Let’s Talk About What to Wear For Heirloom Portraits (Without Spiraling Down the Pinterest Rabbit Hole)

Let’s Take the Guesswork Out of Heirloom Portrait Styling

A practical, heart-led approach to choosing timeless outfits for your Heirloom portrait session.

If you’ve ever found yourself twenty tabs deep, bouncing between bow colors and wondering which dress will photograph best for an heirloom portrait, you’re in good company.

Here’s the truth: you want something timeless. Something that won’t feel dated five, ten, or even fifty years from now.

That’s exactly why I created the Heirloom Portrait Wardrobe Guide – a thoughtfully curated resource designed to help you trade decision fatigue for confident, classic choices.

Because outfit planning? It shouldn’t be the hardest part of portrait day.

Why Styling Matters for your Child’s Heirloom Portrait

I’ve spent years studying what photographs well – what feels timeless, what flatters soft natural light, and what pairs beautifully with siblings or age progression portraits. Because when the goal is generational artwork, it’s all in the details.

And while you can absolutely shop your own heirloom pieces, I also offer a full client wardrobe curated specifically for sessions like these. It’s available to every family I photograph, because styling should feel simple and an easy, joy-filled part of your portrait experience.

What’s Inside the Heirloom Portrait Style Guide

This guide includes:

• Outfit inspiration rooted in tradition
• Links to timeless, heirloom-worthy brands
• Cordinating sibing sets

Whether you’re dressing one child or coordinating a full sibling set, this guide will help you feel prepared and confident.

What Makes an Outfit Timeless?

Think softness. Simplicity. Detail.

These are the pieces that will still feel beautiful in your great-grandchild’s hands one day:

✔️ Soft whites, pastels (like baby blue or pink), and vintage neutrals
✔️ Peter Pan collars, hand-smocked bodices, lace details, satin bows
✔️ Knee socks and classic leather shoes in either white or brown

We’ll skip bold prints and loud patterns. Instead, we’re choosing timeless textures and silhouettes that photograph like a dream and never go out of style. My goal is always to elevate the portrait through wardrobe and ensure the focus stays right where it belongs: on your child.

Where to Shop (Without the Overwhelm)

I’ve done the research so you don’t have to, because I know your time is precious and decision fatigue is real. Inside the guide, you’ll find a curated collection of my tried-and-true sources for heirloom-worthy pieces that not only photograph beautifully but are comfortable and easy for little ones to wear. Whether you’re shopping for a classic outfit, a coordinating sibling set, or a special accessory, these are the shops I return to again and again. They include:

• Traditional dresses, short sets, rompers and bubbles
• Finishing touches like bows, bonnets, and bloomers
• Beautifully crafted leather shoes that elevate any outfit

Each piece is thoughtfully chosen and directly linked for your ease. Every item is curated to photograph beautifully, drawing the eye to your child while keeping the overall look timeless and simple.

Want to Skip the Shopping Altogether?

If you’d rather not purchase a thing, you’re welcome to use our complimentary heirloom client wardrobe. I’ll guide you through every detail, from sizing to styling, so all you have to do is show up and soak in the moment.

But if you do want to find something for your own child to pass down? Grab the free Heirloom Portrait Style Guide:

Because these are the heirloom portraits that will be cherished on your walls long after tiny shoes are outgrown and bows are packed away.

Ready to reserve your session? Inquire here.