How to Add Personal Touches to Your Life Portrait
- david cortez
- May 7
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 17
A Life Portrait is more than just a timeline—it’s a living tribute to moments that define a life. Whether you’re commemorating a loved one or celebrating someone still with us, adding personal touches helps transform each photo, video, and keepsake into something deeply meaningful. Here’s how you can make your Life Portrait even more personal and memorable.
1. Add a Biography
Every Life Portrait starts with a story—and the biography section is where you tell it.
This can be a traditional life story, a heartfelt obituary, or simply an introduction for someone still living. Whether you're honoring a loved one, celebrating a milestone, or chronicling your own journey, the biography helps set the tone for the portrait.
You might include:
Where they’re from and what shaped them
Hobbies, passions, and defining traits
Milestones or accomplishments
What makes them unique—funny quirks, favorite memories, or guiding values
If the portrait is for a beloved pet, you can describe their personality, favorite spots, and the joy they bring.
No matter the subject, this section provides meaningful context for the memories, photos, and keepsakes that follow—inviting others to connect more deeply.
2. Add Recounts or Stories to Provide Context
Behind every year are stories worth telling. Click on a photo under the Gallery → Time section, and use the provided text box to describe the moment, the people involved, or why that year was significant. Whether it’s a funny anecdote or a heartfelt reflection, these written memories bring life to static images and offer deeper meaning to anyone viewing your Life Portrait.
You don’t need to worry about saving—your story is saved automatically as you type.
3. Set an Album Cover
Your album cover sets the tone—it’s the first thing people see when they visit your tribute. By default, we automatically select a meaningful image based on several criteria, and we’ll continue adjusting it over time as your portrait evolves.
However, you also have full control. You can manually choose your ideal cover photo to lock it in and prevent future automatic updates. Whether it’s a milestone, a quiet candid moment, or an image that captures the person's spirit, your selected photo becomes the face of the tribute.
You can customize cover images across Time, People, and Places, giving you flexibility in how each part of the Life Portrait is introduced.
4. Add Photo Descriptions
Sometimes, the most powerful stories are hidden in the small details. With each photo in your Life Portrait, you can add a short description to help preserve context—what was happening, who took the photo, or why it mattered.
In addition to tagging faces, setting a date, and selecting a location, you can also click the "Edit" icon to include a meaningful note.
Whether it's a funny moment, a touching memory, or a simple caption like “Christmas morning 1991 in Montebello” these small additions bring each image to life and help future viewers better understand its significance.
Your memories aren't just visual—they're layered with meaning. Descriptions help bring those layers forward.
5. Upload Keepsakes: Audio, Voice Memos, Videos, and More
Don’t limit your tribute to just photos. The Keepsakes section allows you to upload and preserve a wide range of meaningful items—like audio clips, voice memos, PDFs, videos, and images.
Imagine hearing a loved one share a favorite story in their own voice, reading their handwritten notes, learning how to make a cherished family recipe, or watching a video message created for the future. You can even record a voice memo directly within the platform to capture thoughts in the moment.
These keepsakes transform memories into tangible moments—ones that speak, show, and connect in ways that photos alone simply can’t.
Special Feature: Set Future Unlock Dates
Want to save something special for a later date? With our Memory Time Capsule feature, you can choose a specific day in the future when a keepsake will be revealed. It’s perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or heartfelt surprise messages for loved ones.
Whether it’s a voice recording, a video, or even a letter, these time capsules can be set to unlock just when they’re needed most—adding a meaningful layer of anticipation and legacy to your Life Portrait.
6. Continue Evolving the Tribute Over Time
Life changes—and your tribute can, too. You can return at any time to update stories, add new memories, or upload recent keepsakes. As the portrait evolves, so does its emotional depth, becoming a lasting legacy that grows alongside your life or the life of someone you love.
For Living Portraits, we’ll gently remind you from time to time to revisit and add new memories. Whether it’s a milestone, a small moment, or something meaningful that happened recently, you’ll never need to worry about forgetting to preserve what matters most.
A Life Portrait isn’t just a reflection of the past—it’s a canvas for love, memory, and legacy.
Start personalizing your portrait today and turn moments into something truly unforgettable.
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