Family Portrait Photography and Outdoor Family Portraits by Craig McNeil of McNeil Designer Portraits

Would you love to have a family portrait, but you feel like you’re too busy to make it happen?

Did you have a portrait done when your kids were 1 and 3, but “suddenly” now they're 12 and 14? Maybe you've talked about a family portrait for years, but time slipped away the way.

Today’s 21st century lifestyle means the whole family’s so busy, getting together for a family portrait is a real challenge.

If it seems like no matter how much you’ve wanted a family portrait, nobody’s had the time it takes to have one done, consider how precious life really is. Kids grow up as time slips by, and unfortunately, tragedies happen and death occurs. Too often, families are left regretting they never made time to preserve an image of their unity and togetherness, including those family members or beloved pets who’ve passed on.

Taking the time to do a family portrait is a challenge, but it’s one that’s worth the effort it takes to preserve an image of your family you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

The Packard Family at Shrine Pass

How great would it feel to invest in a family portrait today, knowing it will pay memory dividends for generations to come?

A family portrait provides you with a piece of personal family art. The first time anyone views your family’s portrait, they’ll ask if it’s a photograph or a painting. A photograph that’s hand finished and embedded in artist’s canvas is like a fine painting you sit back, drink in and enjoy. Art quality presentation on canvas is ideal for family portraits, and it’s something every family deserves.

A family portrait will capture a moment in time and preserve an image of your family as you are today.

You can look forward to enjoying a portrait that never ages. Imagine enjoying a beautiful image of your family for years to come. As you gaze at your portrait, you’ll see your family together as you are at the exact moment the photograph is taken. If your little girl is 3 and your little boy is 6, they’ll be preserved at these ages for you to delight in again and again, even when they’re off to college.

A combination of classical art and imagining technology creates a classic, timeless look and a portrait that never ages. A family portrait is something you’ll enjoy for a lifetime, and it’s something family members will delight in for generations to come.

If it’s possible to own the beautiful work of personal family art you’ve wanted for years, what’s stopping you?

If yours is like most families, 4 factors may be holding you back from having your family portrait:

1. Coordination, including coordinating timing, clothing, and schedules for all family members. Coordinating for a family portrait often falls on Mom’s shoulders, as she’s often the one who organizes and runs the household. Whether it’s Mom or another family member, someone has to take charge, step up and meet the challenge coordination presents. Whether the kids are still living at home or they’re out of the nest in college, the coordination involved in a family portrait can be a big task for the 21st century parent.

The Davis Family in Breckenridge

Coordination can be a challenge, but owning a beautiful family portrait is worth the effort it takes to overcome. I do whatever it takes to make coordinating your family portrait as stress-free and convenient as possible.

2. A bad experience with a prior family portrait keeps many families from investing in another one. If the last family portrait wasn’t very good or it’s so despised, it’s now hidden away in the basement, it’s hard to feel motivated to try again. Or it could be the experience of getting together and having the photograph taken was so stressful, it still makes family members shutter.

To put their minds at ease, I offer families a 100% money back guarantee. I would rather give a family back their money than have them stick their portrait in the basement and tell people they don’t like me.

If you’re not crying tears of joy over your family portrait, you’ll receive a full refund!

I know how hard the process of having a photograph done can be, and I’m committed to making it as simple and stress-free as possible. I’ve been the Dad on photograph day when it’s 100 degrees out, the kids are fighting with each other, and everyone’s just cranky. I understand how inconvenient the process of being photographed can be, I appreciate a family’s willingness to work with me, and I make the process as easy as it can be for every family member.

3. In the age of digital cameras, families often feel they don’t need a professional photographer.  While it’s true Uncle Joe can take a picture of your family, will it be a timeless, classic piece? Will it be something you and your family cherish for years to come? Is it going to be a work of art that is the centerpiece of your home?

A family portrait is the foundation of your family life.

It’s who you are and it tells the world how much you love, appreciate, respect and enjoy one another. I create portraits that will portray you, your family or your children to the best advantage.

The Potter Family at Lake Dillon

A quality family portrait is a subtle reflection of your good taste and appreciation of fine workmanship, as well as a most appropriate expression of your personal sentiments.

4. People are often afraid visitors will view a big, beautiful family portrait as a sign of egotism. Families are afraid people will view their portrait and say, “Oh, look – aren’t they in love with themselves?”

In truth, families who display large-size, art quality family portraits receive compliments again and again. What the family actually hears is, “Oh, look how much they love, appreciate and enjoy one another!”

With professional guidance, you can overcome issues involving coordination, a bad experience in the past, misunderstandings about portraits versus pictures, or concerns about how a family portrait will be perceived by guests. The result will be a family portrait you’ll display, enjoy and cherish for years to come.

Having your family portrait done doesn’t have to be a hassle. It’s easy to stop putting it off and start making it happen today.

The process starts when your family decides, “We’re going to do this, and we’re going to do it with Craig McNeil.”

You can contact me through this website or by phone to begin the process. Use the contact form to send me a quick note, or include more personalized information. You can also pick up the phone and call my assistant Casey to book a time to sit down and do a design consultation.

It couldn’t be easier to take the first step to make your family portrait happen! Call Craig McNeil today at 720-981-9705 for more information.

“We had found someone that has the ability to capture the essence of our family bond…”

My wife and I have always wanted to make a family portrait worthy of passing on to our daughter, Emily, and some day on to her children.

When I came across your portraits, I knew now was that time since Emily is 10 years old, and since through you we had found someone that has the ability to capture the essence of our family bond and our love of Colorado. But I must confess that based on prior experiences, I personally hate sitting for portraits and dreaded the process. Luckily my trepidation proved to be completely unjustified due to how you managed this experience and your sensitivity in working with my family.

The first step was the friendship and trust that you built with our family. I never thought that I would say this, but you made it enjoyable. The setting was beautiful, the process was fun and my family stopped for a great mountain dinner before going home. I knew that we would have a great family keepsake in the form of this gorgeous portrait, but we also found warm memories that will never be forgotten.

We are very proud to show this portrait to everyone and can not thank you enough for helping us create our family treasure. I know we will keep in touch. Thank you.

Dave, Ellie & Emily Norwood
Lakewood, Colorado