Instructions
Reference guidelines-
File Specifications
Minimum resolution-
4,000 x 6,000 pixels (at least 300 PPI)
Ideal resolution-
6,000 x 9,000 pixels or higher — most professional cameras produce this
File format-
JPG (high quality), PNG, or TIFF — RAW files from professional cameras are also accepted
File size-
Minimum 5MB per photo — professional DSLR photos are typically 8–25MB and are perfect
Do not send-
Do not send website-compressed images, images embedded in Word/PowerPoint documents, email-compressed attachments, or photos downloaded from your organization's website (these are web-optimized at 72 PPI and not suitable for painting)
Photography Requirements for Buildings & Architecture
Timing & Natural Light
Best time to photograph-
Golden hour — 1 hour after sunrise or 1 hour before sunset. This produces warm, directional light that creates beautiful shadow and depth — ideal for oil painting translation
Avoid-
Midday harsh overhead sun, which flattens the building's architectural details and creates blown-out white walls
Overcast days-
Overcast days can work well for even, shadowless coverage of complex architectural details. Avoid shooting in rain, heavy fog, or at night unless a night/lit exterior shot is specifically requested.
Camera Angle & Distance
1. Shoot from street level or slight elevation — never extreme upward angles (this distorts the building's true proportions); 2. Capture the full building within the frame — no parts cut off at the edges; include at least 10–15% empty space on all four sides (Optional); 3. For wide buildings or campuses, a slightly elevated vantage point (second floor of a nearby building, elevated parking structure) gives the best full-view composition. 4. If the building has a signature entrance, logo, or architectural feature, ensure it is clearly visible and centered.
What Must Be Sharp
The entire building facade must be in sharp focus — not just the foreground.
All signage, logos, and architectural details must be legible and crisp.
Windows, glass reflections, brickwork, stonework, and landscaping should all be clearly visible.
Surroundings & Context
Include the building's natural surroundings — trees, lawns, parking, signage — as these add depth and context to the painting
Remove temporary obstructions from the frame before shooting: construction equipment, waste bins, delivery vehicles, scaffolding
Parked cars directly in front of the entrance should be minimized — move them where possible or choose a time when they are absent
The Canadian and/or organizational flags, if present, should be fully unfurled — avoid limp or wrapped flags in the reference photo
Professional Photographer Guidelines
If your organization is hiring a photographer specifically for this commission, share these instructions with them:
Camera-
Full-frame DSLR or mirrorless (Canon, Nikon, Sony — any professional-grade body)
Lens-
24–70mm or tilt-shift lens recommended for architectural photography — avoids barrel distortion
Settings-
Shoot in RAW format, ISO 100–400 for clean images, f/8–f/11 for maximum sharpness across the full building
Tripod-
Tripod required for any low-light or golden hour shots
Deliver unedited RAW or high-resolution JPG files-
Do not apply heavy HDR processing, heavy saturation boosts, or composite sky replacements, as these make it difficult to paint realistic light and shadow.
Submitting Multiple Angles (Recommended)
For the best result, submit 3–5 photos of the building from different angles and times of day. We will review all submissions and select the most paintable composition, then confirm with you before beginning:
Front-facing full view — straight on, building centered
3/4 angle (left side) — slight diagonal showing depth of the structure
3/4 angle (right side) — opposite diagonal for comparison
Entrance close-up — detailed shot of the main entrance, logo, or signature feature
Wide establishing shot — full campus or surroundings included
What We Cannot Work With
Images downloaded from your organization's website or Google Street View (too low resolution)
Photos taken through a car windshield or window
Images with heavy HDR processing (unnatural sky colors, over-sharpened edges)
Photos where the building is partially obscured by large trees, vehicles, or construction
Nighttime photos without professional lighting (too dark to capture architectural detail)
Screenshots or photos embedded in presentations, reports, or PDFs
Review and confirmation-
Review
It takes 24 — 48 business hours to review the reference submission. Our review process includes checking the reference guidelines to ensure that your painting is of the highest quality. Thank you.
If any of the above requirements are not met, we will contact you within the same 48-hour window with clear guidance on what needs to be resubmitted. We do not begin production until every point above is fully satisfied — this ensures your finished painting meets the premium standard of the 100 Pieces Program.
Confirmation
Once your reference photo is reviewed and approved, you will receive a written confirmation email within 48 business hours. Your confirmation will include the following key details-
The selected reference photo is approved and meets all submission guidelines for a custom oil painting.
A formal Commission Agreement outlining the painting specifications, total price, and estimated completion timeline will be sent for your review and written acceptance.
The Commission Agreement is confirmed in writing.
Progress updates
Two work-in-progress (WIP) photos (maximum 4 per session) will be shared with you during production — one at the sketch and block-in stage, and one near completion — for your review and approval (Included in Commission Agreement).
Payment
Final balance of 50% is due within 2 months of your initial deposit payment, upon your written approval of the completed painting, prior to varnishing, signing, and shipping (Included in Commission Agreement).