Beyond the Family Photo Session: Insta-Inspired Family Artwork

Stitch Fellas Family

If you missed the window for a sunkissed summer family photography session, you may now find yourself, like me, frantically trying to book a mini-session to have something suitable for this year's Christmas card.

Maybe it’s the Midwesterner in me, but I certainly feel compelled to capture my littles picking apples or wobbling amongst pumpkins at the orchard, sitting on a tartan blanket against a wall of fall colors, or bundled up among evergreens at the Christmas tree farm (or all of the above).

With holidays on the horizon, family photo sessions are a great way to knock out the Christmas cards and grandparent gifts. But sometimes it’s fun to explore other ways to capture your family at this moment in time. Last year, I gifted myself a custom watercolor of our family, including the dog, and I love it! So if you’re looking for some alternates or complements to this year’s family photo session, or for a unique personalized gift, these options can add a little something extra to your family gallery, in your own personal style.

For the Modern Traditionalist - Custom Family Portraits

Family paintings have been around for centuries, but today’s marketplace has oodles of options and styles that are easy to customize. Sure you can have a computer program convert a photo, but these original works are as unique as your family. Depending on your preference, watercolors or custom illustrations offer an updated take on the traditional family portrait. I love these options from Etsy artists @LuxandTripShop and @InkandBobbin.


@LuxandTripShop

@LuxandTripShop

Lux and Trip Family Portrait
@LuxandTripShop

@InkandBobbin

Ink and Bobbin Family

@InkandBobbin

For the Fun & Quirky - Cross Stitch Family Portraits

These super cute and creative family portraits can showcase your family’s personality or even announce some special news. I love them hung in the original wooden sewing hoops to add shape and texture to a gallery wall while staying true to their hip and quirky vibe.


@clothandtwig

@StitchFellas

Stitch Fellas Family

@StitchFellas

For the Classic - Hand-Cut Silhouettes

Hand cut by an expert artist, these black silhouettes on white backgrounds stand the test of time. In fact, I just noticed them on the walls of the Banks family home in the original Mary Poppins. While it’s impressive to see the process in-person, most silhouette artists are able to create your custom cutout from a photo. So snap a pic of your sweetie’s profile, email away, and enjoy a classic keepsake.

Photo Credit: @GarageMamaVintage Silhouettes by ICutYouOut.com

Photo Credit: Me @KathMomDo Silhouette by Joyce Redman

For the Chic - Fashionable Sketches

Jamel Saliba is an Etsy-artist on the rise, who has worked with Bloomingdales, Reebok, and Hallmark and was most recently written about in Forbes. She can customize her sketches with hair and skin color for a personalized, frame-worthy print.


@MelsyIllustrations

For the Whimsical - Artful Illustrations

Australian artist and mom Paula Kuka has been all over Instagram with her graphic insights into modern motherhood. Sidenote - if you don’t follow@CommonWild, you’re missing out! She also creates custom illustrations like this sweet sibling art (and ships to the US).


@CommonWild

Sisters By Common Wild

@Commonwild

Just remember, custom gifts for Christmas need to be ordered in November (especially if you're shipping from Australia).

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