For many people, commissioning a portrait is unfamiliar territory. Understanding portrait sitting expectations in advance can help remove uncertainty and allow the experience itself to feel calm, focused, and unhurried.

A first sitting is not about performance or getting anything “right.” It is simply the beginning of a process that unfolds over time. This article outlines what typically happens before and during an initial sitting, and how the experience is approached in practice.

The first moments of a sitting are intentionally unhurried. Arriving a few minutes early allows time to settle, become comfortable, and adjust to the space before any work begins.

Studios used for portrait painting are working environments rather than theatrical settings. The atmosphere is quiet, practical, and focused. Nothing is expected of you beyond being present and comfortable.

If you would like to understand the space itself in advance, you may find it helpful to read the Studio page, which outlines access, facilities, and what the studio environment is like.

What a First Sitting Is — and Isn’t

One of the most common portrait sitting expectations is that the first sitting must somehow define the entire work. In reality, this is rarely the case.

The first sitting is exploratory. It allows time to:

• Establish posture and orientation

• Observe expression and presence

• Begin understanding the structure of the portrait

Nothing needs to be resolved immediately. Painted portraits develop cumulatively, through repeated observation rather than single moments.

Pace, Breaks, and Comfort

Sittings are paced carefully. Regular breaks are taken, and adjustments are made throughout to ensure comfort — particularly for children, older sitters, or anyone unused to sitting still for longer periods.

There is no expectation of stillness in a rigid sense. Movement, conversation, and pauses are all part of the rhythm of a sitting. The aim is ease, not endurance.

If you are concerned about how sitting works over longer sessions, you may also wish to read Comfort, Posture, and Sitting Well Over Time.

Questions about clothing often arise before a first sitting, but they are rarely urgent. What matters most is comfort and clarity of form rather than fashion.

Clothing is discussed either in advance or on the day itself, and options can be considered together in the studio light. If helpful, you can read more detailed thoughts in What to Wear for a Painted Portrait.

What Happens After the First Sitting

The work does not stop when the sitting ends. Between sittings, the portrait continues to develop in the studio. This time allows for reflection, adjustment, and decisions that cannot be made in the moment.

Understanding portrait sitting expectations includes recognising that time between sittings is not a pause, but an essential part of the process.

This stage is explored further in What Happens Between Sittings.

A Reassuring Note

Every sitter arrives with different levels of familiarity and confidence. That is expected, and it is accommodated naturally within the process.

If you are approaching your first sitting, the most important expectation to hold is a simple one: you will be guided throughout, and nothing is required of you beyond being present.