Take your digital photo and turn it to grey tones.
Print the grey tone picture to use for your drawing.

Lightly sketch out the main lines of your picture. [2HB Pencil]
A light table may help you get a realistic size/proportion.
Another way to set up your picture is to use a grid.

If drawing a picture where there are eyes... usually this will be
the main part of your picture. I like to start with this area.
Outline the eye [9HB Pencil] Start with the WHITE dot by coloring
in the black pupil of the eye.

Use the side of the pencil to shade in the eye's pupil.

On the opposite side of the white dot... leave a lighter area for
the highlight of the eye. This gives the pupil a more rounded look.

As you draw... keep looking at your grey photo.

Don't be afraid to add DARK areas... for the face, the dark area
will help to set the area back... light areas will set the area forward.

Continue to add more dark areas... use the side of your pencil...
and the tip of your pencil.

Remember... DRAW WHAT YOU SEE.

Never EVER give up... use your imagination and draw!

I will continue to work on this picture until I am happy with the results.

Viola... Baby Bob ... a very cute Chimpanzee from
Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Florida.
They allowed me to photograph Bob for this portrait Chimpanzee Study.

Every now and then... Look at the drawing upside down.
Every now and then... Look at the drawing in a mirror.
Keep your pencils sharp.

If you are drawing from a photograph, try using a grey tone photo instead of a color photo.
Most graphic editors can easily change the photo to grey tones.