When our little granddaughter Emma Grace Hartman was born, I experienced something first hand that we tell our clients all the time: Beautiful portraits are important. They truly do capture once in a lifetime moments.

Now, I am probably about the proudest grandpa around. And I get to create all kinds of portraits of Emma. Most recently, I did this one in my favorite classic style.

Throughout my career, I have loved creating timeless, elegant portraits. They are sometimes unappreciated in a fast-paced, trendy culture like ours. But don’t be mistaken: these portraits will stand the test of time. They are simple, beautiful and arresting. They require extraordinary attention to detail. I love Emma’s innocence and purity in this image. It is fun to see her budding personality. When she turns one, I’ll probably create a painting, which of course I’ll be excited to show you. But I know I’ll always love this portrait of our beautiful granddaughter.