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There are several reasons why I would choose to work from a photo. I like the light right at sunset or just after, with the orange on one side of the face and reflected blue on the other. I don't have a large enough studio area to set up that kind of lighting, nor does my model have the patience or stamina to sit for it, not to mention the goose's desire to flee the scene.
I like to take my time at a portrait, with many layers of glazes. I would have a very hard time taking up someone's time or paying for that much live modeling time. I often manipulate the image in Photoshop, sometimes choosing one head, another body, another background, and then paint from the computer monitor or print out the photo. I didn't do that here because I liked everything in the image.
I think I have enough experience with live models to avoid some of the pitfalls of using a photo, such as the value clumping, color shifts, foreshortening, etc. At least I hope I do. I've seen some incredible photo real paintings that looks so much like a photo, that it was disappointing they didn't adjust the color or values to make it a beautiful painting.
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