Should you go for a group portrait or a collection of individual portraits?

If you have more than one child, are still deciding whether to be in the portrait with your child/children, or simply love the idea of having a portrait and now need to work out who should be in it , there’s often one big question that comes up:

Do you go for an individual portrait (or a collection of individual portraits)… or a multi-person portrait that has everyone together?

Depending on your priorities and what matters most to you, here are a few key things that can help guide your decision:

• Your artistic preferences — Are you drawn to the energy of a single, powerful group piece, or wanting to express nuances of personality with individual portraits?
• Your wall space — The size and layout of your wall can help determine whether one large statement piece or smaller individual pieces will feel just right in your home.
• Your budget — Your investment will naturally influence whether it makes sense to begin with one piece or build a collection over time.

Your Artistic Preferences

While both our individual portraits and multi-person portraits (multi portraits & family portraits) share the same painterly style, the storytelling and emotional tone they carry are often quite different.

Individual Portraits

An individual portrait is all about shining a light on one person.  Their unique character, their most flattering angles, and the small details that make them who they are.

With the whole artwork dedicated to just one person, there’s space to perfect every detail in a way that isn’t always possible with larger groups. Much of this begins during the photography session itself. A full hour (or more!) can be spent helping that one person relax in front of the camera, fine-tuning lighting, smoothing stray hairs, and experimenting with different angles to truly find their best look.

Because we’re focusing on just one face, we end up with a much richer reel of images to choose from, giving us the ability to create a more refined and nuanced final piece. There’s also only one story to tell; which means every artistic choice, from composition to brushstroke, can be devoted to expressing their individual personality. This might even include subtle personal touches, like including a beloved musical instrument or reference to a hobby.

When it comes to oil painting, an individual portrait often allows for more expressive brushwork. With more surface area dedicated to one face, the strokes can be bold, painterly, and full of energy.

Group Portraits

Where individual portraits focus on perfecting one person’s likeness and character, group portraits are about something different: capturing the nuance of relationships.

A group portrait tells the story of how people belong together; whether that’s siblings sharing a cheeky glance, a parent’s tender hand resting on a child, or the natural ease between loved ones who know each other inside and out.

Unlike individual portraits, a group piece isn’t about placing together everyone’s most flattering solo shots into a single image. Instead, it’s about observing the interactions between people — the glances, gestures, and shared dynamics that reveal the real story. Sometimes that means choosing an image where the storytelling outweighs technical perfection, because the emotion is simply more powerful. It’s about capturing those genuine moments like you’ve captured something real.

As the members in the group portrait grow, so does the narrative. Beyond individual relationships, there’s usually a larger overarching theme or mood that comes across that ties everyone together such as:

• Bubbly infectious joy

• quiet steady strength that runs deep

• a merging of 2 families with their own stories and history

• Or any vibe that represents your family!

Available Wall Space

Sometimes, the decision between a group portrait and a set of individual portraits simply comes down to practicality and where your artwork will live in your home.

Think about the spaces that feel a little lonely or unfinished. Do you already have a specific wall in mind?

• Large, open spaces  like the wall above a sofa or in a spacious living room often suit a single statement group portrait that brings everyone together in one image.

• Long, narrow spaces  like hallways or stairways tend to be a perfect match for a series of individual portraits. This layout invites people to move along the space, pausing to take in each face and detail up close.

• If you have a few smaller wall spaces throughout your home but nowhere suitable for one large piece, individual portraits offer incredible flexibility. You can display them together as a collection or let them live in different rooms.

Choosing where your portrait will hang can often make the decision clearer. It's about finding the right fit for both the space and the feeling you want to create in your home.

Budget

Your budget can also help guide your decision.

A group portrait can be more cost-effective upfront than commissioning an individual artwork for each family member. It’s a single piece that brings everyone together in one beautifully composed image.

That said, it’s worth considering how your family may grow or change in the years ahead. If you’re someone who might feel a pang of regret if a future family member isn’t included, a collection of individual portraits offers more flexibility. You can easily add new portraits later without needing to recreate or replace the original artwork.

While a group portrait can be a wonderful way to celebrate special milestones such as a family reunion or an anniversary, individual portraits allow your collection to evolve as your family does. For many people, future-proofing becomes an important part of the decision.

At the end of the day, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, just what works best for you.

A group portrait can be a beautiful way to celebrate everyone together in one shared moment. But individual portraits offer the chance to slow down and give each person their own spotlight. 

Whichever path you choose, what matters most is creating something that feels like you.  A piece of art that will hold its place in your home and your family story for years to come.