Pictures for Your Loved Ones' Headstones: Where you should and shouldn't buy them

In your search online for the perfect picture for your loved one's headstone you've probably came across various offerings ranging from very cheap to ridiculously expensive and you may wonder what could possibly be the difference between them all.

There are really 4 main places to purchase headstone pictures and here we'll detail the pros and cons of each. Scroll to the very bottom for our overall best pick.

Ceramic headstone pictures have become a very popular way to personalize tombstones over the years

In recent decades, personalized ceramic pictures have become a popular choice for decorating headstones. These durable and weather-resistant portraits capture the essence of the departed, allowing family and friends to reminisce and feel a deeper connection to the individual. When choosing where to purchase said pictures, it is important to take many factors into consideration such as price, consumer reviews, durability, and more.

Here are several places to purchase them along with the pros and cons of each:

#1 - PhotosForHeadstones.com

If you search at all for headstone pictures online you are gauranteed to come across photosforheadstones.com. The company name is MemorialPics and they sell headstone pictures and small memorial stones. The website includes over 1,000 reviews with an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars.

The pictures are kiln-fired and guaranteed for life. Prices start at about $100 and you can customize the photo yourself with their online tool.

PROS

• The prices are much lower than those of headstone companies and cemeteries

• The website is from a small family business in Texas, so it is in the USA

• You can customize the picture yourself with their online tool

• The photos are guaranteed to not fade or discolor for life

• There are over 1,000 verified reviews over a span of 8 years (as of Dec. 2023) https://www.shopperapproved.com/reviews/memorialpics

CONS

• The prices are slightly higher than the other online sources (although still much lower than many other sources)

#2 - Amazon and Etsy

What can't you find on Amazon?! There are probably over 20 companies selling these photos on Amazon so it can be a little daunting to choose where to buy one. Some of them are even charging less than $20!!! HOWEVER, there is a huge drawback as many of these photos seem to fade quickly outdoors.

It is strange because the reviews may show 4.5 out of 5 stars, but many of the five star reviews were posted when the purchaser first received the photo. If you dig a little deeper you will find that after several months, many of the purchasers are very dissatisfied with the photos as they tend to fade and discolor quickly. This can be devastating when you've permanantly glued a bad picture to your loved one's precious tombstone.

PROS

• The prices are the lowest you will find

• You can customize the picture yourself on Amazon (no option to do so on Etsy)

• Many sellers are small businesses

CONS

• The majority of sellers are in China, at least on Amazon

• Most pictures are UV printed, not kiln-fired and will fade

• Although buyers are happy with the photos in the beginning, many quickly fade within months

• Reviews are limited to the recent past and you can't really find reviews from years ago

#3 - ToscanoPortraits.com

Another website that appears frequently in the search results for headstone pictures is toscanoportaits.com. They fire their photos in kilns and provide a limited gaurantee. They will edit the photos and add text if desired and they offer a variety of shapes and sizes and the prices are comparable to those of photosforheadstones.com.

PROS

• The prices are much lower than those of headstone companies and cemeteries

• The photos appear to be kiln-fired

CONS

• The company is located in Romania

• There is no way to customize the picture yourself

• We cannot find reviews for their work anywhere and there is no phone number or conctact information on the website

#4 - Headstone Companies, Cemeteries, and Funeral Homes

The last and most traditional route to buying a headstone picture is through headstone companies, cemeteries and funeral homes. Most, if not all, of them offere some type of pictures, but at a premium. A small picture such as a 3"x4" photo will likely be $250 or even up to $500 or more.

Usually these companies outsource the photos and are charging a premium as a middleman. However, they often will install the photo or even recess it into the stone.

PROS

• Many of these are small businesses

• The photos are kiln-fired and guaranteed against fading

CONS

• The prices are often outrageous compared to elsewhere

• No way to customize the picture yourself

• Some have better suppliers than others and the quality can vary

OUR OVERALL PICK

So many options, but our overall pick for the best place to purchase a headstone picture is PhotosForHeadstones.com. Although the price is slightly higher than a few other places, the quality is attested to by over 1,000 customers and the company is in the USA. Their headstone pictures are guaranteed against fading and the quality appears to be on point.

We hope this little review has been informative and will help you with your decisions!