsh Flash

Natural light from a window or outdoors on an overcast day creates the most reliable reference for tattoo work. This type of light is soft and diffused, wrapping around the face to reveal form without creating the sharp-edged shadows that come from direct flash photography.

Flash lighting—especially the small built-in flash on most cameras and phones—creates a flat, frontal burst of light that eliminates natural shadows almost entirely or, conversely, creates harsh shadows directly behind the subject. Neither extreme gives the artist useful information about facial structure. The tattoo needs some tonal variation to show the curves of cheeks, the bridge of the nose, and the depth of eye sockets. Without those subtle gradations, the portrait appears flat and lifeless.

Natural light also reveals skin texture and fine details more accurately than flash, which tends to blow out highlights and flatten mid-tones. For portraits that must maintain clarity as they heal and age in Miami's sun, starting with accurate tonal information makes the difference between a piece that reads clearly at a distance and one that becomes indistinct.

Strong UV exposure can fade pigments and lower contrast over time. Starting with balanced, information-rich lighting gives the healed tattoo more resilience against these environmental factors. For general principles on sun protection and UV effects, the American Academy of Dermatology provides public guidance that contextualizes why Miami's climate presents unique long-term considerations.

Quick At-Home Test: Window Check & Shadow Mapping

A simple at-home test helps families evaluate lighting quality without technical equipment. Hold the photo near a window during daylight hours and observe how shadows fall across the face in the image.

Look for consistent shadow direction. Shadows should all originate from the same general direction—typically from one side and slightly above. If shadows appear under the nose, beneath the lower lip, and along one side of the face, all pointing in roughly the same direction, the lighting is consistent and workable. If shadows seem random or contradictory—light appearing to come from multiple sources—the photo will be difficult to translate into a cohesive tattoo.

Check shadow softness. The edges where light transitions to shadow should be gradual, not knife-sharp. Hold your own hand near a window and notice how the shadow edge softens and blurs. That's the quality to look for in the reference photo. Hard-edged shadows indicate harsh lighting that obscures rather than reveals form.

Evaluate overall evenness. While some shadow is necessary for dimension, the face should be generally well-lit with no large areas lost in darkness. If more than a third of the face falls into deep shadow, important details are likely hidden, forcing the artist to invent information rather than reference it accurately.

Resolution Standards: Minimum Detail & Scans (Resolución y Escaneo)

Resolution determines whether fine details remain visible when the photo is viewed at the size the artist needs for reference work. Insufficient resolution forces the artist to interpolate features, essentially guessing at details the photo can't provide.

Minimum Pixel/Print Equivalents

For digital photos, professional imaging standards suggest providing source imagery that supports approximately 300 pixels per inch (ppi) at the intended reference size. This level commonly preserves fine cues like individual eyelashes, lip texture, and the subtle transitions in skin tone that help maintain likeness.

Simple calculation for families: Take the planned face height in your tattoo design (in inches) and multiply by 300. The result is the recommended pixel height for the face region in your source photo.

For example, if a face will be roughly 3 inches tall in the final design mockup, aim for at least 900 pixels covering just the face area in the source image. More is always better—higher resolution gives the artist flexibility during the design process.

When working from printed photos, an original print at least 4x6 inches provides sufficient detail if the print quality is good. Wallet-size photos (2.5x3.5 inches) are generally too small unless they can be scanned at high resolution. Photo booth strips and school portraits from the 1970s and 1980s, while often emotionally significant, typically lack the size and quality needed without professional scanning.

At-home clarity test: Zoom to 200-300% on the digital file, focusing specifically on the eyes. If individual lashes and the inner and outer eye corners look crisp rather than watercolor-soft, the file likely carries enough information. If edges blur or break apart into pixelation, resolution is insufficient.

The relationship between resolution and final tattoo size matters. Larger tattoos require more detail in the reference photo because features must be rendered at larger scale. A portrait tattoo covering a full upper arm demands more source detail than a smaller memorial piece on the wrist. However, even small tattoos benefit from high-resolution reference because the artist needs to see fine details clearly during the design and application process.

For families choosing between photos, higher resolution creates more options. The artist can suggest the optimal size based on placement and design while having confidence the reference supports that size. Lower resolution limits options before design work even begins.

Scanning Old Photos Without Losing Detail

Many meaningful memorial photos exist only as prints from decades past. Scanning these photos preserves them digitally and can reveal details not visible in the aged print itself, but scanning technique matters.

Scan at 600 DPI (dots per inch) or higher. This setting captures fine detail without over-scanning to the point where paper texture and printing artifacts overwhelm the actual image. Most flatbed scanners can achieve this resolution easily.

Prepare the scanner properly: Clean the scanner glass thoroughly before scanning to avoid dust and smudges that will appear in the final digital file. Disable automatic enhancement features like sharpening, noise reduction, or auto-contrast if your scanner software allows it. These features can introduce artifacts that look like detail but actually obscure the original image information.

Capture at true optical resolution from the device, avoiding "interpolated" or software-enhanced settings that artificially inflate numbers without adding real detail. If scanning negatives or slides, follow your device-specific guidance and keep color profiles embedded to preserve accurate color information.

Save uncompressed master files. Store the initial scan as a TIFF file or the highest-quality JPEG setting available. This creates an archival master you can work from without repeatedly re-scanning delicate originals.

Avoid heavy editing or filter application during the scanning process. Resist the temptation to use automatic "enhancement" features that increase contrast or sharpen edges. These features can introduce artifacts that look like detail but actually obscure the original image information. A slightly faded or yellowed scan that preserves the original tonal relationships serves the artist better than an artificially enhanced version.

If the original print has surface damage—creases, tears, water stains—scan it as-is and note the damage locations. The artist needs to see where the photo provides reliable information and where it doesn't. Attempting to digitally repair damage before consulting with the artist can inadvertently eliminate real details while trying to reconstruct damaged areas.

For particularly valuable or fragile photos, consider professional scanning services that specialize in archival work. These services use specialized equipment and techniques that exceed consumer scanner capabilities. For general guidance on digitization best practices, the Federal Agencies Digital Guidelines Initiative and Library of Congress preservation resources offer authoritative frameworks used by cultural institutions.

Pass/Fail Examples Families Can Replicate (Ejemplos Prácticos)

Understanding standards in theory helps, but seeing them applied to specific examples makes evaluation intuitive. The following scenarios illustrate common pass/fail situations families encounter.

Pass Example: Even window light, neutral head tilt, clear features A portrait shows the subject seated near a window on an overcast afternoon. The face is turned about 20 degrees from straight-on, creating a slight three-quarter view. Light comes from the left, creating gentle shadows on the right side of the face that define cheekbone structure without obscuring details. Both eyes are clearly visible with distinct iris color and shape. The photo was taken from six feet away with a standard lens, so proportions appear natural. The digital file is 2400 pixels wide, easily exceeding the 300 ppi standard for a typical reference size. This photo provides reliable reference information across all three standards.

Fail Example: Side-lit portrait causing nose shadow—harsh directional light A photo captures the subject in late afternoon sun streaming through a west-facing window. The strong, direct light hits one side of the face while the other falls into shadow. A dark shadow extends from the nose across the cheek, obscuring the natural contour of that side of the face. While dramatic, this lighting hides critical information the artist needs to maintain facial symmetry. The harsh quality and extreme direction make this photo unsuitable despite clear focus and adequate resolution.

Fail Example: Extreme upward angle distorting chin proportion A casual snapshot taken from waist level looking up catches the subject mid-laugh. The low angle makes the chin appear elongated and minimizes the forehead. While the moment feels authentic and captures personality, the distorted proportions would translate to a tattoo that doesn't match how family members actually remember their loved one's appearance. The angle overrides other positive qualities like good natural lighting and sharp focus.

Pass Example: Slight turn, soft overcast light, high-resolution scan An older printed photo from the 1990s has been scanned at 600 DPI following proper digitization practices. The original was a formal portrait taken in soft, even light—likely in a studio with diffused lighting. The subject's face is turned slightly right in a natural, relaxed position. Despite some slight fading in the original print, the scan reveals clear detail in facial features, and the even tonal range gives the artist solid information about form and structure. The age of the photo doesn't disqualify it when core standards are met.

Fail Example: Close-up smartphone photo with lens barrel distortion A phone selfie taken at arm's length captures the subject's face filling most of the frame. The close proximity and wide-angle smartphone lens create subtle but significant distortion—the nose appears larger than in reality, and the ears seem pushed back. While the lighting is acceptable and the resolution is high, the proportional distortion means the tattoo would replicate a warped version of the subject's actual appearance.

Fail Example: Social media screenshot with compression artifacts A screenshot captured from a social media profile shows visible compression artifacts—blocky edges around hair, halo effects near high-contrast boundaries, and blur in the eyes. When zoomed to 200%, individual eyelashes disappear into noise and eye corners lose definition. Platform compression has stripped away the fine detail needed for accurate likeness work.

These examples demonstrate how multiple factors interact. A photo might meet one or two standards but fail overall if a critical element is missing. Families can replicate this evaluation process at home by checking each photo against all three core standards rather than assuming one strong quality compensates for deficiencies in others.

Mini Decision Matrix

When choosing between two candidate photos that both seem suitable, use this framework to break the tie:

Angle Check: Which photo shows both eyes clearly with minimal tilt and no exaggerated perspective? If one photo has even slightly better head positioning, it wins this category.

Lighting Check: Which photo has softer light with a single, readable shadow direction and no blown highlights? Even subtle differences in shadow quality matter for healed results.

Resolution Check: Which file is the true original or highest-quality scan with no filters and no heavy compression? Run the 200-300% eye-zoom test on both and choose the one where detail holds better.

If a tie remains after evaluating all three standards, choose the image that still reads well when zoomed to 200-300% on the eyes and mouth corners. These are the areas where recognizability lives or dies. Then confirm minimum sizes that preserve facial readability and placement that protects contrast in Miami sun to ensure the technical quality of your reference photo translates into lasting results.

Household Readiness Card: Angle • Lighting • Resolution (Tarjeta De Preparación)

Blueprint before ink.

The following standards provide a quick reference for evaluating reference photos at home. Use this card to review photos with family members, reaching consensus before your consultation.

Angle (Ángulo)

• Straight-on or gentle turn (15-30 degrees maximum)

  
  

• Camera at eye level, not above or below

  
  

• Both eyes clearly visible

  
  

• Natural facial proportions (not distorted by extreme angle or close distance)

  
  

Lighting (Iluminación)

• Natural light preferred; avoid direct flash

  
  

• Shadows in consistent direction

  
  

• Soft shadow edges (gradual light-to-dark transition)

  
  

• No more than one-third of face in deep shadow

  
  

• Even overall illumination revealing facial structure

  
  

Resolution (Resolución)

• Digital: approximately 300 pixels per inch (ppi) at intended reference size

  
  

• Calculation: face height in inches × 300 = minimum pixels for face area

  
  

• Print: minimum 4x6 inches original size

  
  

• Clear focus on facial features (eyes, mouth, nose)

  
  

• Passes the 200-300% eye-zoom test (lashes and corners remain crisp)

  
  

• If scanning older prints: 600 DPI or higher, no heavy filters

  
  

At-Home Quick Test Hold the photo near a window in daylight. Can you clearly see both eyes? Do shadows fall in one consistent direction? Does the face appear in natural proportions, as you remember seeing the person in daily life? Zoom digitally to 200-300% on the eyes—do individual lashes and eye corners remain defined? If yes to all, the photo meets basic suitability standards.

Before Your Consultation Select 2-3 photos that meet these standards. Bring the original prints or save high-resolution digital files to your phone. Note any specific details you want preserved (a particular smile, expression, or moment that feels authentic). The artist will review your selections and recommend which provides the best foundation for minimum sizes that preserve facial readability based on your planned placement and size.

Practical At-Home Workflow (Flujo Práctico En Casa)

Follow these six steps to evaluate photos systematically before your consultation:

1. Gather originals: Collect the highest-quality versions available. For prints, plan a careful scan following proper technique (clean scanner glass, disable automatic enhancements, capture at true optical resolution). For digital files, locate the original uncompressed versions rather than social media downloads.

2. Run the three checks: Evaluate each candidate photo for angle, then lighting, then resolution. Use the window test for lighting and the 200-300% zoom test for resolution. Eliminate any photos that fail a critical standard.

3. Shortlist 2-3 photos: Share the remaining candidates with household members and note explicitly why each passes all three standards. Using shared language helps build consensus: "This one has both eyes clearly visible, soft window light from one direction, and holds detail at 300% zoom."

4. Apply the decision matrix: If multiple photos pass all standards, use the tie-breaking framework above to select the strongest options.

5. Confirm minimum size and placement: Technical photo quality matters most when paired with appropriate sizing and placement decisions. Review healed-vs-fresh side-by-sides to understand how portraits age and explore placements that guard contrast in sun.

6. Bring options to the consult: Present your 2-3 top choices and this checklist. In-person review with originals present safeguards the likeness plan and allows the artist to provide guidance on any remaining trade-offs.

FAQ For Miami Families (Preguntas Frecuentes)

Can social media profile pictures work as reference photos?

Social media images are often compressed for web display, reducing resolution below what tattoo work requires. Platform compression also introduces artifacts—blocky edges, halo effects, and blur—that can be mistaken for actual image detail. Additionally, many social media photos are taken as casual selfies at close range, creating the lens distortion that compromises facial proportions. If a social media photo is the only available option, attempt to obtain the original uncompressed file from the photographer or from the subject's device before it was uploaded. The original file typically has higher resolution and less compression.

What about cropped or low-resolution prints?

Cropping reduces available resolution by discarding pixels. A 4x6 print that's been cropped down might contain only a small portion of the original image, effectively creating a lower-resolution reference. If the cropped area still meets the 300 ppi standard when calculated for the intended face size and shows clear facial detail, it can work. However, if the cropping causes visible pixelation or blur when examining fine details like eyes or mouth, the photo lacks sufficient information. In these cases, locate the original uncropped file or print.

Do glasses or hats disqualify a photo?

Not automatically. Glasses become part of how family members remember their loved one, and including them in the portrait can enhance recognizability. However, thick frames that obscure the eyes or heavy lens reflections that hide the eyes entirely create problems. The eyes are critical for recognition, and the artist needs to see their actual shape and spacing clearly. If your best photo has problematic reflections, supply a second reference photo without glasses so the artist can see the full eye structure. Similarly, hats work if they don't cast shadow across the face or hide the hairline in ways that affect the overall head shape. Evaluate whether accessories obscure critical information rather than assuming they must be removed.

What if the best emotional moment has mixed lighting problems?

This represents a common dilemma where sentimental value and technical suitability conflict. The most meaningful moment captured on camera might not meet the standards needed for reliable translation to permanent body art. Mixed lighting from different sources—daylight plus indoor lamps, for example—creates conflicting shadow colors and directions that make form difficult to read accurately.

In these cases, consider whether multiple reference photos can be combined. The artist might use one photo for overall composition and emotional quality while referencing a second, more technically suitable photo for specific feature details and proportions. However, combining references requires more interpretation during the design phase and introduces some risk. When possible, prioritize technical suitability in the primary reference and bring supplemental photos to capture personality and expression the artist can incorporate.

Can the artist "fix" problems with photo editing software?

Limited enhancement can address specific issues like adjusting brightness or removing a color cast that affects tonal accuracy. However, editing cannot create information that doesn't exist in the original image. If a photo's resolution is too low, sharpening filters don't add true detail—they only create the illusion of edges while introducing artifacts. If harsh shadows hide half the face, brightening those areas reveals only noise and grain, not the missing facial features. The fundamental rule applies: start with the strongest possible source photo rather than depending on editing to compensate for foundational problems.

What about photos with multiple people in the frame?

Group photos can work if the subject's face is large enough in the frame to meet resolution standards when isolated. However, group shots often place individuals at angles or distances that compromise detail. Additionally, the subject might be looking off-camera toward other people in the frame rather than facing the camera directly. Evaluate the subject's face as if the rest of the photo didn't exist—does it meet the angle, lighting, and resolution standards when considered alone? If not, a group photo likely won't serve well as the primary reference regardless of its emotional significance. Consider providing individual, high-quality photos for each subject alongside the group photo.

How does Miami's sun and heat factor in?

High UV exposure, sweat, and abrasion can lower contrast over time in all tattoos. Starting with disciplined photo inputs that provide strong initial detail gives the healed piece more resilience. Following proper aftercare practices and using sun protection helps preserve the tattoo's appearance long-term. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration provides general consumer information about tattoo care considerations, though this guide focuses specifically on the input photo standards that protect likeness from the beginning.

Conclusion: Shared Standards, Calmer Decisions (Conclusión)

Choosing a reference photo for memorial portrait tattoos in Miami becomes calmer and more constructive when families have clear, objective standards to apply. These three core criteria—angle, lighting, and resolution—transform an emotionally charged decision into a practical evaluation process where different opinions can be discussed using shared language.

Standards reduce regret by establishing minimum requirements that protect the final tattoo's ability to maintain recognizability as it heals and ages. Miami's environmental realities make this even more critical. The intense UV exposure that accompanies year-round outdoor living gradually affects ink contrast. High humidity and daily friction from clothing or physical activity accelerate the natural fading process all tattoos undergo. Starting with a reference photo that enables strong initial detail and contrast creates the foundation for a piece that remains clear even as these natural aging processes occur.

The decision you make now becomes permanent. Taking time to evaluate photos against these standards—testing them in window light, checking angles and shadow direction, verifying resolution with the 200-300% zoom test—honors both the memory you're preserving and the physical reality of how tattoos age. When you arrive at your consultation prepared with suitable reference photos, the conversation shifts from whether a photo can work to how the artist can best translate its strengths into lasting tribute.

Clear standards are an act of care. They replace vague preference debates with testable criteria: both eyes visible with no extreme tilt, soft window light from a single direction with no harsh flash, and original files or high-resolution scans that pass the eye-zoom test. This structure allows families to evaluate photos together calmly and quickly. It also shortens studio preparation time, reduces design revision cycles, and directs attention to the decisions that protect dignity across healing and years of sun exposure—specifically minimum sizes that preserve facial readability and placement choices that guard contrast in Miami's climate.

This checklist provides the shared vocabulary for those household conversations. It helps families reach consensus faster and with more confidence. See healed-vs-fresh side-by-sides to understand how thoughtful photo selection contributes to long-term results and why memorial portraits are heirlooms, not trends—they're built on careful preparation and clear expectations from the first decision forward.

Bring 2-3 photo options that meet these standards to your in-person consult. Together, the artist will review angle, lighting, and resolution to recommend which photo provides the best foundation for your planned placement and sizing. Download the printable 3 Core Photo Standards Card and share it with family members who will participate in choosing the final reference. When everyone evaluates photos using the same criteria, decisions become easier and outcomes become more predictable.

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About the Fame Tattoos Insights Team

The Fame Tattoos Insights Team distills portrait research into practical guides for Miami families. This content supports informed, dignified decisions and is informational only, not medical advice. For personalized recommendations, visit the studio for an in-person consultation where reference photos can be reviewed with originals present.

Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and not a substitute for professional consultation. Photo standards help assess suitability but do not guarantee specific outcomes. Bring original reference photos to an in-person consultation for personalized evaluation by experienced portrait tattoo artists in Miami.