The family photo is a subject that comes up a lot when discussing photos on canvas for the simple reason that it’s one of the primary things people wish to decorate their homes with. Adding the texture and quality of canvas to that very important image simply makes sense. Too often, however, people don’t think in terms of art hanging on their wall when they select or take a family portrait for the purpose – they’re thinking in two dimensions instead of three.
The fact is, a canvas is far different from a photo used as a computer desktop image or even a small framed photo on your desk, and you have to start thinking about your finished family portrait before you upload it to be turned into high quality wall art. Here are a few things you need to consider before you even snap the photo.
Photos on Canvas and Colour
One of the most easily overlooked aspects of hanging a picture on your wall is the colour scheme – it has to complement the palette you’ve chosen in the room. When selecting photos from a collection or buying art to hang you can look (consciously or unconsciously) for certain colour palettes that will work well. But when we gather the spouse and kids together for a family portrait, we rarely think in those terms – we’re usually more concerned that they look presentable, or have matching sweaters.
Before you get the family together for the portrait session, think about the colours you want on your walls, and choose outfits that will work within that palette. Otherwise your great family portrait will be an eyesore on your wall and you may not even be able to put your finger on why.
Composition
Another aspect people don’t often take into consideration about family portraits when they plan to hang them on the wall is the composition used. This has two distinct aspects, and at best people only consider one:
- Internal composition. If people consider composition at all, it’s the composition of the portrait itself – but even so, many don’t. While the classic “triangle” pose (parents in back, kids in front) always works, you should still consider the other elements of your portrait. Are there background details you want included? How will the picture work in the room?
- External composition. Almost no one thinks about this: How will the portrait work with everything else on your walls? Think about where you will hang it and what it will be butting up against. What shapes are going to surround it, and what pattern will all the wall art be arranged in? You can mirror that composition within the photo, or complement it in a more contradictory way, but you must at least think about it or your wall will look like a random collection of art. A quick guide to good external composition can be found here: http://www.sasinteriors.net/2011/07/creating-a-photo-wall-display/
In the end, of course, your adorable family and the love you feel when you look at your family portrait will likely always win any design over – but why not pause in the planning stages and consider how you’ll use your family portrait as a design element? And when you have, click here and we will turn your adorable family into a stunning piece of art.
