A photo mosaic for a birthday or a wedding
Published
Thirty years in photos, the couple's portrait made of their guests' photos, ten years together on one poster: a photo mosaic tells a story. Here are ideas for each occasion and how to make one without spoiling the surprise.
In short: pick a main photo where faces are large and well lit, gather 150 to 400 photos that tell the story, make the mosaic in Pixmosa and have it printed at least two weeks before the party.
Ideas for each occasion
| Occasion | Main photo | Small photos |
|---|---|---|
| Birthday (18th, 30th, 50th…) | A recent portrait of the guest of honour | One photo per year, from childhood to today |
| Wedding | The couple together | Their story: how they met, trips, families, friends |
| After the wedding | The best photo of the day | The photos taken by the guests |
| Wedding anniversary | The couple, today or on their wedding day | The years spent together |
| Farewell, retirement, team party | A photo of the person or the group | Shared memories at work |
The first wedding anniversary is traditionally the paper anniversary: a poster print fits nicely.
Choosing the main photo
It is what people recognise from afar: it matters more than anything else.
- Large faces in the frame: a portrait or a tightly framed couple. In a group shot, faces become too small.
- Good light and a clear contrast between the subject and the background. Silhouettes and simple shapes read very well too, like the couple on the bench above.
- A simple background: sky, wall, nature. A busy background blurs the portrait.
Gathering photos from family and friends
- Collect quietly: a shared album or an online folder where family and friends add their photos, without telling the guest of honour.
- Sort: keep varied, sharp photos and drop near-identical bursts. The guide how many photos you need gives the right number for each size.
- Add the whole folder to Pixmosa: iPhone photos (HEIC) are read, orientation is respected, and videos or documents are skipped and counted apart.
- Ask recognisable people for their agreement if the mosaic will be displayed or shared.
Timing
- Three to four weeks before: start collecting photos.
- Two weeks before: make the mosaic, check it with the HD loupe, download the files and order the print. Check your lab's stated turnaround.
- For a wedding: a mosaic of the guests' photos is made after the party, once their photos are in. It makes a lovely thank-you or first-anniversary gift.
Size
A 20 × 30 in poster suits most gifts; a 24 × 36 in landscape print shows off a couple or a group. The guide which size to choose compares the sizes, and where and how to print tells you which file to send to the lab.
Your photos stay on your device: the mosaic is computed in your browser and nothing is uploaded, so the surprise is safe. The HD files cost US$19.90 (plus sales tax where it applies); printing is done at the lab of your choice.
Questions
How many photos for a birthday mosaic?
150 to 400 varied photos for a 20 × 30 in poster; 50 are enough for a small one. One photo per year of life is a good base, topped up with family photos.
Can I use the wedding guests' photos?
Yes, if the guests give them to you. Recognisable people should agree to the use you make of them, especially if the mosaic is displayed or shared.
Are iPhone photos (HEIC) accepted?
Yes. Pixmosa reads HEIC, JPEG, PNG and WebP photos, and you can add a whole folder at once; videos and other files are simply skipped.
How much time should I allow?
The mosaic takes a few minutes once the photos are gathered. Most of the time goes into collecting the photos and the lab's printing time.