How to take a photo that gives the best portrait: five tips, plus notes on spectacles and couples

The portrait is only as good as the photo you start with. A few minutes of care gives a much better result.

Face the camera. A front-facing photo, with both eyes and the whole face visible, gives the closest likeness.
Use soft, even light. Daylight near a window is perfect. Avoid strong shadows across the face and harsh flash.
Keep the face clear. Hair, hands or a hat covering the eyes or mouth make the face harder to copy.
Stand back a little. Show the face and shoulders. A very close-up selfie can look too large in the finished picture.
One person per photo, unless the style is for a group or a couple.

Many styles paint the figure without spectacles, so that the eyes are clear. If you wear glasses, a photo without them is the safest.

For couple styles you can add either one photo with both of you side by side, or two separate photos. The app recognises who is who.

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