A gentle guide to memorial shirts with photo: choosing the right picture, in loving memory wording and dates, respectful layouts, using old photos and ordering in time for a service.
Memorial shirts with photo prints let a family wear the face of the person they love to the service, the repast and the gatherings that follow. The process is simple: choose a clear photo, add a name, dates and a few words, preview it on the shirt, and order as few or as many as you need. If you are planning one right now, we are sorry for your loss, and this guide is here to make the decisions a little easier. You can create the shirt on our design your own memorial shirt page and see it before you pay.
How do you make memorial shirts with a photo?
To make memorial shirts with a photo, upload a clear picture of your loved one in an online shirt designer, add their name and dates, choose a shirt color, and check the live preview. Full color printing reproduces skin tones, soft backgrounds and older photos without extra charges for the number of colors.
In practice, the steps look like this:
- Pick one photo. One clear face reads better than a collage when people are standing across a room.
- Write the words. The full name, birth and passing dates, and a short phrase.
- Choose the shirt color. White and light gray let a photo look natural; black gives a formal look with a softer photo frame.
- Preview on the real shirt. Check the size of the face and whether the text is easy to read in the live shirt preview.
- Order for the family. There is no minimum, so you can start with the immediate family and order more later as relatives ask.
Our guide to designing a shirt online shows each screen of the designer if you would like more detail.
Which photo should you choose for a memorial shirt?
Choose a memorial shirt photo where your loved one's face is in focus, well lit, and looking toward the camera, ideally a picture that shows them the way the family remembers them. A smile from a family celebration often means more than a formal portrait. The photo should be sharp when you zoom in on the eyes.
A few things we look for when families bring photos to our Hollywood shop:
- Size: the original file from a phone, not a screenshot or a photo saved from social media, which is usually compressed and small.
- Light: daylight photos print with more natural skin tones than photos taken in a dim restaurant.
- Background: a busy background can be removed so the person stands out on its own. Our guide on how to put a photo on a shirt explains background removal.
- Group photos: cropping one person out of a group works only if they fill enough of the frame. If the face is tiny in the original, it will look soft on the shirt.
An ideal file is a PNG at 300 dpi, around 4500 x 5400 pixels. A real person checks every file before printing, and if the photo is too small for the size you chose, we will reach out before anything prints rather than send you a shirt that disappoints.
What wording goes on an in loving memory shirt?
An in loving memory shirt usually carries the person's full name, the years or full dates of birth and passing, and one short phrase such as "Forever in Our Hearts" or "Gone but Never Forgotten." Many families add a nickname, a favorite saying, or a line of scripture that the person loved.
Phrases families often choose:
- "In Loving Memory of" above the name
- "Forever in Our Hearts"
- "Until We Meet Again"
- "Always With Us" or "Watching Over Us"
- "En memoria de" or "Siempre en nuestros corazones" for Spanish speaking families
- A favorite phrase they said every day, which often brings a smile at the service
Write the dates the way the family speaks about them. "1948 to 2026" is clean and quick to read. Full dates like "March 4, 1948, November 1, 2026" work better on the back where there is more room. Double check every letter of the name and every digit of the dates, and have a second family member read it too. Grief makes small mistakes easy to miss.
What layouts look tasteful on memorial shirts?
Tasteful memorial shirt layouts keep the photo as the center, give it some space, and set the text in one or two calm fonts. Soft edges, a simple frame, or a light floral border look respectful. Avoid crowding the shirt with many photos, many fonts and long poems on the front.
| Layout | What it includes | Works well for |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait with soft fade | Photo with edges fading into the shirt, name and years below | Light shirts, most services |
| Framed photo | Photo in an oval or arch frame with flowers or doves | Black or navy shirts, formal look |
| Front photo, back message | Photo and name on the front, a poem or prayer on the back | Families who want a longer tribute |
| Wings or sky | Original wing illustration or clouds behind the photo | Younger loved ones, celebration of life events |
| Interest theme | Photo with original art of their hobby, like fishing, dominoes or gardening | Showing who they were in daily life |
If your loved one was a devoted fan of a team or a brand, we cannot print that logo without permission from the owner. Their team colors, a jersey number, or an original drawing of their favorite sport carries the same meaning. Our guide to what you can print on custom shirts explains more.
Can an old or damaged photo be used on a memorial shirt?
Yes, an old or damaged photo can often be used on a memorial shirt if it is scanned well. Scan the printed photo at 600 dpi or higher on a flatbed scanner, or take it to a photo store that scans prints. Faded color and small scratches are much less noticeable once the photo is printed on cotton.
For heavier damage, such as tears, water stains or a crease across the face, a photo restoration service can repair the image before you upload it. Some families choose to keep the vintage warmth of an old photo on purpose and pair it with a cream or natural shirt, which suits the age of the picture. A black and white photo prints beautifully as well and looks timeless on any shirt color. Once the scan is ready, upload it to the designer and zoom in on the face in the preview before you order.
How quickly can memorial shirts be ready for a service?
Memorial shirts from Imperial Custom Apparel ship within 2 business days after you order, and shipping transit time is added on top. Families in South Florida can choose local pickup in Hollywood, FL to skip transit. Because services are often scheduled quickly, call us at (954) 280 0627 before ordering so we know the date.
To save time, have the photo, the exact spelling of the name and the dates ready before you open the online memorial shirt designer, and decide on sizes for the immediate family first. You can always place a second order later for cousins and friends who ask for a shirt after the service. If time is very short, our post on getting custom shirts fast covers what helps an order move quickly.
Where can you order memorial shirts with no minimum?
You can order memorial shirts with no minimum from Imperial Custom Apparel in Hollywood, FL, in the Miami area. One shirt costs $25 with a full color front print, the same price per shirt as a large family order, and every photo is checked by a real person before printing on our industrial Kornit machines.
- Pick the shirt, color and size for each family member in the designer, all from $25 with a full color front.
- A prayer, poem or the full dates can go on the back as a back print.
- A real person looks at every photo and reaches out if it will not print sharp at the size you chose.
- Live preview before paying, US shipping or local pickup, and any damaged or misprinted shirt reprinted or refunded.
We have printed since 2019, and memorial shirts are some of the most meaningful orders we handle. When you are ready, start on our design your own shirt page, and call if you would rather talk it through with a person.
Frequently asked questions
Can I order a single memorial shirt with a photo?
Yes, you can order a single memorial shirt with a photo. Imperial Custom Apparel has no minimum, so one shirt costs $25 with a full color front print, the same price per shirt as a family order. More shirts can be ordered later when other relatives ask for one.
What size should the photo be for a memorial shirt?
The photo for a memorial shirt should ideally be around 4500 x 5400 pixels at 300 dpi for a full front print. Use the original phone photo or a 600 dpi scan rather than a screenshot. A real person checks every memorial shirt photo and contacts you if it is too small.
What colors work for memorial shirts?
White, light gray and black are the most common memorial shirt colors. White and light gray let the photo look natural, while black gives a formal look when the photo has a soft frame. Some families choose the loved one's favorite color, which full color printing handles on any shirt.
Can you print a team logo on a memorial shirt?
No, Imperial Custom Apparel does not print trademarked team logos on memorial shirts without permission from the owner. You can honor a loved one's team with their team colors, a jersey number with their name, or an original drawing of the sport they loved, which keeps the tribute personal.
Where can I get memorial shirts with a photo near Miami?
Imperial Custom Apparel prints memorial shirts with a photo in Hollywood, FL, about 20 minutes from downtown Miami. Design online with a live preview, order with no minimum, and choose shipping or local pickup. Orders ship within 2 business days. Call or text (954) 280 0627 to share the service date.
Honor them with a shirt the family can wear together
Full color memorial shirts with photo from $25, no minimum, every photo checked by a real person, shipped within 2 business days or picked up in Hollywood, FL. Call or text (954) 280 0627 and tell us the service date.
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