30 family and class reunion photo ideas

Recreating old photos

A recreation is the reunion photo: the same people, in the same pose, years apart. They need a little planning, so ask everyone to bring one old print, or send a copy ahead, and decide who has the original in hand on the day.

• The old class photo, on the same steps, in the same rows if anyone remembers.
• A childhood photo of the siblings, recreated in the same order and pose.
• The old print held up in front of the new scene, with the same people behind it.
• The family holiday photo everyone still talks about, down to the hats.
• The oldest couple's wedding photo, recreated by the couple themselves.
• The old team or band photo, with whoever turned up.

Family reunion photo ideas across the generations

This may be the only day every generation is in the same room. Get them into the same frame early, before the youngest need a nap.

• The oldest and the youngest, together.
• Every generation in one line, oldest to youngest.
• A grandparent's hand holding a baby's.
• Each branch of the family on its own, then all of them together.
• The cousins lined up by age, the way your grandparents used to line you up.
• Two relatives meeting for the first time.

Around the table

Each table at a reunion has its own afternoon, and photographs only itself. On one shared roll, every table ends up in the same place.

• The food, before anyone starts.
• The whole table from one end, everyone leaning in.
• The cook in the kitchen, before they sit down.
• The table that laughed the most.
• Old classmates in the order they sat in at school.
• The table afterwards: empty glasses, crumbs, and the chairs pushed back.

The stories, in photos and memos

• Someone telling the old story, mid-sentence.
• The faces listening to it.
• The box of old prints being passed round.
• The family tree on paper, with everyone pointing at their name.
• The yearbook, open at someone's page.
• Whoever came the furthest, the moment they walk in.

Photos keep the faces; the stories need voices. Leave memos on and ask one question. Every guest can leave one memo, 5 to 60 seconds, in their own voice, and each plays back as a voice message with the speaker's face and the question they answered. In one afternoon, you can collect the family's stories from the people who lived them.

Ask something with a story in it, up to 120 characters: “What is your first memory of this family?” For a class, try “What do you remember about our first day?” More questions in audio guest book questions, and how memos work on the memos page.

Goodbyes

• One more group photo before the first car leaves, not after.
• Goodbyes at the door.
• Leftovers being shared out into tubs.
• The children asleep in the back seat.
• The date of the next reunion, written down.
• The empty room, chairs stacked, lights still on.

One roll for the whole reunion

Reunion photos scatter as fast as the guests do: everyone shoots their own corner, and the rest of the family never sees it. One shared roll keeps every phone's photos in one place and develops for everyone at once. This is how to set it up on papershot.

1. 01

   Make the moment before the invitations go out

   Name it, set the start and the end, and pick a film look. Vintage sets one look for everyone, and suits a day built around old photos.

2. 02

   Pick the size

   A free moment takes up to 4 guests. Paid sizes run from 8 guests to unlimited, so a big family or a whole year group fits, for one payment and no subscription.

3. 03

   Choose the shots per guest

   5, 10, 16, 24, or 36. For a long afternoon, 16 or 24 each is plenty; see how many shots per guest.

4. 04

   Send the link with the invitation

   People arrive with the app ready. They need papershot on iPhone or Android, but not an account. For older relatives, someone at the door can scan the card with them.

5. 05

   Develop it together, then download it

   Set the roll to develop at the end of the day. Then anyone in the moment can download it at full resolution, one photo at a time or the whole moment as one .zip, so every household goes home with the same photos. Memos save as files.

A paid moment is kept 30 days after the roll closes, and a free one 48 hours, so download it before then. More on the reunion page.