Family portrait question

[Psychodisney]

My DH and DBIL and condsidering getting a family protrait for their parent's 50th wedding anniversary. I commented that I thought my MIL and FIL should also be in the portriat. He disagrees. What do you think?

 

[SC Minnie]

They are going to get one with your family and BIL's family together? Without their parents? To me that sounds odd.

I had portraits done of all the grand children for my parents for Christmas and they love them. They had never had formal portraits with them all together.

 

[ChrizJen]

Unless it's meant to be a total surprise for the parents, I'd say they should be in it.

 

[Psychodisney]

Not that I'll tell him I posted it here but the score is me 2, him 0.

 

[pat fan]

I don't think the "parents" need to be in the picture. If the picture has all the kids, spouses and grands, it's a great gift!

On the other hand, if you exclude spouses, it's a bit of a buzz-kill for the spouses. I know from experience

 

[Reddy]

If it isn't a surprise then I would include them
but then have each "kid" have their family done
one of just the Grandparents
one of the Grands with Grandkids
or just the Grands - Kids

That is if you can get everyone in one place at one time
I do like where everyone wears Jeans & black or white shirts (all the same color but not style)

 

[Handbag Lady]

They should be in the picture.



And I love the idea of doing different pictures, some with just their kids, grandkids, kids and spouses, etc.

 

[Kasmooth]

We gave my parents one for a gift it did not include our parents. It was the siblings, spouses, and grandchildren. They loved it!

 

[VAfamily1998]

I think it could go either way...

Maybe give them one picture of just your family (You, dh, kids) and one of BILs family (BIL, BIL's wife, kids) and surprise them with that---and then after you show them the nice individual family portraits, say that the rest of the gift is a big family portrait of everyone together.

 

[jazz0007]

From a photographer's point of view .....So it's a picture of all THEIR kids (and spouses/kids etc)?? I think you could go either way. But I personally think it's more thoughtful WITH them in it.

Meant to add....individual pictures of the families is an AWESOME idea as the families will get good portraits of themselves too!

 

[disneyismyname]

My mom and her siblings got pictures of all the grandchildren done for my gparents. Its huge and is still there favorite portrait!

I personally think its best for them not to be in the photo...my opinion..it gets too crowded in the photo.

 

[Sal]

We did this for my parent's anniversary. It was a surprise, so obviously, my parents were not in it. Children, spouses and grandchildren. They loved it.

As a grandparent now, I would be thrilled with such a gift. I would rather look at a picture WITHOUT me in it! However, I do enjoy a photo of my entire family, even me.

I agree with most of the others. If you want to surprise them, they will be thrilled. If it is not a surprise, invite them to join you. I second the wearing similar clothing. It makes for a great look.

Either way, your inlaws will love the photos.

 

[shortbun]

I think either way is ok but I'd include them. My in-laws arranged for a full family photo five years ago at their anniversary weekend. I hated it because we all had to wear navy polo shirts and khaki pants. 1. I hate pants, especially khaki on women and 2. it was a navy, long sleeved polo and I've only worn it for more warmth when I was going to be out for a long time.

 

[dngnb8]

My DH and DBIL and condsidering getting a family protrait for their parent's 50th wedding anniversary. I commented that I thought my MIL and FIL should also be in the portriat. He disagrees. What do you think?

We did both. We did one of all the kids and family, then after, we did it with them.

 

[scrapquitler]

My DH and DBIL and condsidering getting a family protrait for their parent's 50th wedding anniversary. I commented that I thought my MIL and FIL should also be in the portriat. He disagrees. What do you think?

I would have the MIL and FIL in the picture.

 

[NMAmy]

Perhaps if you put it this way to your DH--wouldn't it be great for your children to have a photo of their grandparents on their 50th wedding anniversary? Especially if it was a photo of the entire extended family? My family has taken lots of photos over the years and the ones with many generations in the same photo are always my favorite.

Plus, it just seems odd to celebrate someone's anniversay with a photo without the happy couple.

 

[bfeller]

I think it depends on the family. My 4 brothers and I had a portrait taken for my parent's 50th. We didn't do spouses because 2 of my brothers have been divorced and remarried and then that puts a kill on a formal picture. Now at the anniversary party we definately included spouses and grandchildren. But the formal professionally done photo of the 5 children was presented to my parents at the party. My parents loved it.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

My MIL would have been PISSED if a family portrait was taken and she was not in it! PISSED! My MIL would rather have a horrible photo of the entire family versus really nice individual family photos. (Unless of course the photo was bad of her, and then out it went.)

My grandmother said, about a million times, I would love a photo of ALL my grandchildren, all together. What she really meant was I want all of my grandchildren, at my house, all at the same time. If she found out this happened, and she wasn't there she too would have been VERY angry.

People love the concept of everyone together for one photo. The photo can turn out awful and I can promise you that the majority of grandparents will think the photo is gorgeous.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I like the idea of a kids/descendents picture. The parents don't have to be in it and I believe they would be very touched. Plus it is 2 less people to schedule.

 

[Psychodisney]

Thanks for all the responses. I'm glad to see the majority agree with me. I like the idea of various portraits as long as we're there. We're not a big group. We are 5 and BIL's group is 4 so I'm not worried about it being too crowded. I just think it would be nice to have the WHOLE family.