History Main / FamilyPortraitOfCharacterization

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mlfamily_0.png]]]]

* ''Film/KapoorAndSons'': The ironic variant, as the family does not get along but the patriarch wants a happy family photo titled Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921). On the day of the shoot dark secrets come to light and they don't wind up taking it. They eventually take it after [[spoiler:Harsh dies, and place a cutout of him in the new photo in his memory.]]

* "WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia}}": The lavish[[spoiler: if later on somewhat faded and possibly vandalized]] Romanov family portrait in the ballroom of the Catherine Palace plays a prominent role in three scenes. A lesser example is another ballroom painting depicting Dowager Empress Marie and Anastasia holding hands. Both paintings are implied to [[spoiler: stir something within the title character, although not help her remember her past entirely.]]

* "WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia1997}}": The lavish[[spoiler: if later on somewhat faded and possibly vandalized]] Romanov family portrait in the ballroom of the Catherine Palace plays a prominent role in three scenes. A lesser example is another ballroom painting depicting Dowager Empress Marie and Anastasia holding hands. Both paintings are implied to [[stir something within the title character, although not help her remember her past entirely.]]

** Someone is [[SnubByOmission deliberately excluded from the family photo]]: It means whoever's in charge of the photo didn't want this relative noted as part of the family, possibly contextualizing them as TheUnfavorite or an embarrassment to the family legacy. See also {{Unperson}}. Alternatively, they have been RemovedFromThePicture.

Compare the FatalFamilyPhoto, which is a happy photograph that characterizes someone as a loving spouse, parent, or partner...before they're killed off. Such a family portrait may also be a PreciousPhoto. Compare also FormerFriendsPhoto and HappierHomeMovie. Compare FunnyPhotoPhrase for another photography gag trope.

* '' Fanfic/TheSunWillComeUpAndTheSeasonsWillChange'': During Chapter 11, Mary shows Blanca and Vic a professionally-done Christmas photo on her phone of her family at Phipps Conservatory during the previous Christmas season. While Mary, Todd, and Reagan are all happy and smiling, [[AbusiveParents Dana]] is scowling and Vic points out it looks like Dana doesn't want to be there. It demonstrates how Dana's ControlFreak attitude renders her unable to enjoy and accept her youngest daughter, and to a lesser extent, her life.

* In ''Series/TheUmbrellaAcademy2019'', patriarch Sir Reginald disallowed Vanya from joining the official family portrait because she had no powers and thus didn't officially partake in superheroics with the rest of her adoptive siblings. This is one of the flashbacks that establishes her as TheUnfavorite.

** A portrait in the Schnee family's mansion from several years prior shows Jacques Schnee's wife and daughters looking sad/unhappy (in the present day, his wife is an alcoholic because of him, and his daughters Winter and Weiss have both made efforts to escape his emotionally abusive hold over them). Whitley (his son, whom he favors), on the other hand, is smiling.
** When introduced to one of Jaune's sisters, a sibling portrait in her home shows all the sisters happily smiling or posing for the photo, with Jaune (sitting in the center and his hair in ponytails) looking resigned and holding a sign that says "HELP." Some of the poses and antics the Arc sisters display gives the viewers an impression of their possible personalities -- one has big round glasses and is standing straight and proper, another is posing like a sailor in a lookout position, and twins making funny faces (one stretching her mouth open and making fish eyes and the other doing an ''akanbe'').

** If the family is particularly chaotic, expect the picture to showcase a LastSecondPhotoFailure.

** When introduced to one of Jaune's sisters, a sibling portrait in her home shows all the sisters happily smiling or posing for the photo, with Jaune (sitting in the center and his hair in ponytails) looking resigned and holding a sign that says "HELP.". The some of the poses and antics the Arc sisters display gives the viewers an impression of their possible personalities -- one has big round glasses and is standing straight and proper, another is posing like a sailor in a lookout position, and twins making funny faces (one stretching her mouth open and making fish eyes and the other doing an ''akanbe'').

* ''Film/{{Jane Eyre|2006}}'' (2006):

* ''Series/CriminalMinds'': In "The Fox," they profile the unsub's family portrait. Supposedly from "when they were happy," before his wife left him, the picture shows that the wife's smile is forced and that she's set herself and the children away from her husband, highlighting that there were cracks in the marriage even then.

* ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'': It's blink and you'll miss it, but Teisel's introductory scene after defeating Bon Bonne shows a massive portrait on one wall of his room, depicting a younger Teisel with his parents. From their formal wear and posture it could be implied that the Bonnes had a much more opulent past before something lead Teisel into the pirating business (presumably the parents passing away).

** When introduced to one of Jaune's sisters, a sibling portrait in her home shows all the sisters happily smiling or posing for the photo, with Jaune (sitting in the center and his hair in ponytails) looking irked and holding a sign that says "HELP!". The various poses and antics the Arc sisters display can give a viewer an impression of their actual personality -- one has big round glasses and is standing straight and proper, another is posing like a sailor in a lookout position, and twins making funny faces (one stretching her mouth open and the other doing an ''akanbe'').

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mlfamily.png]]]]

* '' Fanfic/TheSunWillComeUpAndTheSeasonsWillChange'': During Chapter 11, Mary shows Blanca and Vic a professionally-done Christmas photo on her phone of her family at Phipps Conservatory during the previous Christmas season. While Mary, Todd, and Reagan are all happy and smiling, [[AbusiveParents Dana]] is scowling and Vic points out it looks like Dana doesn’t want to be there. It demonstrates how Dana’s ControlFreak attitude renders her unable to enjoy and accept her youngest daughter, and to a lesser extent, her life.

* ''Film/JaneEyre'' (2006):