A memorial picture — whether a single framed canvas for the service or a set of prints for the family — is one of the most enduring ways to honor someone you love. Funeral Portraits creates custom memorial pictures and memorial pictures for families across North America, working from any photo you can provide to produce professionally enhanced portraits that meet the moment.
A memorial picture is a display photograph used to honor someone who has passed, typically at a funeral or memorial service but also in private home settings, offices, and places of worship long after. Unlike a standard photo enlargement, a memorial picture is deliberately composed — the subject is carefully separated from the original background and placed within a new, intentional scene that reflects the person's faith, personality, interests, or the emotional tone the family wants to convey.
The distinction between a memorial picture and an ordinary enlarged print matters most when the source photo is imperfect. A family snapshot taken at a holiday gathering, a cropped social-media image, or a fifty-year-old photograph that has begun to fade — all of these can serve as the foundation for a beautiful memorial picture when a skilled artist enhances and recomposes them. The source photo is the raw material; the finished memorial picture is the artwork.
Selecting a memorial picture involves two decisions: which photo of your loved one to use, and which background theme best reflects them. For the photo, choose the clearest, most recent image that captures a good likeness — a genuine smile or a characteristic expression. For the background, consider what your loved one valued and what will resonate with the people attending the service.
Our library of more than 150 background themes covers a wide range of personalities and preferences. Soft florals and pastel gradients suit gentle, artistic, or feminine personalities. Outdoor landscapes — forests, mountains, coastlines, sunsets — work well for people who loved nature, hiking, fishing, or travel. Religious imagery including cross designs, stained glass, and faith-specific motifs is available for multiple traditions. Patriotic and military backgrounds honor veterans. Sports and hobby themes celebrate the activities that defined your loved one's daily life.
During checkout on our order page, every background theme is shown as a preview thumbnail so you can see exactly how your loved one will look within each setting before you commit.
Memorial pictures are available as canvas gallery wraps in five sizes: 11" × 14", 16" × 20", 20" × 24", 20" × 30", and 24" × 36". The 16" × 20" is the most commonly ordered size for funeral services, as it is large enough to be seen from across a room and fits comfortably on a standard floor easel.
For families who want a more polished presentation, we offer eight frame styles that ship pre-assembled around the stretched canvas. Frame styles range from classic dark walnut to silver and white finishes. Framed portraits can be set on an easel, placed on a shelf, or hung directly on a wall using a standard picture hook — no additional hardware required.
We also offer complete display packages that combine the canvas portrait with a coordinated easel and secondary tribute accessories for a cohesive memorial display station. These packages are popular with funeral homes setting up multiple visitation areas.
Ordering a memorial picture takes less than ten minutes. Upload your chosen photo during checkout, select a background theme, choose your size and any frame option, and submit. An artist will review your photo and create a digital proof, which is emailed to you — typically within a few hours of your order being placed.
Review the proof carefully. Check that your loved one's likeness looks accurate, that the background is the one you chose, and that the overall composition feels right. If anything needs adjustment, reply to the proof email with your specific requests — changes to the cropping, a different background, color corrections — and we will revise the proof at no extra charge. Once you approve, the portrait goes to print immediately.
Orders approved before noon Eastern time ship the same business day. Overnight air delivery typically places the memorial picture at the delivery address by 10:30 AM the following morning. For services planned with 24 to 48 hours of notice, our timeline is designed to work for you.
Many families order memorial pictures not just for the immediate service, but as lasting keepsakes for family members and close friends. A smaller 11" × 14" canvas print of the same image makes a meaningful gift for adult children, grandchildren, or a close friend who could not attend the service. Because we retain the enhanced digital file after your order, ordering additional copies is simple — contact us and we will reproduce the image in any size.
Canvas prints are archival-quality and designed to last for decades without fading or yellowing. Unlike paper photo prints, they do not require UV-protective glass to maintain color accuracy, and they do not become brittle over time. Families who have purchased memorial pictures from us describe them as among the most meaningful objects in their home — a daily, quiet reminder of someone they loved.
For families managing long-distance or distributed arrangements, we ship nationally and to Canada. If multiple family members are placing separate orders for the same image, we recommend coordinating through a single order to take advantage of multi-print pricing and ensure all copies are produced from the same approved file. Visit our contact page if you have questions about coordinating a multi-copy order.
Related: Memorial Portraits • Funeral Pictures • Pictures for Memorials • Display Options • Accessories
