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I guess it depends on what you are going to provide as an outcome. If you are going to do a head an shoulders only, well that SIGNIFICANTLY helps - you just that to consider when selecting amongst photos they'll send. Also you can complete it a lot faster.
I did a 30 x 45 " painting of a 7 year old and her 3 year old sister a few years back . The 7 year old had an inoperable brain tumor, and was already too sick to pose for photos. Friends sent school and "Sears" portrait studio photos to me. I found the "right " heads to work with, then came up with a composition that would match the heads but would make a better painting. I recruited 2 neighbor girls to pose so to act as the body substitutes. Be careful to mimc the lighting from the original face shots as much as possible.
It worked out great. I know that eventually when the girl died a year later, they brought the painting to the wake and funeral.
I have done this body substitute on other projects since, and although it's not an ideal way to start a portrait, it sure can give you a better painting..
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