Heirloom Portraits: Capturing the Magic of Childhood, Timelessly
There’s something truly magical about a portrait that stands the test of time—one that draws you in so completely, you can imagine the time, the place, and just how much the world has changed. And yet, despite all that change, a child’s heart remains the same. That’s the power of an Heirloom portrait.
When people ask what makes an Heirloom portrait so special, I always think of my husband Sam’s grandfather. He was a small-town doctor in Wisconsin, a military veteran who married his sweetheart and took care of every family in town—he even delivered all the babies! “Grampa,” or Doc Gage, as everyone called him, proudly displayed Heirloom portraits of his four children in the sunroom.
Soft, simple, and full of feeling, those portraits told stories through the children’s eyes. Even as they grew into adults, raised families of their own, and became grandparents themselves, those images captured a version of them he could always hold onto. They froze a moment of pure childhood, and the deep love a parent carries for their child.
One client recently shared a portrait of her husband that his parents had done when he was little. She was so moved to continue the tradition with their own child. That’s what I love about Heirloom portraits: they preserve not just a face, but a legacy.
I’ve been photographing Heirloom portraits for over 22 years, and I still feel honored every time I create one. This collection of sweet little faces always makes me smile. One of the very first children I photographed is now a Naval Aviator. If you held her portrait next to one I took yesterday, you wouldn’t be able to tell which one was taken over 20 years ago and which one was taken in 2025. That’s the beauty of my Heirloom style: it’s timeless.
So when is the right time to schedule a session?
The answer is simple: when your heart says it’s time. Some families come every year, and what a treat to have watched many children literally grow up in front of my lens. Others wait until each child reaches a certain age. And some choose to have all their children photographed in the same year. A couple of years ago I created Heirlooms of my boys at ages 18, 16, 14, 12 and 4. It was a special year in our lives, and I always wanted to be pulled back to that moment. My advice? Follow your heart. These portraits are personal treasures, a way to honor a season that passes all too quickly.
Each Heirloom portrait is printed on fine art paper and hand-signed for a lasting keepsake. Since our very first Heirloom portrait session at Monday’s Child in 2020, this offering has become a cherished tradition in Alexandria and beyond. Maura and I are thrilled to continue it this year at her beautiful new location at 127 South Fairfax Street.
We are honored to play a small part in celebrating the magic of childhood and preserve these fleeting moments.
Reserve a session for our Heirloom Portraits on Saturday, August 23. We can’t wait to see you!
SEE ALSO: Because Time Doesn’t Wait: Why Family Photos Matter
