GENERAL INFO:
Ordering Silhouettes for Mail Delivery
Silhouettes By Hand offers a range of rare, hand-made and hand-designed products based around its signature offering: handmade silhouette portraits. Click on the above images to learn more about the products and to order easily through the secure e-commerce cart system.
Read below the video about making your order.
“I wanted to let you know the gifts sent to the Grandparents was a hit! They loved them!
Thank you not only for sharing your amazing talent with the world but for your amazing customer service and attention to details.”
IMPORTANT UPDATE: MOTHER’s DAY 2024
Thank you for all of your orders for Mother’s Day 2024, which arrives in the United States on May 12. I am so happy that people are interested in silhouettes, especially my work!
However, due to my travel schedule, I will not be cutting online orders between April 29-May 9. That means: if you send an order during this time, I will not be able to cut and mail these orders before May 12. My deep apologies if you are a last-minute gift-giver who is relying on a handmade order .
Therefore, I have a few options for you to consider:
visit me at my events on my Schedule
OR order before April 28
OR make an order for local pickup to Baltimore, MD
OR make a “Coming soon!” note for Mom for her gift
OR consider creating a silhouette for a different special occasion; perhaps a birthday, holiday, or “just because” present.
How Silhouettes are cut for Your Order
Watch this video! See to see how easy it is for you to make your order - and this how your silhouette is cut from your photos:
All of Silhouettes By Hand's portraits, even Mail Order, are made in the traditional manner: by hand, with only scissors, without drawing, tracing, or any machine.
Personal Service
All orders are received, reviewed, created, mounted, prepared for shipping, and shipped by the artist herself. Please ensure that your order is detailed (when necessary) and accurate —- so you experience the best service even during busy times.
About Handmade Silhouettes Made from Photos
(A note from your artist)
I designed Silhouettes By Hand to be a live experience of a historic, heritage, traditional service: having a portrait made before photography was invented. I initially started cutting silhouettes as a way for people to experience something from the past - it was an experiential, participatory activity for museums.
People love having their silhouettes made. Equally exciting to having their portrait made in a historical manner, they are absolutely amazed when they see me cut silhouettes live - they absolutely don’t believe that I cut freehand, without drawing first. They don’t realize that I truly start with a blank sheet of paper, and don’t draw anything first.
Your silhouettes will look a little like “folk” representations of your loved one - charming, simple, but detailed. They can never be 100% photographic, but they will be remarkable and delightful, since they are handcrafted.
So my request to you is to send several photos exactly as described in “What to Send”, and also read the “Terms”, which contains the Policies and Notes.
Virtual Experience: If you would like a live, virtual experience - via Zoom, Uberconference, GoogleMeet, Facetime, or Facebook Messenger, make an order and then send a Note to schedule a “sitting” time. If you do not know how to do a webchat, please say so, and you will be sent detailed (and understanding) instructions on how to experience this virtual “sitting”. Please note that it is easier to take a quick profile photo with your smartphone or tablet, than to schedule a virtual sitting.
How to Order your Silhouettes, Mats, or Frames
To make an order, click on the product-photos at the top of the page - you will be able to order Silhouettes, extra copies of the Silhouettes, and Frame or Mat. All elements are completely described. It's very easy to add items to your cart, pay securely, and send your photo - often all from your smartphone or tablet device.
Recent Fee Changes: Information and Solutions
Global supply chain, shipping, and labor shortages for suppliers and manufacturers have raised prices on all items across the world. Your artists only works with respected and quality-minded suppliers; however all businesses are encountering higher prices and delayed shipping.
Please understand that your artist does not want to raise prices; however you can shortcut some fees by ordering digital silhouettes or custom logos without the need for postal delivery. Use your digital silhouettes or logos for any digital need, or print out to make copies for loved ones, scrapbooking, or other digital desires.
Secure Online Payments
The accepted online payments are Credit Card, Paypal, Venmo, and Apple Pay. These payment methods are very secure using high-security encryption.
Gift Certificates
New: You can give a Gift Certificate to a family member, friend, co-worker, or other lucky person. You can choose all elements of your gift - silhouette portraits, frame, and/or mat. You make the payment and choose the person, she/he receives the gift. You can announce the gift - or have Silhouettes By Hand announce the gift.
Click to see Profile Photo to send
What to send: Profile Photos
During the ordering process, you will be asked to email a profile (side-facing) photo, as seen here. Please READ BELOW and look at this image of a profile photo to show you what your photo should look like.
Please encourage your loved one to pose calmly, without making faces or smiling. I know it’s hard with young children or even pets! There are so many reason to wriggle. Try to get them to look forward while watching something in front of them, perhaps a toy or a movie. The better your photos, the better your silhouettes:
Exact Profile: exact side view.
Good contrast between subject and background
In-focus
Straight face, closed mouth (no smiles, or talking, or tongues, or grimaces)
If making a Half-Length silhouette: include the whole head in the profile photo, down to the belly button.
If making a Full-Length silhouette: include the whole body, facing entirely sideways: from above the head and include the feet.
Hair suggestion: female hair looks best in silhouettes when styled up, half-up, in bun, braid, ponytail, curly or layered style.
Send several profile photos of the person, taken a second or two apart (if possible). Taking a few photos allows the sitter to be relaxed, and also allows you to readjust your shot to get a true profile (sideways). You should not see the eyelashes of the other side of the face. Make sure you vary your position to take a photo to get the side view.
Please send your photos within 12 hours of making your order. Sending your photos early makes sure that your photos are able to be connected with your order.
Full Length Profiles are now available! You will send a profile photo for this style too.
Turnaround
The Turnaround (the time between receiving an order and shipping it out to you) varies depending on the season and the artist's schedule to receive, cut, and send out your order. The average turnaround is 7-10 days, depending on the order. Your order is custom-made by hand. If there is additional wait, you will be contacted. DUE TO SCHEDULE: NO RUSH ORDERS.
Shipping - USA
The shipping is most frequently United States Post Office (USPS), Priority Mail, insured. Every effort is taken to pack your package well for the fewest accidents. If you prefer a different shipper (UPS or FedEx), please email Silhouettes By Hand in advance of your order - we will send via the shipper of your choice, at the going rates for that shipping service, possibly at an additional higher fee.
Shipping, carbon-neutral
I support the United States Postal Service. Each US-based item is sent Priority Mail, which speeds up the shipping and also adds insurance and tracking. Your shipment also supports carbon-neutral energy production through the ship-processing.
If shipping to a different address
The order form allows shipping to a Shipping address other than the Customer (orderer's) address. This allows for you to send to yourself in a new location, or send a gift. (Your order will not be gift-wrapped as a present, however)
Silhouette portraits are stunning when framed. With every order you get two (2) silhouette portraits (more copies available for a slight extra fee) . And look at this stunning frame - this frame is also available as an option.
Sending copies to a third address
If you are planning to send your second (or third) copies to another address outside of the Shipping address, this will create another fee for shipping. The fee depends on what you are sending; you will receive an email with any new shipping fees. Your order will be cut after all fees are paid.
Shipping - Canadian, European, Australian or other International orders
If you are based outside of the United States and are interested in making a silhouette order, you’ll receive information about how your order will arrive. Note: during the pandemic, slow international delivery may be expected. Orders to countries outside of the USA have special details about ordering.
IMPORTANT: Terms, Returns, Shipping, and Notes
For questions about terms, notes, returns, or other information about purchasing or after purchasing, please visit the Terms page here.
See silhouettes freehand-cut live:
Here is the freehand-scissored silhouette experience in person - December 2017, at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum.
The video was sped up to be viewed with social media time limits (59 seconds) - however it’s easy to see that silhouettes are cut without drawing in advance or using any photographic or shadow device..