The picture at a funeral is one of the most important details of the service — the photograph that greets every guest who arrives, anchors the tribute table, and represents your loved one throughout the ceremony. Funeral Portraits helps families throughout North America create professional, artist-enhanced canvas portraits for display at funeral and memorial services, with same-day shipping for time-sensitive orders.
Every element of a funeral service communicates something about the person being honored. Flowers communicate love; music communicates emotion; words communicate memory. The picture at the funeral communicates identity — it tells everyone present who this person was and invites them to remember that specific face, that specific person, not just an abstract sense of loss.
The quality and presentation of the display photo affects the emotional experience of the service in ways that are easy to underestimate. A small, blurry print in an off-the-shelf frame suggests that the choice was made in haste. A large, professionally enhanced canvas portrait suggests that this person deserved the best tribute the family could provide — and for most families, that feeling matters deeply, both during the service and in the years that follow.
Beyond the service itself, the picture at the funeral often becomes a permanent display piece. Families frequently take the portrait home and hang it where they can see it daily. A durable, archival-quality canvas print is designed to last for decades without fading or deteriorating — unlike a drugstore enlargement on photo paper, which begins to yellow and lose color within years.
Not every photo makes an equally effective funeral display. When selecting the picture to use, consider these factors:
If multiple family members have potential photos, gather several candidates and compare them before deciding. What feels most "like" the person to the people who knew them best is usually the right choice.
Once you upload the source photo on our order page, our artists take over. They evaluate the image for resolution and quality, retouch any obvious imperfections, remove the original background, and place the subject within one of our 150+ exclusive background themes — florals, religious imagery, nature scenes, patriotic motifs, sports and hobby themes, and more.
You receive a digital proof before anything is printed. The proof shows you exactly what the picture at the funeral will look like — same composition, same background, same size relationship. Review it carefully. If the cropping, color, or background isn't quite right, request adjustments and we'll revise the proof at no extra charge. Only when you approve does the portrait go to print.
Printing uses archival pigment inks on professional canvas. The canvas is stretched over a 1.5-inch pine frame and can be displayed on an easel, hung on a wall, or set in a frame — depending on the display setup you plan for the service.
The right size for the picture at a funeral depends on the size and layout of the service space. General guidelines:
For families uncertain about size, the 16" × 20" is the safe default — it works in almost every context and is the most affordable option. Details and pricing for all sizes are on our prices page.
A canvas portrait can be displayed in several ways at the service. A floor-standing easel is the most common and versatile option — it positions the portrait at standing eye level, requires no wall access, and can be repositioned easily. We sell easels and display accessories sized to fit both standard and large portrait formats.
For a more elaborate tribute station — a designated area with the portrait, guest book, flowers, and memory items — our display packages provide coordinated accessories that create a cohesive visual focal point. These packages are designed specifically for memorial service use and are popular with funeral homes setting up visitation areas for families.
If the portrait will hang on a wall for the service, a framed canvas requires only a standard picture hook. Our eight frame styles — from dark walnut to silver finishes — ship pre-assembled around the stretched canvas so there is nothing to assemble on arrival.
Funeral timelines are often tight, and we have built our production process specifically to handle urgency. Orders placed before noon Eastern time ship the same business day via overnight air, typically delivering by 10:30 AM the following morning. For services scheduled 48 to 72 hours out, this timeline works comfortably. For services within 24 hours, contact us directly so we can assess the timeline based on your specific location and the carrier's schedule for your area.
Tracking information is emailed as soon as the label is created. If your portrait has not arrived by the expected delivery window and the service is imminent, contact our team immediately — we will work with the carrier to locate the shipment and, if necessary, explore alternatives.
Related: Funeral Portraits • Photos for Funeral Display • Funeral Photos • Display Options • Accessories
