If You Were Commissioning Family Portraits Done, Would You....

[easypeasy]

These would be individual portraits of the kids (3 of them), a portrait of you and dh (together, one portrait). DH doesn't know about them, so I can't ask for his suggestions. I've pro/con listed this to death and could argue either way. I just can't decide which phase of our lives I want to capture like this forever. I've got to gather photos to send to the artist ASAP, though, so I can't put it off any longer! 😕 

There will be a delicate, decorative partial border on each of the portraits intertwined with vines, flowers, and small mementos/favorites/hobbies for each kid.

There are three sections to this poll - you can vote multiple times within the poll to vote for each section.

Section 1, KIDS:

Young Versions of the Kids - all around the same age

Young Versions of the Kids - oldest looking "older," middle looking "middle," youngest looking like the youngest (all of them past the baby stage, so they're very recognizable)

Kids As They Are Now - young adults

 

Section 2, PARENTS:

DH and You Around the Time You Got Married (eons ago, but oh! so cute!)

DH and You Right Now (even though you feel less than attractive atm - thanks quarantine...)

 

Section 3, COHESIVENESS:

It's Important to be Relatively "Same" - meaning young kids/young parents - older kids/older parents

Nah, Mix it Up!

[Rosie_0801]

I'd delay the artist, put all the photos up on the wall and take down each one as I got bored of looking at it. The last remaining in each category would be the winner.

Why are you having portraits painted? I mean, the odds are good that you are not going to be adding them to the rest of your ancestors hanging in the great hall at Pemberley, which would obviously require you to be painted in your most expensive looking clothes, because otherwise you're not really adding value to your descendants. If you do, indeed, own a fabulous manor house, the likes of which would make us all drool, there's my recommendation. Get painted in your posh clothes. 😄

[Bambam]

I'd have one of the entire family as we are now. Or one of the entire family as we were in my favorite family group photo. 

But honestly, I'm not big on old photos of how we used to look. It's just not my thing. 

So, you should do what you want to look at the most. 

[MercyA]

I'd pick a photo you love of you and your DH--probably not as early as your wedding. I definitely wouldn't want to use a less than attractive photo just for the sake of capturing you exactly as you are right now. 

[TheReader]

I'd be inclined to pick my favorite photo ever of each of us, at whatever age/stage that is.  Like, my youngest, when he was a toddler, had this adorable, fine, fly-away hair that we all just loved. LOVED. Gosh, he was adorable then. (I mean, he's still great looking, but....). I'd pick one from then of him. And my middle had the BEST great big smile at around age 4 or 5 or so; we're talking, light up his whole face....light up a whole ROOM.....the kind of smile that makes you know exactly why he's "our sunshine."  And, again, still great looking, but I'd pick a photo from then for his.  And our oldest has always looked more or less like himself (he went through an awkward tooth phase around 7 or 8, so not then) but he got moody/broody as a teen so definitely something from before age 10 or so. Or something from once he started coming out of the moody/broody phase (although, if I had everyone at really young ages, and him as an older teen, that would be weird). 

DH says he'd pick a certain year and use everyone from the same year, so that the ages all correlate. 

Me and DH, not sure...probably an early one, but again, whatever photo is just "favorite ever" photo. 

[vmsurbat1]

I like the idea of picking a picture of each of your kids that just captures their essence, regardless of their age at the time.  For Dh and me, I'd not pick an early photo.  I think our wedding album did that era justice.  I personally think "later in life" photos (40s? 50s? 60s?) of couples show a certain beauty and maturity well worth capturing.  Of course, I'm speaking as a 60-year old now!

[easypeasy]

7 hours ago, Rosie_0801 said:

I'd delay the artist, put all the photos up on the wall and take down each one as I got bored of looking at it. The last remaining in each category would be the winner.

Why are you having portraits painted? I mean, the odds are good that you are not going to be adding them to the rest of your ancestors hanging in the great hall at Pemberley, which would obviously require you to be painted in your most expensive looking clothes, because otherwise you're not really adding value to your descendants. If you do, indeed, own a fabulous manor house, the likes of which would make us all drool, there's my recommendation. Get painted in your posh clothes. 😄

*sigh* Much to my disappointment, we have no Pemberley-esque great hall filled with past generations of family portraits! 😁

It's a nice way to support an artist whose shows were all canceled for months and months! 😕 Those in the arts have taken an enormous hit - among the first to be shut down and the last to "reopen." and most don't qualify for unemployment benefits. 

Edited June 9, 2020 by easypeasy