A hand holding a smartphone toward a laughing child by a bright window, ready to take a photo in soft daylight. Example.

PHOTO TIPS

A good photo makes a better portrait.

You don't need a fancy camera. You need a face, some light and ten seconds.

Jump to the checklist

Your photo is used only to make your previews and your portrait.

THE 10-SECOND CHECK

Five yeses and you're good.

  • Face clear. The whole face shows. Nothing covers it.
  • Light on the face. They face a window, or stand in open shade.
  • Looking your way. Eyes on the camera, or close to it.
  • Sharp. Nothing blurry. Tap the face on your screen to focus.
  • Big enough. At least 600 px on the short side. Any recent phone photo is. We warn you if it's too small.

Five yeses? Go make your previews. They're free.

GOOD PHOTOS

Three photos that work.

  • Good
    A smiling girl facing a window, shoulders up, looking straight at the camera in soft daylight: a good photo. Example.
    Window light, looking at the camera. This is the one.
  • Good
    A smiling girl outdoors in open shade, shoulders up, looking at the camera: a good photo. Example.
    Open shade outdoors. Even light, no squinting.
  • Good
    A laughing girl with her head turned slightly, eyes on the camera, whole face visible: a good photo. Example.
    A turn of the head is fine, as long as the whole face shows.
Your photo
On the left, a smiling girl in a yellow hoodie in a plain phone photo. On the right, the same girl as an Under the Lights sports poster. Example.
The portrait

Left: a plain phone photo. Right: one of three free previews. Example.

You don't need a game photo or a costume. A clear face is enough, and we create the rest.

BAD PHOTOS

Nine ways a photo goes wrong, and the easy fix.

  • Not this
    A blurry photo of a girl, no sharp detail: a bad photo. Example.
    Blurry. Hold still, and tap the face to focus.
  • Not this
    A girl standing in front of a bright window with her face in shadow: a bad photo. Example.
    Too dark or backlit. Turn them to face the window.
  • Not this
    A girl wearing dark sunglasses: the eyes are hidden, so this is a bad photo. Example.
    Sunglasses. Take them off for one shot.
  • Not this
    A girl wearing a helmet with a face cage that shadows her face: a bad photo. Example.
    Helmet or cage over the face. Use a photo without it. We create the uniform.
  • Not this
    A small girl far away in a big park, her face tiny: a bad photo. Example.
    Too far away. Step closer. Fill the frame from the shoulders up.
  • Not this
    Four children crowded together with overlapping faces: a bad photo for a one-player poster. Example.
    A crowd. Sports posters are for one player. Crop to one, or take a new photo. Brothers and sisters together? See the notes below.
  • Not this
    A girl in side profile looking away from the camera: a bad photo. Example.
    Looking away. Ask them to look at you for one second.
  • Not this
    A photo of a girl with a heavy color filter and star stickers over her face: a bad photo. Example.
    Heavy filter. Filters change faces. Use the plain original.
  • Not this
    A low-resolution photo of a girl that looks soft and blocky when enlarged: a bad photo. Example.
    Tiny file. Under 600 px on the short side? We'll tell you. Use the original, not a screenshot or a shrunk copy.

Not sure? Try it. Previews are free.

NO GOOD PHOTO YET?

Take one in a minute.

  1. 1Find a window. Put the light on their face.
  2. 2Hold your phone at their eye level, about three feet away.
  3. 3Say something silly. Take five.
  4. 4Pick the one where they look like they're about to say something ridiculous.

Zoom with your feet, not your fingers. Pinch-zoom makes the photo softer.

FOR EACH PRODUCT

What each product needs.

ProductPeoplePetsPhotosTip
Sports posters 1 0 1 One player. Shoulders up is plenty. Skip the helmet. Start

Count everyone who appears in your photos. We don't count you, so the numbers should match what the photos show.

ASKING FOR A PHOTO?

Don't have one? Ask for it.

Grandparents, aunts, friends: ask mom or dad. Here's a message you can copy.

Hi! I'm making a surprise gift for [name]. Could you send me one clear photo of their face, looking toward the camera, in good light? A phone photo is perfect. Please send it as a file or "actual size" so it isn't shrunk. Thank you!

Ask for the original. Some chat apps shrink photos.

Photo not perfect? Try it anyway.

Previews are free, so test your photo.

Previews not right? Tap Edit photo & details, try a different photo and make 3 more.

The box shows how many sets you have left.

You only pay when you pick one.

YOUR PHOTO

Where your photo goes.

We use your photo only to make your previews and your portrait.

Our privacy policy explains how long it's kept and how it's deleted.

Read the privacy policy

Got your photo?

Pick a style and see three free previews.

Sports postersSports posters

Free to see. You only pay when you pick one.