Clara Beth’s Heirloom Portrait

What is an Heirloom Portrait, you may ask? Well, it’s different things to different people. For us, it’s THAT portrait. The portrait of your child as a child…innocent and sweet and timeless. That portrait that will hang on the wall in your dining room no matter how old that baby gets. That portrait that will always be in style. My mom chose to have my brothers and me photographed at age 5. Those portraits are still on the walls in her home. My mom was also photographed at age 5 and that portrait is also still hanging in her home! In fact, it’s one of Miss CB’s favorite things to look at in my parent’s home. Her Li-Li as a little girl. She LOVES it!

Different people choose different ages to photograph their children for this heirloom portrait. The most popular ages that we see are 2, 3, 4, and 5. For many, it’s the last time to photograph their little boy as a “baby” boy. Or other times we get that frantic call from a Momma who just discovered their child’s first loose tooth and MUST have that child photographed before the tooth falls out! No matter the age that you choose, it’s important that the thing that stands out in the portrait is the CHILD. Collin and I LOVE having fun and doing crazy things with photography…Girly Girls, Boys Will Be Boys, Color Pop, Funny Faces…they are all Crazy and Wild. But not heirloom. Those portraits are just plain FUN to decorate with! They are all over our home and we LOVE them (in fact, I CAN’T WAIT to show you what’s hanging above Clara Beth’s bed! Another post, another time…)!!! It’s for that reason that we offer those sessions at special prices and limited times. But, this heirloom portrait will stand the test of time and will be one that is admired for generations to come.

Well, this weekend it was Clara Beth’s turn. Actually, we planned to do her session sometime this summer, but time slipped away from us and we realized that if we were going to do it it had to be NOW. It’s kinda funny, actually, because I always laugh (not AT you…WITH you!) about those Mommas who call us at the last minute realizing that they have waited way to long and MUST have this session done NOW or the outfit won’t fit anymore. That was me this time! So, off we headed to Charleston for my amazing husband to photograph my amazing baby girl. 🙂 The one thing that I cared about was that the portrait have a very Southern feel and that Clara Beth’s natural beauty stand out. My husband followed my instructions quite nicely and I am SOOOO in love with these images. They are incredible…just like our girl. We feel about her, and Makgill, the way I know all of you feel about your children. The love all parents have for our kids is so strong that it blows me away, and I feel that these portraits capture her perfectly. I know I will ALWAYS love looking at this portrait on my wall. Now, if only I could choose one. Help, please! Which would you choose?!?!

Seriously, I really need your help so please leave a comment. I’m not sure which dress I like better, but I think she looks older in the pink one. Not that that’s a good or a bad thing. And this will probably end up painted, so keep that in mind. Thanks, Blog Readers!

1

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2

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3

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I adore this next one…not for the portrait, but I love it. Dirty feet and all. 😉

4

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5

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6

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7

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8

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9

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10

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11

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And because he was such a good boy while we photographed his sister and he just looks too cool in those extra large red glasses…my favorite 5 year old boy in the world. Love him!

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17 comments
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  • Heather WillisOctober 11, 2009 - 9:34 pm

    Aron, of course these all turned out beautiful and she is growing so much. I love to watch your babies grow and the wonderful pictures that you guys take to capture it all. I am very jealous because I love photographs and can’t wait to see what you have above CB’s bed! I just wanted to tell you that picture 5 is my pick. Honestly, they would all be beautiful but I can see her sweet spirit in #5 and she looks young but also that she is turning into a little lady. I know you are so proud. Good luck choosing:)ReplyCancel

  • Susanne HodgeOctober 11, 2009 - 9:38 pm

    Beautiful! I LOVE 1, 4, and 9 (3, too)! I think I might pick 4 as the heirloom portrait, because it really showcases her and her beauty and everything else is muted! Of course, that’s just my initial thought and if this was Anna I’d go back and forth a million times before finally deciding!ReplyCancel

  • Ashley EdwardsOctober 11, 2009 - 9:41 pm

    oh my gracious! they are all SOOOOO good! I can only narrow it down to three!! 2, 6 & 9….and I think #6 would probably be my “portrait” choice…what a hard decision!! She is growing up so fast! What a precious little girl! 😉ReplyCancel

  • Denise ReeseOctober 11, 2009 - 9:42 pm

    Number 7 for sure. Nothing says “Southern” more than a Strasburg dress on a barefoot little girl. Love her expression, her hair and how her feet are placed. I can totally see this on a dining room wall for many years to come. I have this same dress in pink in multiple sizes and have photos of all 3 of my girls in it! Love them all, but favorite is #7 !!! Makes me wish my girls were little again!!ReplyCancel

  • Heather WillisOctober 11, 2009 - 9:49 pm

    Oh wait- I just re- read the part about it being painted- #7 may be a better portrait painted. I love them all though but 6 and 7 are my favs.ReplyCancel

  • Susanne HodgeOctober 11, 2009 - 9:51 pm

    Ok, 1, 5 and 10–with 5 being my fave!ReplyCancel

  • aronOctober 11, 2009 - 9:52 pm

    Y’all i added one so the numbers may be different now…SORRY!!! And thank you so much for your opinions!ReplyCancel

  • Denise ReeseOctober 11, 2009 - 9:56 pm

    Ok, now Number 8 since you added one!!ReplyCancel

  • Jennifer RobinsonOctober 11, 2009 - 10:02 pm

    ok I said 8 first but looking over them again and again and again I will say 8 or 10. It’s just too hard.ReplyCancel

  • SarahOctober 11, 2009 - 10:12 pm

    LOVE number 2! the smile- the feet. the brick and the grass. perfect.ReplyCancel

  • Emily MatthewsOctober 11, 2009 - 10:31 pm

    2 is my favorite. I love the smile! It shows her personality!ReplyCancel

  • Alicia SawyerOctober 12, 2009 - 8:03 am

    #2 made me smile! 🙂 ~aliciaReplyCancel

  • Brandy LittleOctober 12, 2009 - 8:31 am

    These are beautiful. My favorites are 2 and 8. I can’t decide between the two dresses, they are both so pretty. Seeing these have made me even more excited to see the ours next week! Clara Beth is just soooo precious!ReplyCancel

  • NatalieOctober 12, 2009 - 9:35 am

    My pick is 8 for sure-I keep going back to it…everything about it I love- her face, the way she’s standing, the setting. I am soooo with you on #4 Aron!!! Love that one too-it’s just beautiful…love the ways she’s holding the dress and the way her hair and posture look…the coloring of the shot is beautiful tooReplyCancel

  • Mary JeffordsOctober 12, 2009 - 10:31 am

    I just LOVE number 5! She’s such a doll!ReplyCancel

  • Martha DarleyOctober 12, 2009 - 4:30 pm

    Time stand still for me at #8! I just love everything about this one! Her foot up, the gate, her expression, her eyes! Wow! Any of these will be beautiful in your home! I’d love to see a post of the one you choose along side the one of Mak…I’m guessing at this same age? Your children are beautiful:) marthaReplyCancel

  • Crystal AskinsOctober 12, 2009 - 9:03 pm

    Hard to choose, but I like 2, 4, and 8. Although I would not choose 4 for the portrait, I love the view of the back. All of them are so pretty!ReplyCancel