The Heirloomist Started With a Fork.

A modern business inspired by the past

In her final years of life, my grandmother, Phyllis, became a colorful story teller of family history. She retained an impressive flair for detail, even at 91. Phyllis was the keeper of our family heirlooms and it was these treasures that triggered her story telling. The stories were entertaining and helped me to feel connected to the people and events that make me who I am. I took this with reverence. I responded by doing the thing I know best-- I set out to document my family heirlooms with my camera in effort to artfully to keep their symbolic stories alive. These sterling silver table settings were the first heirlooms I ever photographed.

When my grandmother passed away, I founded The Heirloomist in effort to expand the importance of storytelling. I started with friends and acquaintances but the concept resonated instantly with people I didn't even know. I learned right away that our stories are vast and varied but the curiosity to know them is universal. I also learned the definition of "heirloom" means many different things to different people-- and everyone has them. These learnings, when combined with impactful imagery, formed a powerful cocktail for a business full of heart.

My name is Shana Novak. I am The Heirloomist, a New York City based still life photographer and writer. To date, I have photographed nearly 1500 keepsakes belonging to people across our country... elegant candelabras right down to a styrofoam cup. I’m a columnist for Country Living magazine and will welcome my first book in the world in the Spring of 2024. (Bless you, Chronicle Books!)

Welcome to The Heirloomist adventure on Substack! We’re so glad you are here. When you hear from us or visit this page, we hope to fill your heart with little snacks for the soul…stories and images that will make you smile, laugh and maybe cry. (A happy cry!) Together, through the art of visual story telling, we’ll celebrate the sweet, amazing, sad, and incredible experiences we all share while spinning together on this rock we all call home.

These are the stories of us. -Shana Novak, founder, The Heirloomist