Portait photography
 

Karin, this an interesting and useful thread.

I use a combination of photography and painting from life. I use the method you described, a single source and a reflector fill. I then have the photograph blown up either to size or as big as I can get. I place the enlargement next to my model in the same light as the picture had been taken. I have had some pretty large prints made! As models move I always have my photos for reference and use the natural light for color. I need not emphasize that this is especially useful for painting children.

I use the Portra film NC iso 160. The skin tones are beautiful, the lights are not washed out and the darks have a lot of imformation. I do not use digital because I can't get the large blowups I need from that technology.

I also heavily rouge and lipstick my subjects, even children, before photographing them, as skin tones can wash out.