Memorial Portrait Image Guidelines
Keep Their Memory Close, Forever
A memorial portrait is more than a piece of artwork — it is a beautiful way to honor someone who will always hold a special place in your heart.
At Paint and Frame, we carefully transform meaningful photographs into timeless portraits that celebrate their life, personality, and memory.
At Paint and Frame, we transform those meaningful places into artistic portraits that let you keep the memory close forever
For the best possible result, please consider these simple photo guidelines when selecting your image.
1. Choose the Clearest Photo You Have
Select a photograph where the person’s face is clear, sharp, and easy to recognize.
Best choices:
- High-resolution original photographs
- Clear facial details
- Good lighting
- Natural facial expression
- Minimal blur
- Front-facing or slightly angled portraits
Don't worry if the photograph is old. We can work with many vintage and scanned photographs as long as the important facial details are visible.
2. Choose a Meaningful Photograph
The most important thing is choosing a photo that feels like them.
It could be:
- A favourite photograph
- A cherished family memory
- A wedding or celebration photo
- A childhood photograph
- A professional portrait
- A candid moment that captures their personality
- A photograph from a special time in their life
Choose the image that brings back a beautiful memory.
3. Make Sure the Face Is Visible
For the most accurate portrait, the person's face should not be heavily covered or obscured.
Try to avoid photographs where the face is:
- Hidden by sunglasses
- Covered by hands or objects
- Heavily shadowed
- Extremely small in the frame
- Blurred by motion
- Partially cropped
A clear face gives our artists more detail to work with.
4. Full-Body or Half-Body Photos Are Welcome
You don't have to choose a traditional headshot.
We can work with:
- Head-and-shoulder portraits
- Half-body photographs
- Full-body photographs
- Seated portraits
- Candid photographs
If you have a favourite photograph that includes the person in a meaningful setting, it may be a wonderful choice for your memorial artwork.
5. Multiple People Can Be Included
If you want to create a memorial portrait featuring two or more loved ones, choose photographs where each person's face is clearly visible.
If the people are photographed separately, multiple reference images may be helpful when your order allows it.
Please indicate which person belongs in the final composition and share any specific arrangement preferences.
For example:
A couple at their favourite destination
A family vacation memory
Friends enjoying a special place
Someone standing outside a meaningful location
If you want the final portrait to focus primarily on the place, choose an image where the location remains clearly visible.
6. Pets Can Be Part of the Memory
If the memorial portrait is honouring someone alongside a beloved pet, you can include the pet in the artwork.
A clear photograph of the pet can help our artists capture:
Facial features
Fur patterns
Color
Expression
Unique markings
Together, these details can create a deeply personal tribute.
For tall buildings, monuments, waterfalls, or vertically framed scenes, portrait photographs can work beautifully too.
Tip: Avoid cropping too tightly around the main subject. A little surrounding space helps create a more balanced artistic composition.
7. Think About the Feeling You Want to Preserve
A memorial portrait can be simple, elegant, peaceful, or deeply personal.
Consider whether you'd like the artwork to capture:
- Their warm smile
- Their peaceful expression
- A favourite outfit
- A special location
- A meaningful relationship
- A cherished moment
If you have a particular background, colour, clothing, or artistic style in mind, include those preferences with your order.
Our Golden Rule
Choose the photograph that feels most like them.
Technical perfection is secondary to the emotion behind the image. A simple photograph carrying a beautiful memory can become an extraordinary piece of art.
At Paint and Frame, our goal is to create a portrait that doesn't simply resemble your loved one — but helps you celebrate the memories, personality, and moments that made them unforgettable.