Artists can’t always pay to have a model standing in front of them. Photographic reference is the next best thing.

long legs, sitting

We know a number of artists who work in mediums other than photography. Occasionally, one of those friends will ask if we have a photo of a specific body part, from a specific angle, in specific lighting. Often, we already have exactly what they want. If they don’t, shooting what they want isn’t all that difficult. We really enjoy being able to help out other artists this way.

The catch here, of course, is that sometimes artists need reference for a specific body.  Many artists, especially paint and sketch artist, like working with live models so they can see exactly how the body looks from different angles. If one is doing something detailed, however, the cost of a live model mounts quickly. We can shoot a model from every conceivable angle and then crop the photos to focus on specific body parts such as hands, shoulders, chins, and jaw lines.

So, since it’s Saturday afternoon and we’re just content that the dogs are not trying to hump each other for the moment, we thought we’d give you a very, very, very brief sample of reference body parts. We’ve even labeled them for you in case some of you aren’t sure where you’re eyes are supposed to be looking. Enjoy this very brief set and then let us know if you need to purchase more precise images. We’re always ready to help!

Abs

ear, upside down

face, looking up

Arm, inked

back, inked

dirty foot

hand, inked

hands, plain

knees, folded

legs, feet

smile, freckles

Lips, profile

posterior

shoulder

Profile, with glasses

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