Beginning with your emailed photograph, I first clean up and smooth out all the JPG distortion that normally plagues digital photography, then even out the colors. From there, I begin to 3D model the environment, setting the lighting to match the lighting in your photograph. As I 3D model the body, clothing and props, I also set up the lighting in those programs to match up with your photo, so your photo doesn't look 'pasted' in. Finally I blend in all the items, painting in the hair and details, and color balance everything so it fits the 'mood' you want your painting to reflect. Ordinary painting methods require you to look at a line sketch and try to visualize what your final product 'might' look like, then once you approve it, you're 'stuck' with wherever the artist decides to go with it. My workflow lets you see the final image BEFORE you make the changes needed, so we can re-arrange the scene from clear, full color, finished elements, without any guesswork on your part. What you see is what you get.