Heirloom Photography
HEIRLOOM PHOTOGRAPHER IN COVINGTON
Heirloom photography in Covington, Louisiana is about preserving connection, legacy, and the fleeting details of childhood in a way that feels honest and enduring. These children's portraits are created with intention and simplicity in my downtown Covington studio, focusing on what matters most so your images remain meaningful for generations.
Heirloom portraits are intentionally created with the finished artwork in mind. From the styling and the curated client closet to the lighting and the final framed presentation, every detail is designed to result in timeless, classic, and authentic pieces that hang on your walls in Covington, Mandeville, and Madisonville homes rather than sitting on a screen.
An heirloom portrait is a simple, classic portrait of your child, made to be printed, framed, and passed down. The styling is timeless, the backdrop is plain, and the focus stays on your child's face and expression, so the portrait looks just as right in thirty years as it does today. Heirloom portraits are a long Southern tradition, the kind of children's portraits that hang in a grandparent's hallway and get handed down. My heirloom portraits are finished in color, and every session is planned around the artwork you'll hang on your walls, not a folder of files on your phone.
What Is an Heirloom Portrait?
Heirloom Portrait Sessions in My Covington Studio
Heirloom sessions are designed as a refined, full service experience focused on creating artwork meant to be displayed and passed down. A sitting fee reserves your session time and includes access to the studio, curated heirloom wardrobe, professional guidance, and a reveal and ordering appointment.
As a certified heirloom photographer trained by Born & Raised Photography, I photograph each child in about 15 minutes, which keeps little ones comfortable, engaged, and themselves.
Heirloom Sitting Fee
One child $199
Two children $249
Three children $299
Print credit is not included in the sitting fee.
SCHEDULE
Framed Heirloom Portraits, Fine Art Prints & Albums
Following your session, you will attend a guided reveal and ordering appointment where you will select your finished artwork. Families may choose from framed portraits, fine art prints, albums, and heirloom keepsake pieces.
Displaying and Gifting Heirloom Portraits
Heirloom portraits are made to be seen every day. Families often hang a single framed portrait in a hallway or nursery, line up matching sibling portraits side by side, or add a new portrait each year to build a wall that grows with their children. Because the styling stays classic and consistent, portraits taken years apart still look like they belong together. At your ordering appointment, bring the measurements of the wall you have in mind, and we'll plan sizes that fit it. A framed heirloom portrait is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give a grandparent. Many families order a second print or a smaller framed portrait of the same image for grandparents, so the portrait hangs in both homes and is passed down from both sides of the family.
Why Covington Families Choose Erika for Heirloom Portraits
Heirloom portraits depend on a calm, happy child, and that's where my background comes in. I'm a mother of four and an early childhood educator, and I've photographed local families since 2020. Sessions are short and child paced, with patience and gentle guidance instead of pressure. Add the Born & Raised heirloom training, the curated client closet, and archival printing, and you get portraits that look consistent and classic across every child and every year. Every heirloom session takes place in my downtown Covington studio at 403 N Columbia St, Ste 1, an easy drive from Mandeville, Madisonville, and Abita Springs. See all the areas I serve, or explore my other photography services.
What to Expect
1. INQUIRE
Look through my heirloom portfolio, then fill out my contact form with your children's names and ages so I can recommend the right session.
2. CONNECT & SCHEDULE
We style your child from the client closet, then photograph each child in about 15 minutes in my downtown Covington studio, at a pace that keeps them comfortable.
3. SESSION
I reply within 48 hours, reserve your session time, and send styling guidance so you know what to expect from the client closet.
4. DELIVERY
At your reveal and ordering appointment, we choose your favorite portraits and design framed artwork, fine art prints, albums, or keepsake pieces for your home.
What my clients are saying
-ANNA N.
"I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, THEY'VE BEEN HANGING ON OUR WALL"
Erika took our family photos, and they turned out incredible! I love them so much, they’ve been hanging on our wall year-round ever since. She was a natural at wrangling the kids and capturing their personalities which made everything super easy and surprisingly fun. Definitely recommend Erika!
"I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE"
Erika has taken pictures of all of our newborns. I can't say enough wonderful things about our experience with Erika Kelly Photography. From the moment we arrived for our newborn session, she made us feel so comfortable and cared for. Her studio was warm, peaceful and perfectly set up for our baby - she truly thought of everything!
-KATIE M.
"I CAN'T RAVE ENOUGH ABOUT MY CHILDREN's HEIRLOOM PHOTOS"
"I can’t rave enough about my children’s heirloom photos by Erika. She has done all three of my children’s heirlooms at different sessions and ages, and I am always blown away by her patience and kindness with them as well as the quality of work. I will always cherish her photos. Erika is such a beautiful person inside and out, and she is a joy to work with!
-ANNETTE H.
"SHE DOES AN AMAZING JOB AT CAPTURING THE MAGIC & EXCITEMENT"
The best Santa photos and experience! This will be our 3rd year doing Erika's Santa Experience, and my kids look forward to it every year. A few years ago, we decided we wanted more than just a hurried photo with Santa. My kids wanted to talk to Santa, tell him what they wanted for Christmas, etc. Erika creates an experience that allows for the magic of a conversation and time spent with Santa. She then does an amazing job at capturing that magic and excitement. We treasure these photos each year, they’re priceless memories. I highly recommend Erika’s Santa Experience session!
-HELEN S.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do heirloom sessions take place in Covington, Louisiana?
Heirloom sessions take place in my studio located in downtown Covington. The space is bright, clean, and classic, filled with beautiful natural light and intentionally designed to complement timeless heirloom portraits.
When is the best time to schedule heirloom photos?
Heirloom sessions can be scheduled year-round and are best booked when your child is able to sit comfortably or during a stage you want to preserve most. Many families choose to schedule heirloom portraits between six months and early childhood, when expressions and personality begin to shine. Many families come back every year or two, so the portraits on the wall grow with their children. For the earliest days, my newborn photography sessions come first, and heirloom portraits pick up once your baby is sitting up.
How long does an heirloom photography session last?
Heirloom sessions are intentionally brief and typically last around 15 minutes. The short session length helps keep children comfortable and engaged while allowing us to create beautiful, focused portraits.
What should my child wear for heirloom photography?
Heirloom sessions include access to a curated client closet featuring classic pieces selected for consistency, quality, and timeless style. These garments are chosen to photograph beautifully and ensure a cohesive heirloom look. Additional styling guidance is provided before your session. You don't need to shop for anything. Because the clothing is chosen to photograph beautifully together, your portraits keep a cohesive heirloom look from year to year and from one child to the next.
Can parents or siblings be included in heirloom portraits?
Heirloom portraits focus on children and are booked with a sitting fee per child, covering one, two, or three children in a single visit, so brothers and sisters can each have their own portrait in the same classic style. If you'd like parents in the frame too, a seasonal family mini session is the better fit.
What makes your heirloom photography in Covington, Louisiana unique?
Heirloom photography is created with longevity in mind. From consistent wardrobe styling to professional printing on archival paper guaranteed to last, every detail is carefully chosen to preserve your images for generations. These portraits are designed to become part of your family’s legacy, not just a moment in time.
How much do heirloom portraits cost?
What happens at the reveal and ordering appointment?
We look through your portraits together, you choose your favorites, and I help you design your finished artwork, from framed heirloom portraits and fine art prints to albums and keepsake pieces.
The heirloom sitting fee is $199 for one child, $249 for two children, and $299 for three. The sitting fee reserves your session and includes the studio, the client closet, guidance, and your reveal and ordering appointment. Artwork is chosen separately at that appointment, and a print credit is not included.
How should I prepare my child for heirloom portraits?
Can we book heirloom portraits every year?
Yes. Heirloom sessions can be scheduled year round, and many families return every year or two. Because the styling stays classic and consistent, portraits taken years apart still look like they belong together on your wall.
The best heirloom portraits come from a child who feels rested and relaxed. Book a time of day when your child is usually at their happiest, often after a nap, and plan a snack before you arrive. Talk about the visit ahead of time so the studio feels like an adventure, not a surprise. Because heirloom sessions last about 15 minutes, there's no long wait and no need to hold a pose for long. I'll take it from there with patience, simple prompts, and plenty of encouragement, so your child's real expressions come through.
Behind the Lens
I’m ErIKA, a mother of four, early childhood educator, and lifelong lover of children and family connection.
I began photographing families in 2020 during the Front Porch Project, and what started as a way to serve my community quickly became a calling. My background in early childhood education shapes the way I approach each session, blending patience, intention, and gentle guidance. Families are supported every step of the way, creating an experience that feels seamless and results in timeless, meaningful artwork.
Let's get you scheduled!
You may schedule your Heirloom session below. Select an available date and time that works best for your family, and you will receive next steps to prepare for your session.
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