My first Pic was from Curlos when he moved out of my first town.It took three and a half months to get that first pic but I've received 27 more from assorted villagers since then.
Pretty sure she was out to break my heart. I did her a furniture favor when I was planning to give her away in an attempt to re-original-ify her home (which was a 90% success) and she handed me her picture in return. I was like ".....MERRY"
Kid cat, he gave it to me right after he held a birthday party for me. His is the only one I have managed to get so far, but whatevs, im sure the ones that really matter will give me one at some point.
I finally got my first picture two days ago from Alice. She is one of my original villagers. I think I delivered a package to her. Then today I got one from Rasher, also an original villager, for getting signatures.
I think my first was Sterling. I think he gave it to me during a surprise visit. I got Bree's around the same time, so I can't be completely sure at this point.
It's been a lot easier in Mirage. I've had the town since late November and have pics from eight of my existing guys, and one from one who departed. I have multiples from most. They really love me.
What's funny is that the first villager to give me his pic was not one of my original villagers even though I've been good friends with them. It was Kyle. He and I seem to get along faster than me with other villagers.
Give them perfect fruit when they ask for generic fruit. If it's not your town fruit, that's even better. Give them expensive furniture or customized furniture. Write them letters. Do their requests if you can, and if it won't mess up their houses (I'm no longer giving out whale sharks). Zucker asked for a butterfly, and instead of getting one from around town, I went to the island and did a tour and found an agrias butterfly. They're easy to find, but considered the rarest. It didn't get me his picture, but he was shocked by it being rare and I'm sure it took our friendship up an extra notch.
My first ever pic was from Kidd last year, he was one of my original 10. The non-native perfect fruit and rare bugs/fish has worked for me many times too ^^