If you are interested in commissioning me to do a portrait, please email me at ryan@ryanjacque.com. I accept payments via PayPal to my Art business account Blackbeachart@verizon.net, or by check made out to Blackbeachart. I will provide the mailing address for Blackbeachart if that is your preferred payment method.
After 25 years of working on commission portraits, my method of pricing has stayed pretty much the same. When a customer asks me about a commission, I give a minimum commission price for my dogs, horses and people, along with a average and higher price. I also explain the many variables that can drive the price to increase.
Dogs- start at $250 for a 7”x7” portrait: I’ve done many that were somewhat larger (like 8”x8”-10”x10”) that may occasionally include some background for as much as $1500, but average at $500. When I give a price, I consider things like the dog’s hair length and whether its hair is curly, wavy or straight. As far as reference for me to use, iIf you’re in Wales, Sturbridge, Palmer or Monson Massachusetts, I can photograph the subject at no additional charge
Horses- start at $700 for a 10”x10” portrait: for the head/neck, with the head about open-hand size. I’ve done them 15”x15” for $1500+ which typically is a larger head/neck posed with a toned background.
Whitetail, Elk, Moose (and others with horns or antlers) start at $800 for a 10”x10”: Unless I have a local hunter who’s interested and I have the opportunity to take my own reference photos, I normally have customers mail or email as many quality photo’s as they have (a couple dozen is a lot better than one or two and also better than hundreds of photos)… and I compose something unique from that starting point.
People- start at $1000 for a 10”x10”: They typically start at $1500 or higher than my dog or horse portraits because they have a lot more noticeable individual characteristics that need to be incorporated in order to create a high quality finished portrait. I’ve occasionally done smaller, less expensive portraits of people under certain conditions where customers give me photo’s they want used. However, for my best work, I recommend having me photograph the person/child so you receive the most individual, original portrait.
** my style of portraits involving people is similar to how I compose any other portrait where I focus on the upper chest to the top of the head and rarely get too involved with clothing beyond the shirt collar and shoulders
After 25 years of working on commission portraits, my method of pricing has stayed pretty much the same. When a customer asks me about a commission, I give a minimum commission price for my dogs, horses and people, along with a average and higher price. I also explain the many variables that can drive the price to increase.
- I’m going to use square formats in this explanation (7”x7”, 10”x10”, 12”x12”) and these are the outside dimensions only. The actual portrait might be palm sized, open hand sized or as large as a foot. Larger commissions are always possible but are always priced individually. I require 50% before I start and the remaining 50% before I deliver in person or mail it.
- As far as reference for me to use, iIf you’re in Wales, Sturbridge, Palmer or Monson Massachusetts, I can photograph the subject at no additional charge. Beyond that, I add a travel fee for traveling farther in Massachusetts and additional New England locations (occasionally including New York and Maryland).
- Using customer photos is always an option. There are many reasons why I have used customers’ photos in the past rather than taking the reference photos myself. But my decision about using a customer reference photo depends on whether I believe it will look acceptable and make for a high quality pencil portrait.
Dogs- start at $250 for a 7”x7” portrait: I’ve done many that were somewhat larger (like 8”x8”-10”x10”) that may occasionally include some background for as much as $1500, but average at $500. When I give a price, I consider things like the dog’s hair length and whether its hair is curly, wavy or straight. As far as reference for me to use, iIf you’re in Wales, Sturbridge, Palmer or Monson Massachusetts, I can photograph the subject at no additional charge
Horses- start at $700 for a 10”x10” portrait: for the head/neck, with the head about open-hand size. I’ve done them 15”x15” for $1500+ which typically is a larger head/neck posed with a toned background.
Whitetail, Elk, Moose (and others with horns or antlers) start at $800 for a 10”x10”: Unless I have a local hunter who’s interested and I have the opportunity to take my own reference photos, I normally have customers mail or email as many quality photo’s as they have (a couple dozen is a lot better than one or two and also better than hundreds of photos)… and I compose something unique from that starting point.
People- start at $1000 for a 10”x10”: They typically start at $1500 or higher than my dog or horse portraits because they have a lot more noticeable individual characteristics that need to be incorporated in order to create a high quality finished portrait. I’ve occasionally done smaller, less expensive portraits of people under certain conditions where customers give me photo’s they want used. However, for my best work, I recommend having me photograph the person/child so you receive the most individual, original portrait.
** my style of portraits involving people is similar to how I compose any other portrait where I focus on the upper chest to the top of the head and rarely get too involved with clothing beyond the shirt collar and shoulders