Heirloom Portraits

The most popular age is one year — it’s such a milestone moment, and many families choose to celebrate their child’s first birthday with a classic portrait session. That said, any time from 1-5 works great, as long as your little one can sit up independently. One of my favorite suggestions? Book a session before they start losing their baby teeth — those preschool/toddler portraits become absolutely priceless.

Styling is one of the most important parts of creating a timeless heirloom portrait, and I’ve put together detailed guides to make it easy for you. Simple, classic pieces with collars and smocking in soft neutrals and whites always photograph beautifully.

• Girls’ Styling Guide
• Boys’ Styling Guide

As an affiliate of Feltman Brothers classic children’s clothing, my clients receive a 10% discount on their website with the code SARAHHILL10.

After your session, we’ll meet over Zoom to view your images together and explore artwork options. I’ll help you choose pieces that work perfectly in your home. Last year, the most popular choice was a multi-opening frame featuring three portraits — moms love having three different poses/expressions in one frame. I carry a curated collection of frames to choose from, and every portrait is printed on museum-quality archival paper, built to last for generations. 

Every frame I offer is handcrafted and custom-made in the U.S., specifically for your portraits. The wood molding is carefully selected, the matting is cut to order, and your images are printed on museum-quality archival paper designed to last not just your lifetime, but your children’s. When you invest in an heirloom portrait, the frame is part of the heirloom!

Have a look at the process, featuring one of my sweet 1 year old clients!

The matching digital image (in color and black and white) is included with every piece of artwork you order.

Heirloom portraits are created with intention. Every detail — the styling, the lighting, the posing — is crafted to produce a timeless image rather than a trendy one. These are portraits you’ll frame and hand down, not photos that live only on your phone. 

My studio is in a historic building dating back to 1785 in Old Town Alexandria. Sessions are scheduled Monday through Friday between 10:00am and 12:00pm, and typically last just 10–20 minutes. I keep things warm, relaxed, and playful, so your little one can just be themselves. 

Some items mom often find helpful: a comb or brush, a favorite toy or stuffed animal, and something for chapped lips.

There is a $200 sitting fee to reserve your date. Wall art and albums are selected separately after you’ve seen your images. The average family invests around $1,200 total in artwork. 

Within two weeks of your session, your images will be ready to view. We’ll meet over Zoom to choose your favorites, and I’ll help you design the custom artwork you’d like for your home. It’s one of my favorite parts of the whole experience.