You have a fantastic photo. Perhaps of your family, your wedding, or the dog who is no longer here. And now you want to get it up on the wall - but in what form? A photo on canvas is quick and cheap. A hand-painted painting from the same photo is art - but costs more. The question is what suits your subject, your budget and your wall.
In this guide we set the two options side by side - honestly. We own a business that makes hand-painted paintings from photos, but we don't want to sell you something you don't need. If a photo print is the right choice for your subject, we'll say so.
What is the fundamental difference?
A photo on canvas is a digital print of your picture on a textile canvas. It is a copy - the machine takes pixels and lays ink on canvas in the same pattern. A hand-painted painting is the opposite: an artist looks at your photo and paints it by hand with oil paint on canvas. The result is art, not a reproduction.
That is an important difference. A photo print shows exactly what the camera saw - including the glare in the background, a blurred arm, or a shadow that is too harsh. A painting takes the subject and interprets it. We can remove distracting elements, brighten faces and let the focus lie where it should.
Price: how big is the difference?
Photo on canvas: typically 30-250 CHF depending on size and supplier. You upload your picture, choose a format, and it is often delivered within a week.
Hand-painted painting: with us a personal portrait starts at 495 CHF in the size 60x40 cm. Larger formats such as 100x70 cm cost 1'095 CHF. The price is one fixed amount per size - floating frame and free shipping included, and regardless of the number of people. See the whole price structure here.
The difference is real: a photo print is typically 5-10 times cheaper than a hand-painted painting. The question is what you get for the difference.
Durability: how long do they last?
Photo on canvas
A photo print typically lasts 5-15 years before the colours begin to fade - especially if it hangs in direct sunlight. The canvas can also become soft and wavy over time. It is fine as wall decoration, but it is not something that becomes an heirloom.
Hand-painted oil painting
An oil painting lasts 100+ years if it is painted properly. Think of the old masters' paintings in the great museums - some are over 400 years old and still look fantastic. The oil hardens and only becomes more stable with time. It is a completely different investment.
Personal value: art or copy?
This is the biggest difference, and it is hard to put a number on. A photo on canvas is a copy of something that already exists as a digital file. A hand-painted portrait painting exists in only one place in the world - on your wall. It is original. The artist has spent 15-25 hours on it, layer by layer, mixing colours, correcting details.
For many of our customers the human hand is the most important argument. Especially when it comes to family paintings, memorial paintings or wedding pictures. It shouldn't feel like a print - it should feel like genuine art.
Customisation: what can be changed?
Photo on canvas
You can crop, make it black and white or add filters. But you can't remove a car in the background, change the colour of clothes or put two photos together. A print is a print.
Hand-painted painting
We can do pretty much anything. Remove an ex-partner from an old picture. Put together a family painting from 5 single portraits. Change the background to something more atmospheric. Lighten a dark shadow. It is one of the biggest advantages of ordering a painting - you have control over the end result in a completely different way than with a print. Read more about how the process works.
When should you choose which?
Choose a photo on canvas if:
- It is for a smaller wall, for example in the office or a guest room
- You have a strong photo that doesn't need retouching
- The budget is limited
- It is going to hang for a few years, not for generations
Choose a hand-painted painting if:
- It is a gift - birthday, wedding, anniversary
- The subject is important: family, memorials, pets
- It is going to hang in the living room and be a talking point
- You want something that becomes an heirloom
- The photo needs retouching or several people have to be brought together
Can I be sure of the result?
That is a perfectly reasonable concern when you are paying 495 CHF or more. With us you get a digital preview of the painting before we ship it - and if you are not satisfied, we fix it. We have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, and that is why we have 4.5 stars on Trustpilot from 1,689 reviews. You take minimal risk.
Questions about photo vs. painting
Can I get a large painting on canvas just like a photo?
Yes. We offer hand-painted paintings up to 150x100 cm and larger by special order. The price follows the same model as the standard sizes - floating frame and free shipping included.
How long does a hand-painted painting take?
We deliver within 2-3 weeks from when you have sent the photo and approved the preview. That is faster than most people think.
Is abstract art on canvas also an option?
Yes, but that is a different type of product. We specialise in figurative portraits and family paintings from photos - not abstract art. If it is abstract you are looking for, a printed canvas is probably the right choice.
What quality do I get with oil compared with a photo?
An oil painting has depth, texture and light that a print will never have. You can see the brushstrokes. It is the kind of detail that makes people stop when they come into your living room.
Shall we get started? Order your hand-painted painting here - or read more about our family paintings if it is the whole family you want up on the wall.