You have dreamed about it for a long time: a family painting where everyone is in it. Mum, dad, you, your siblings, your children, maybe even the grandparents. The problem is just - there is no single photo with everyone in it. And some of them are no longer here.
The good news: you don't need one perfect photo. We bring the whole family together from different photos into one hand-painted family painting. We add relatives who have passed away. We combine generations. We create the painting you have dreamed of - even if reality never gave you the photo.
In this guide we go through how it works and what options you have, and we show examples of real commissions we have solved for families.
What does "assembling from different photos" mean?
Imagine this scenario: You have a good photo of your mum and dad from a family event in 2018. You have a photo of you and your two siblings from a summer holiday in 2020. And you have a photo of your grandparents from 2003 - your grandfather is no longer here.
Instead of painting three separate pictures, we bring all 7 people together in one large family painting. Our artist Michael composes the scene so that everyone stands together naturally, as if the picture had been taken on the same day. He adjusts sizes, perspective and light so that it feels like one coherent work.
That is exactly what we do every week on family painting orders.
What can we do? - The typical scenarios
Scenario 1: Add grandparents who have passed away
The very most common wish: a family painting of the living family members, where you add grandparents who have passed away, a parent who has passed away, or other relatives who are no longer here.
We place them naturally in the composition - typically at the back or at the side. If you have a good photo of them from their time (even a black-and-white or old photo), we can use it. We paint them at the age at which they were best remembered.
Many customers describe this as "the only way the whole family is together again". It is a form of tribute that carries great emotional value.
Scenario 2: Combine generations
One of our most popular subjects is multi-generational paintings: grandparents, parents and grandchildren brought together in one picture. We often receive photos taken years or decades apart, and we bring it all together.
Example: a photo of the grandparents from their 50th wedding anniversary. A photo of the parents from a summer holiday. A photo of the grandchildren from last Christmas Eve. We bring all 8-10 people together in one large painting - typically in the size 80x120 cm or 100x150 cm.
Scenario 3: Families who live far from each other
Many families are spread across several countries. It is hard to get everyone together at the same time for a shared photo. We solve it by using selfies, individual pictures or photos from different occasions. We bring everyone into the same composition.
Scenario 4: Include the pet
The family dog or cat is part of the family. If you have a good photo of the pet separately, we add it. We place it naturally - typically at the feet, in the arms or beside them.
Scenario 5: Children at different ages
If you have children who are now grown up, we can paint them as they are now. Or we can paint them as they were at a particular age you would like to preserve. Many parents choose to have their children painted as they were at, say, 5-10 years old, when they were "little for just long enough".
Example cases from real families
Family 1: The big generation painting
A customer in Zurich ordered a 100x150 cm family painting for her mother's 70th birthday. She wanted to bring the whole family together - her mother, her 3 siblings, their spouses, and 9 grandchildren - 17 people in all. We received photos from 6 different occasions over the past 5 years. Michael composed the scene so that everyone stood naturally grouped in one large family formation.
The painting was presented as a surprise at the birthday. Her mother burst into tears because her late husband (the customer's father) was in it too - we had added him from a photo from their golden wedding anniversary a few years before his death.
Family 2: The 4 generations
Another customer ordered an 80x120 cm painting of 4 generations: great-grandmother (94 years old), grandmother (68), the customer (42) and her daughter (8). We had photos of each person from different situations. The great-grandmother sat in her chair in a particular floral dress. The grandmother stood outside in the garden. The customer was on a summer holiday. The daughter was in school clothes.
We brought them all together in a bright, warm interior scene where they stood naturally together. The painting now hangs in the customer's home as a tribute to the women of the family.
Family 3: The family spread across the world
One family had all their relatives scattered: one daughter in Australia, one son in Germany, and the parents themselves in Zurich. We assembled them from 3 different selfies that had been sent over WhatsApp. The painting became the Christmas gift for the whole family - all 5 received a copy (we painted one unique work and made high-quality prints for the other 4 family members).
Family 4: The pets' place
One family wanted a painting with their 2 children, but also their 2 dogs - who wouldn't sit still long enough for a single photo. We received 4 separate photos: one of each. Michael brought all 4 together in one painting, with the children sitting on a blanket and the dogs lying beside them. A complete family picture without having had to struggle to get everyone together at once.
The most important thing: extra work, but no extra cost
One of the most important points to understand: assembling from several photos doesn't cost more. Our pricing model is simple - one fixed amount per size, floating frame and free shipping included. That is the whole complexity. A solo portrait and a 17-person family painting of the same size cost the same.
It is extra work for Michael to compose the scene, adjust proportions and make sure everyone looks as though they belong together. But the price is the same. We don't charge extra for complexity, number of people or background.
Practical: how do I get started?
Step 1: Choose a size
For family paintings with many people we recommend a minimum of 80x100 cm. If there are 8 or more of you, we recommend 100x150 cm or larger. Every face needs space to work as a portrait.
Step 2: Gather your photos
Find the best photo of each person. They don't have to be professional pictures - sharp lighting and a clear face are what matter most. If you only have poor photos, we can still work with them. If you are in doubt, send the photos to us and we will assess them free of charge.
Step 3: Upload and describe
When you order, you can upload several photos. In the message field you can explain: "My mum and dad are in photo A. I am in photo B with my sisters. Our late grandmother is in photo C - I'd like her added at the back." The clearer your description, the better the result.
Step 4: Dialogue with us
If we have questions - about composition, background, who should stand where, at what age relatives who have passed away should be painted - we write to you before Michael gets started. You have the final say.
Step 5: Receive and enjoy
Before we ship, we show you a photo of the finished painting for approval. If anything needs adjusting, we fix it. Delivery in 2-3 weeks by insured, trackable parcel delivery (DHL/UPS) to your door.
Which backgrounds can we choose?
When you assemble people from different photos, you have a free choice of background. Our typical options:
- Neutral, soft background in a colour that matches the family's clothes and personality - our most popular choice
- Homely interior: a living room, a dining table, a sofa
- Nature: a beach, a forest, a lake - good for families who love being outdoors
- A place that means something: the holiday home, the old childhood home, a favourite spot
- A completely simple background: a single colour or with an abstract texture
You describe what you would like - and we advise on what typically works well.
What about the frame?
Family paintings in this size work really well with light oak or a white floating frame. Both have a warm, homely character that suits family subjects. We have a separate article about choosing a frame - read it if you are in doubt.
The floating frame is included in the price whatever the size - and so is the shipping.
Common questions we get
How many people can you bring together in one painting?
We have made family paintings with up to 22 people. There is no upper limit, as long as the painting is large enough for each person to remain recognisable. We typically recommend a minimum of 5x7 cm per face for a good result - so the more people, the larger the canvas.
What if I don't have good photos of everyone?
Send what you have. We work incredibly well with poor photos - worn, blurred, bad lighting, small photos. Our artist specialises in working with difficult photos. If you are in doubt about a particular photo, send it and let us assess it.
How far back can you add relatives who have passed away?
As far back as you have a photo of them. We have painted from photos from the 1920s. If you have any photo of the person - even old, worn, black-and-white ones - we can work with it.
Can you adjust age?
Yes. If your photo of your grandmother is from her last years, but you would like her painted as she was at 60, we can adjust that. We work from your wishes and typically from several photos of the same person, so that we can see how she looked in different periods.
The guarantee
As with all our works, we give a satisfaction guarantee. If anyone in the family painting doesn't look right - for example if grandfather's nose isn't right, or if the little sister's expression doesn't capture her - we repaint until you are satisfied. That is the whole point of working with an artist and not an automated service.
Ready to bring the family together?
Get out the best photos of each person. Think about who should be included - the ones who have passed away too, if that is meaningful. Choose a size on our page. Upload, describe, and we take it from there.
If you have questions before ordering, take a look at our FAQ, or write to us directly. We typically reply within a couple of hours on working days.
Find inspiration and start your order in the family painting collection.