Whanau / Family Photo Plaque

Whānau is everything. This Whānau / Family Photo Plaque turns your favourite family photo into a striking 3D carved artwork that celebrates the people who matter most.

Using our exclusive Photo V-Carve process, we transform your image into a textured carving using hundreds of V-cut lines at varying depths. Darker areas are cut deeper, lighter areas stay higher — creating shading, detail, and depth that brings faces and moments to life. It’s not printed. It’s not lasered. It’s CNC carved into MDF, line by line, for a finish that’s tactile, bold, and seriously impressive up close.

Framed with “WHĀNAU” and “FAMILY” text plus two red heart accents, this plaque honours connection, aroha, and whakapapa. Perfect for the family home, as a gift for parents or grandparents, or to remember loved ones.

Each piece is CNC carved and hand-finished. Because every photo is different, every plaque is completely unique.

How Photo V-Carve Works
We take your supplied photo and convert it into a toolpath of V-cut lines. The spacing and depth of each line recreates the light, shadow, and detail of your image. From a distance you see the family. Up close you see the craftsmanship. It’s remarkable how much emotion comes through in timber.

Material & Finish

• MDF Only – The smooth, consistent surface of MDF gives the sharpest detail for photo carving
• Finish: Matt black and silver with hand-painted red hearts for a modern, high-contrast look that makes the carved photo pop

Fully Customisable Text
Change the text to suit your whānau:

• “THE SMITHS” top and bottom
• “Nana & Koro” / “Mum, Dad & the Kids”
• Add “Est. 1985” or “Aroha Tūturu”
• Replace “WHĀNAU / FAMILY” with your family name, marae, or whakataukī

Product Details:

• Size: 380mm diameter round
• Material: MDF only
• Finish: Matt black background with silver raised text and border, red hearts
• Process: Photo V-Carve using multiple V-cut lines at varying depths for shading
• Hanging: Keyhole slot routed into the back for easy, flush wall mounting
• Fully Customisable: Photo, text, and layout tailored to your whānau

How to Order Your Custom Photo Plaque

1. Click “Contact” or email us your high-resolution family photo. Group shots with clear faces work best.
2. Tell us the text you want — family name, “Whānau”, “Family”, dates, or a short saying.
3. We’ll send a digital mock-up to confirm the layout before we start carving.

Lead Time
Please allow 10-15 working days for dispatch once the photo and text are confirmed. Photo V-Carve is detailed work and we want it perfect.

Photo Tips for Best Results
Send the clearest, highest-resolution photo you have. Good lighting, minimal shadows, and faces close to the camera carve best. Old scanned photos can work too — we’ll advise. Not sure if your photo will work? Send it through and we’ll check before you order.