A family portrait is one of the few gifts that works for someone who has everything, because it cannot be bought for anyone else. It is also one of the easiest to get wrong, and the mistakes are predictable.
Here is what to think about before you order.
The problem with most family photos
Almost every family has the same gap: hundreds of photos of the children, plenty of holidays, and almost nothing with everybody in the frame together. The last one is usually a wedding, or a Christmas from years ago with someone missing.
This is worth knowing before you start looking, because it changes what you should be searching for. You are not looking for a good photo of the family. You are looking for photos you can combine.
You do not need one photo with everyone in it
Combining separate photographs into a single portrait is one of the most common requests we get, and it solves the problem above. People routinely send us:
- Three or four separate photos, one per family member.
- A group photo plus a separate photo of whoever was taking it.
- A photo including someone who has died, added to a current family group.
- Photos of family members who have never been in the same room.
- A pet, added from a separate picture.
Describe what you want in the Special Requests box. If it is complex, ask before ordering and we will tell you honestly whether it will work.
Portrait or photo print?
| Drawn portrait | Photo print or canvas | |
|---|---|---|
| Combining people | Straightforward | Limited |
| Mixed photo quality | Handles it — an artist redraws everyone to match | Shows every flaw |
| Backgrounds | Removed or replaced as you like | What was in the photo |
| Feel | Artwork | A photograph |
| From | £17.95 | £27.99 |
The reason drawn portraits suit families specifically is the mixed-quality problem. If one photo is a sharp phone picture and another is a scan of a print from 1994, a photo collage shows that difference starkly. Drawn from scratch, everybody is rendered in the same style and the join disappears.
Choosing your photos
One clear photo per person beats one group shot
Faces at the back of a group photo carry almost no detail. Separate close-ups of each person give the artist far more to work with, and the finished portrait looks better for it.
Watch the light, not the pose
An awkward smile in good daylight beats a lovely expression in a dark room. Detail lost to shadow cannot be recovered.
Old photographs are fine
A scanned print, or even a phone photo of a print taken in daylight without flash, usually works. This matters for portraits including someone who has died, where there may only be a handful of images.
Say who is who
If you are sending five photos, tell us the relationships and the order you want people in. Otherwise we are guessing at the arrangement.
Who these work for
- Grandparents. The most common recipient by some distance, particularly where grandchildren live far away.
- Parents, from grown-up children. Usually a milestone birthday or an anniversary.
- A new family. After a birth, or a blended family that has never had a photo together.
- A memorial. A family portrait including someone who has died is a common and careful request. Say so when you order and we will treat it accordingly.
Sizes and framing
Family portraits come as a print, a canvas or framed and ready to hang, from £17.95. Prints run from A5 up to 16x20 inches; canvases go up to 30x50; framed options run from 5x7 to 24x36 inches.
For more than three people, go larger than feels necessary. Faces need room — a five-person portrait at A5 gives each face about the size of a stamp. Our sizing guide has more.
Common questions
Can you make a family portrait from separate photos?
Yes, and it is one of the most requested things we do. Send one clear photo per person and describe how you would like them arranged.
Can you include someone who has passed away?
Yes. Send whatever photo you have, even an old print. Tell us it is a memorial piece so we handle it with the care it deserves.
Can you include pets?
Yes. Pets are added from separate photos regularly, and they usually end up being the detail people comment on.
Can I see it before it is printed?
Yes. Add “Preview requested” in the Special Requests box and we will email the artwork before printing so you can ask for changes.
How many people can be in one portrait?
There is no fixed limit, but the more people, the larger the piece needs to be. Tell us how many when you order and we will advise on size.
See personalised family and couple watercolour portraits, or read the photo guide before choosing your images.