Looking to display your lovely family photographs in a creative way? A family collage is the perfect way to capture all your special family memories and display them in one place.
Making your own collage is quick and easy to do. Simply follow these five steps and you’ll have your own gorgeous family photo collage crafted in no time.
1. Decide how you’ll display the collage
Decide upfront how you intend to display the collage as this could make a difference to the size or type of photos you choose. Will it be in a photo album, a single standing frame or in a picture gallery on your wall? Once you’ve decided you’ll have a better of idea what kind of size and space you’re working with.
2. Choose a theme
Think about a theme that ties your photographs together. Maybe it’s school or college photos of your children or pictures taken of you and your parents or partner on trips and vacations. If you’re struggling to pick a theme, look through lots of your family photos and see what stirs up the right emotions or stands out.
Remember there’s no right or wrong theme and you might even find there’s no theme at all, which is ok, too. Just choosing photos that spark joy or happy memories can be enough.
3. Pick a composition template
There are many different collage compositions you can choose depending on your own style and tastes. Some examples are:
Grid. This popular composition involves a series of evenly spaced photographs that create a classic, clean look. These can look great hung on photo gallery walls.
Montage. A montage is less uniform than a grid composition and uses irregularly shaped photographs to create a more glamorous look.
Freeform. As the name suggests, this composition is a more creative free-flowing display often preferred by those with an artistic flair.
Different shapes. Who says collages need to be square? You can add interest to your collage by creating different shapes. Maybe you want to display your photos in a family tree shape, a heart or even spell out a word with your photographs, like “family.”
Polaroid. This composition is made up entirely of polaroid photos to create a retro, vintage feel.
Centrepiece. If you have a favourite group family photo, try placing it at the centre as a focal point and adding smaller photos around it.
Scrapbook. Your collage doesn’t have to be made completely out of photographs, you can also add drawings, notes, or cutouts to create a more artistic, scrapbook feel.
source:https://www.pexels.com/photo/men-and-women-wit-kids-1102570/
4. Pick your photographs
Once you know what theme and composition you’re going for, you’ll be ready to select photos that fit. Here are some tips to help you choose:
Don’t choose too many. Be careful not to overcrowd your collage and make it difficult to see any of your lovely pictures. If you’re struggling to whittle them down, mark all the photos you like, sift out similar ones and select your favourites from what’s left.
Ask family and friends for more photographs if you don’t think you have enough photos that go with your theme.
Avoid blurry photos. Unless it’s an absolute favourite you can’t do without, try not to use blurry photos that will affect the quality of your collage.
Experiment. Get creative and try out different photos and compositions. There’s no right or wrong format and you might be surprised by combinations that work.
5. Create your collage
So you’ve got your theme, your composition and your photographs, now for the fun bit – putting it all together! The best way to prepare your collage is to lay them flat on a table or the ground and move them around until you’re happy with the composition.
If you’re sticking your photos to one board, canvas or photo album, make sure to mark out with a pencil exactly where they’ll go before you add any adhesive.
If you’re hanging your photos individually on the wall you’ll need a little more planning and patience. One of the best ways to create a wall-hanging collage is to use a picture hanging system that allows you to tweak, adjust and replace photographs until you’re happy with your composition, without having to drill nasty holes into the wall. Simply mark the wire with a pencil or tape where you’d like your picture to be, add picture rail hooks and hang your photos.
Conclusion
Making your own family photo collage is a wonderful way to display cherished memories and keep your family close. Looking through old photos and getting creative is also just a fun way to spend an afternoon! Remember the key steps: decide on a theme, choose your composition and carefully pick your photographs. Just sprinkle in a little time and creativity, and you’ll have your one-of-a-kind, beautiful collage to cherish for years to come.