For sand portraits of people and pets, the source images should ideally be close-ups showing a clear, full-frontal view of the face; this ensures the resulting sand art bears the closest possible resemblance to the original photo. Consequently, the focus is placed on rendering facial features, while the background is omitted and clothing details are not depicted with the same level of precision as the face.

This type of sand art inevitably consists of multiple frames; each image captures the subjects' state at a specific moment, featuring relatively simple depictions of figures and scenery. Conveying meaning through simple imagery—since extensive text cannot be included—poses a significant challenge. Given the simplicity of the figures and landscapes, it is impossible to render facial features with the same level of detail found in sand-art portraits.

In realistic landscape sand art, both the subject and the background scenery are rendered to closely resemble the reference photo. While portrait sand art typically features subjects (people or pets) facing forward, this style allows for other poses; the key is to seamlessly integrate the subject into the landscape to create a harmonious and unified composition.