Posts Tagged: baby’s first birthday portraits

Roman Turns One. Airplanes and Cake Smash

We cannot stop it. Time is going to do what it’s going to do….. keep passing. Suddenly Roman, below, is a year old.

Pierce One Year Portraits cake smash airplane by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photographers

The third child of Andy and Traci Pierce just celebrated his first birthday and this family does not “phone it in.” They come to PLAY with themes and props and outfits and the big dessert – cake.

Father Andy is a commercial pilot and we have used themes before in photo shoots with his two older brothers. Holden was Pierce baby number one and the aviation them was chosen for him. Then Sawyer came along as a little surfer and pharmacist like his Mom. He even had (and still has) the curls of a man who lives by the sea and in hammocks during his downtime. Roman is the last and third child for Andy and Traci, so they decided to go for it one more time. Traci got the idea from Pinterest of shooting on location, and tasked Andy with finding a plane.

He did. From WWII. Decked out in flack jackets and aviator shades, we all met up in Concord on a gorgeous mid-March dad, with perfect blue skies and lots of wind.

The weather always plays a role, if only to bless you or challenge you. Thank goodness that it was merely a challenge instead of a curse. Traci is detail-oriented, admittedly type A – something she and I share, so she wants all of our time and effort to be worth it. With the wind blowing us all around, Roman was freezing, but Holden and Sawyer were loving it! They fit the roles of pilot and copilot already. We had a couple of “is this going to work?” moments, but we couldn’t be happier with the results.

I feel confident that the family will be having caption contests with the image above for many years to come. Holden with his tongue sort of sticking out conspiring the plan, Sawyer with his curls and “about to pounce lets get do it” posture and little Roman looking like “LETS TAKE A MINUTE TO THINK ABOUT THIS BOYS.”

We ended up back inside, playing around the hangar and avoiding the wind and Roman’s mood shifted from “I’m freezing” to “this ROCKS!” Everything turned out beautifully and I loved capturing the colors of the plane, the natural light and the boys. We adored the plane’s owner who was so accommodating and cool too. He helped make the day a success.

The cake smash went off well too. First birthdays have to have cake and like his older brothers, Roman was able to get the anticipated – and much deserved – sugar rush. Cake theme: why yes, planes!

Roman: we’ve said this about your older brothers, but we are serious when we say it to you: we cannot wait to watch you grow up in front of our lenses and in our midst. Congratulations on your first year on earth. Here’s to so very many more.


We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs newborns and families, special events and portraits  of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States LicenseAll photos are ©2020 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

Our Finley Turns One with a Cake smash

America’s beloved Walt Disney said, “I think of a child’s mind as a blank book. During the first years of his life, much will be written on the pages. The quality of that writing will affect his life profoundly.”

I don’t know what was more profound this last year of our lives and the first of Finley’s. Everything he poured out, we soaked up… some of it we consumed lovingly with no sense of what the heck was going on, but more of it with the greediness of parents who understand that time is flying. I hope we filled the pages of his blank little being with the imprints of love, care, tickles, laughter, confidence and some unspoken knowledge that we have his back till our last breaths.

That’s heavy. I know, but I’m his Mama and I get a pass. Want the sweet stuff? See below. We celebrated his first birthday with the traditional cake smash and he did not disappoint.

one year cake smash photographers photoone year cake smash photographers photo

I’m amazed at the amount of growth and change I saw in Finley in just 12 months. We opted to photograph his cake smash portraits during his birthday celebration while he was surrounded by family. A few days prior, Ryan and I sat in the middle of the floor creating his one year backdrop while he played around us in the balloons. I made his birthday cake, following a tradition where my Mom always made my birthday cakes while growing up. When he is able, he will be able to request what kind of cake he wants just like I did. Traditions run thick in our blood! It’s what memories are made of.

With Ryan behind the camera and family filling our studio, little man could not contain his excitement as I carried the cake in and placed it in front of him. In mere seconds he dove in – first with a hand and followed promptly with his his entire mouth. At one point when looking around to see that everyone was laughing and cheering and no one would stop him his arm was in the cake up to his elbow getting as big a handful as possible. He definitely likes chocolate and cake!

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After eating literally 1/3 of the small cake and covering himself in icing he got a bath. Here’s a little funny but gross note…. the next morning he sneezed chocolate. I’m not kidding.
Happy Birthday, Sweet Finley. What you’ve given us far outweighs any birthday or other gifts we’ve given you. We love you, Son.

We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddingsbrides, and special events and portraits  of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.

88x31 lucy & glens valle crucis wedding photography | pixels on paper boone wedding photographers

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License

All photos are ©2018 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

Jaxon turns one | first birthday portrait photography

Jaxon Andrews, son of Kristen and Matthew, turned one on July 21, 2017 and we photographed his one year portraits as soon as he was standing on his own and walking…. which was 4 days later – ha!! We met at a friend’s family farm in Purlear, NC on July 25th and it was wonderful. This kid is apparently taking his charm pills regularly, because his smile is irresistible and his blue eyes haven’t changed much since I photographed his newborn session a year ago.

one year child photographers outdoor family portraits pixels on paper boone blowing rock wilkesboro nc photographers photoone year child photographers outdoor family portraits pixels on paper boone blowing rock wilkesboro nc photographers photoone year child photographers outdoor family portraits pixels on paper boone blowing rock wilkesboro nc photographers photo

Jaxon is all boy and loves farm life much like his big brother Luke. If he isn’t admiring the cows and playing in a wagon, he is toddling around his dad’s diesel mechanic garage or playing with tractors. I picture him behind the wheel of some amazing car years from now having both the smile to get the girls and the ability to fix the car if something happens to the engine: i.e. A Keeper!

one year child photographers outdoor family portraits pixels on paper boone blowing rock wilkesboro nc photographers photoone year child photographers outdoor family portraits pixels on paper boone blowing rock wilkesboro nc photographers photoone year child photographers outdoor family portraits pixels on paper boone blowing rock wilkesboro nc photographers photoone year child photographers outdoor family portraits pixels on paper boone blowing rock wilkesboro nc photographers photoone year child photographers outdoor family portraits pixels on paper boone blowing rock wilkesboro nc photographers photoone year child photographers outdoor family portraits pixels on paper boone blowing rock wilkesboro nc photographers photoone year child photographers outdoor family portraits pixels on paper boone blowing rock wilkesboro nc photographers photoone year child photographers outdoor family portraits pixels on paper boone blowing rock wilkesboro nc photographers photoKristen & Matthew took advantage of our one year baby plan package when Jaxon was born. Newborn, six month, and one year photos. They chose not to include a cake smash because as it turns out, Jaxon isn’t a fan of cake yet. What they will be getting is a custom designed photo book that shows off Jaxon’s first year on Planet Earth. For our baby plan clients, we also like to bring the whole family together at the one year mark for a family portrait. Often we’ve photographed the siblings and all the growth and changes in the family are fun to see and should be chronicled, right? We love the continuance and adore the families.

Pixels On Paper offers full year baby photography packages. Want to learn more about our maternity and newborn photography packages or portrait photography in Wilkesboro NC , Boone, Blowing Rock and the NC mountains? Call 336-990-0080, visit our website www.pixelsonpaper.net or send us and email at mail@pixelsonpaper.biz for more information.

88x31 lucy & glens valle crucis wedding photography | pixels on paper boone wedding photographers

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License

All photos are ©2017 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro, NC Baby Photographer, Boone NC Family Photographer, Newborn Photography, Newborn Photography Winston Salem, NC, Newborn Photographer, Baby Photography, Baby Photographers, Charlotte NC Newborn Photographer, NC Newborn Photographer, NC Baby Photographer, Charlotte NC Baby Photographer, Winston Salem NC Baby Photographer, Boone Family and Portrait Photographers, Boone Photography, Boone Photographers, High Country Photographers, NC Photographers.  Husband and wife team providing creative photography for weddings and portraits in NC, specializing in the NC High Country,  Charlotte, Winston Salem and in the NC Mountains.

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Matthew’s one year birthday and family portrait session | Wilkesboro NC child and family photographers

There is love and there’s love and then there’s the Minick family. You can say the name Minick and my heart fills up. We have the best history with this family and our love for them runs deep. We’ve photographed just about every milestone of their adult lives. On May 17th, Matthew (“Matt Matt”) celebrated his first birthday and we photographed his celebratory portrait session 10 days after. We decided to make this session a family affair and snagged some photos with parents Rachel & Ryan and with his big sis Amelia.

One year portrait and outdoor family portrait photographers Wilkesboro NC child portrait photo

One year portrait and outdoor family portrait photographers Wilkesboro NC child portrait photo

Matthew (May 2017) and big sister Amelia (October 2013) photographed in the same family heirloom high chair.

One year portrait and outdoor family portrait photographers Wilkesboro NC child portrait photoOne year portrait and outdoor family portrait photographers Wilkesboro NC child portrait photoOne year portrait and outdoor family portrait photographers Wilkesboro NC child portrait photoOne year portrait and outdoor family portrait photographers Wilkesboro NC child portrait photo

We’ve been photographing the Minicks for so long, including their engagement and wedding, Christmas photos, maternity and Amelia’s one year portraits and Matthew’s newborn portraits. They are absolutely family. Matthew had a Little Blue Truck themed birthday party and photo shoot as well. We love seeing these kids and family grow and especially watching the little ones develop their own personalities. No two are alike!

One year portrait and outdoor family portrait photographers Wilkesboro NC child portrait photoOne year portrait and outdoor family portrait photographers Wilkesboro NC child portrait photoOne year portrait and outdoor family portrait photographers Wilkesboro NC child portrait photoRachel, Ryan, Amelia and Matthew: we love you to pieces. We love how open you are in your lives, how you invite us in to share and how your amazing family is growing in size and in love. We look forward to the next milestone and another chance to hang out and do life.

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What I Love Thinking About

I know a lady who likes to say, “these are the things I’m thinking about instead what’s bothering me.” She’s not burying her head in the sand or failing to solve problems or face challenges; she practicing what she says the Buddhists call “good thinking.” It takes practice – like most things worth getting good at – but it can change your mood when the world feels all wrong or the people around appear to be on hiatus from being kind.
So here’s what I’m thinking about instead of what worries me about our world.
Pixels on Paper Photography Summer 2016 GardenSpring is here and summer is coming. There’s a great thought. Cooking and eating the food I grow in my garden, cutting flowers, relaxing on my front porch. Yes to that.

And I’m thinking about family. I love mine and we love to photograph families of all sizes. Each one contains a library of stories, memories, legacies and shared laughter, pain and joy. Family is always a happy thought for me.

Babies. Think about a baby you know or one you’ve raised and your mood will shift immediately. I love thinking of babies. Babies in tutus. Babies wearing hats. Babies in overalls. [Digression: babies in overalls is a HILARIOUS concept to me. They are 20-ish inches tall! “They ain’t driving no tractor!!!” “They ain’t bailing no hay!!” But, there they are… in their denim and buckles and it’s just the funniest, sweetest thing. The only way they are being helpful is that you’re belly laughing at the cuteness. Just saying…] Pick your favorite baby image and ponder. You’re happier, right?

pixels on paper photography, portrait photography, family portrait photography, photo studio, outdoor portrait photography, photoPixels Family Spring outdoor portrait photography photoTwinkling lights at night and summer evenings spent by a fire pit, on a porch swing, in a tent or hammock or playing cards by lantern at an old picnic table. I love that kind of light at night.Amanda Walling and Bonnie Hostetler On The Windfall outdoor Wedding West Jefferson NC photo

Mountains. Dance with the one who brung ya, right? I love our mountains and if you’re a hiker, hike. If you have a view, sit back and take it in. I love living in a state replete with mountains and mountain views.

Pixels On Paper wedding photographers. Biltmore Estate engagement portrait Asheville NC photo

Love that lasts. Who doesn’t want to remember that? Give brain power and care and thought to that; you’ll thank yourself. I love thinking about lasting love: some of it is as new as a baby but will last a lifetime and some already as old as a steadfast marriage. It’s all good.
Arnold family outdoor spring peach orchard photos by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photographers photoPixels, on, paper, wood, family, portraits, outdoor, family, portraits, studio, family, portraits, outdoor, family, photos, family, photography, family, photographer, blowing, rock, photography, wilkesboro, photography, wilkesboro, photographer, portrait, photography, portrait, studio, boone, photography, charlotte, portrait, photographers, photoGoing away. I love thinking about travel – allowing myself to escape to my favorite memories and then get excited about the possibilities of travel in the future. Ryan and I have done and seen a lot in our marriage and thinking about that journey makes me smile, regardless of locale.
Home. I think about home and am more full than I could ever describe to you guys. We host you there when you come to our indoor studio or out in the garden, but it’s the center of our world. It’s comfort, it’s creativity, it’s food, it’s gatherings …. our “workin’ week and Sunday rest,” as Auden put it. God blessed us big time with our over-a-century-old home.
Whatever is potentially weighing on you, … take the time – make the room for “good thinking.” List your happy places, people, pets, memories, foods and let that happy into every artery you have inside of you.

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