Made to be held, hung and handed down.

Begin with where the portrait will hang. A petite frame belongs on a dresser or a bookshelf. A statement frame belongs over a mantel or at the end of a hallway. Then choose a moulding that suits your home and a mat that gives the portrait room to breathe.

Every heirloom is framed behind conservation glass, which protects the portrait from fading. Museum glass adds an anti-reflective coating. The glass nearly disappears and the portrait can be seen clearly in any light.

Keep your portrait out of direct sunlight. Even conservation glass cannot fully protect a portrait from years of direct sun. Hang it on an inside wall when you can. Keep it away from bathrooms and fireplaces and vents. Clean the glass gently. Spray a soft cloth rather than the glass so that nothing seeps under the frame. Leave the portrait in its frame. If anything comes loose, return it to your photographer. Write your child's name and age and the year on the back. Your grandchildren will be grateful that you did.

A pastel portrait is an original drawing of your child. It is made by hand in soft pastel from a finished heirloom portrait. Each piece is drawn on archival paper and framed in our frame shop. It is a one of a kind heirloom that no camera can make.

A Well-Loved Sketch is a pencil drawing of your child with their favorite lovey. It is drawn by hand from a simple photograph. It preserves the companion they will not remember carrying.

You choose a finished portrait from your session. Your photographer sends the portrait to the artist, who accepts the commission and reserves your place. The artist begins the piece and shares it for your approval before it is finished. The finished piece is framed by hand in our frame shop and then sent home to you.