Clothes don't make the person...

...but those clothes, drapes and props surely do make the portrait.

THIS is what photographic reference photos for a painting should look like! 

If you're serious about improving your photographic skills in order to paint better portraits, find a copy of this book and take notes.

This is a book by David Seidner called "Portraits" that is a beautiful illustration of this.

Seidner has taken photographs that look like Old Master Paintings with a single light source. 

Yum.

Sadly, many painted portraits nowadays look like "snapshots" taken with a flash bulb. 

Yuck.

This woman's skirt is just a drape. She has fake doll's hair braids pinned to her hair.

This stunning "outfit" appears to be a blanket and the "hat" is feathers.

Drapery, ribbon, a fake flower and a lace tablecloth....I imagine that lots of things are "hidden" - like rubberbands, safety pins, clips, scotch tape, etc.

Material around the hair - a dress....on backwards?

Here is a vest with gauze tucked into it and arranged for the photo.

Jewelry in the hair, one glove, a pin, tablecloth, scarf. It is the arrangement of pose, color, texture, value, props and idealized lighting.

Get the idea?

Use your imagination and get creative with drapes, props and scraps in a photo shoot! For me, it is just a big girl's version of "playing dress-ups."