Ceramic Photo Plaques for Headstones: A London Guide

In short: A ceramic photo plaque — also called a memorial photo plaque or porcelain photo plaque — is a kiln-fired portrait of a loved one fixed permanently to a headstone. The image is printed onto premium porcelain and fired at high temperature, so the colour is weatherproof and does not fade. Prices start from £65 supplied UK-wide, or from £85 supplied and fitted in London. Plaques come as oval portrait medallions in 3”, 4.5” and 6” sizes, or as rectangular plaques in custom sizes.

Few things bring a memorial to life quite like a face. A name and dates tell us who someone was; a photograph reminds us. A ceramic photo plaque lets a loved one look out from their headstone for decades, in colour that the British weather cannot wash away. This guide explains what these plaques are, how they are made, what photograph you need, what they cost, and how a portrait sits alongside the rest of a memorial.

What is a ceramic photo plaque?

A ceramic photo plaque is a small, permanent portrait fixed to a headstone. The image is digitally printed in high resolution onto a premium porcelain substrate, then permanently kiln-fired at high temperature. That firing is the important part: it fuses the image into the porcelain rather than sitting it on the surface, which is why the colour is permanent and weatherproof rather than something that peels or fades.

The result is frost-proof and UV-stable — built to cope with both the cold of a London winter and years of sunlight without losing its colour. The plaque is held in place with stainless steel fixings rated for outdoor memorial use, so it stays secure in all weather. You will also see these called grave photo plaques, headstone photo plaques, porcelain photo plaques or oval portrait medallions; they are all the same idea — a fired, lasting photograph for a memorial.

Shapes and sizes

There are two main formats to choose from, and the right one depends on the headstone and the look you want.

• Oval portrait medallions — the classic shape, available in 3”, 4.5” and 6” sizes. The 3” suits a smaller headstone or a discreet portrait; the larger sizes make more of a feature of the face and read clearly from a short distance.
• Rectangular plaques — available in custom sizes, which gives more flexibility for a wider image, a landscape photograph, or a particular space on the stone.

If you are unsure which size suits your memorial, send a photograph of the headstone along with your chosen portrait when you request a quote, and we can advise on what will sit best.

What photograph do I need?

This is the question families ask most, and the answer is reassuring: you usually do not need a professional photograph. What matters is resolution and light.

For a 3” plaque, the photograph should be at least around 600 pixels across at the face — in other words, the face itself needs to be reasonably large and sharp in the original image, not a tiny figure in the distance. A standard smartphone photo taken in good light is usually sufficient. Larger plaques benefit from a higher-resolution image, so if you have the choice, send the best and largest version of the photograph you have.

A few practical points worth knowing:

• Closer is better. A clear, well-lit portrait reproduces far better than a cropped section of a group photo.
• Avoid heavily filtered or low-light images where the detail has already been lost.
• Send the original file where you can, rather than a screenshot or a photo of a photo, as each copy loses a little quality.

If you are not sure whether an image will work, send it anyway — we check every photograph and show you a proof before anything is fired.

How the process works

The plaque is made to order, and every step is designed so you see exactly what you are getting before it becomes permanent.

1. Submit your photograph — you send your chosen image through our secure online portal.
2. Approve a digital proof — we send a digital proof showing exactly how the finished plaque will look, for your approval. Nothing is produced until you are happy.
3. Ceramic production and firing — your approved image is digitally printed onto premium porcelain and permanently kiln-fired.
4. Quality check — each plaque is inspected for colour accuracy, sharpness and edge quality.
5. Fitting or dispatch — our London team fits the plaque directly to the headstone, or we dispatch it securely packaged anywhere in the UK.

A rush turnaround of around 5 working days is available if you need the plaque ready for an anniversary or a particular date. You can see the full service on our memorial portraits page.

What does a ceramic photo plaque cost?

Pricing is straightforward and depends on whether you want the plaque supplied only or supplied and fitted.

Option	From
Supply only (delivered UK-wide)	£65
Supplied and fitted in London	£85

Supply only suits families outside London, or anyone whose monumental mason will fit the plaque for them. Supplied and fitted is the simplest option within London — we make the plaque and our team fixes it to the headstone for you, with the right stainless steel fittings, across London cemeteries. As with all our work, you receive a free, no-obligation quote before anything goes ahead.

Pairing a portrait with the rest of the memorial

A new portrait often draws attention to the rest of the headstone — and a bright plaque can sit a little awkwardly on a stone that has greyed with lichen or whose lettering has faded. Many families take the opportunity to refresh the whole memorial at once.

A portrait pairs particularly well with restored lettering. If the inscription has dulled over the years, headstone lettering and gilding brings the name back to clarity so the stone reads as one — sharp letters and a clear face together. Where a second name is being added at the same time, our guide to adding a new inscription to a headstone explains how that is done on site. It is also worth giving the stone a clean before a new plaque goes on, so the portrait sits against a fresh surface rather than a soiled one.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a ceramic photo plaque last on a headstone? High-quality kiln-fired ceramic plaques are rated for outdoor use in all weather conditions and will last for many decades. Because the image is fired into the porcelain rather than printed on top, the colour does not fade in the way a surface print would, and the stainless steel fixings are made for long-term outdoor use.

What photograph do I need? You need a photograph of at least around 600 pixels across at the face for a 3” plaque. A standard smartphone photo taken in good light is usually sufficient. Larger plaques benefit from a higher-resolution image, and we always check your photograph and send a proof before firing.

Can you fit a plaque to an existing headstone? Yes. Our London team fits plaques directly to existing headstones across London cemeteries using stainless steel fixings rated for outdoor memorial use. Supplied and fitted in London starts from £85.

Can I order supply only? Yes. We offer a supply-only option from £65, dispatched securely packaged UK-wide. This suits families outside London or anyone arranging their own fitting through a local mason.

Do I see the design before it is made? Yes. After you submit your photograph we send a digital proof showing exactly how the finished plaque will look. Nothing is printed or fired until you have approved it.

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A photograph on a headstone is one of the most personal additions a family can make to a memorial. Memorial Guardian London supplies and fits ceramic and porcelain photo plaques across all 32 boroughs and the M25, and supplies them UK-wide. If you would like a free, no-obligation quote, request a free assessment and send us your photograph — we will show you a proof before anything is made.