Posts in Category: Babies
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.
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.
Valentine’s Day Expressions
This is love.
So is this.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought I would just celebrate what love looks like on people’s faces, in their body English, and in their overall gestures because of their connection to each other. It’s not always easy to spot love, especially when you’re trying to capture a variety of images during a scheduled photo session, but I’ve been training my eye for a while now, and sometimes, it’s right in your face.
Couples who are no longer newlyweds really make me smile. You made a commitment and it held, through good and bad. The familiarity has not, as the saying goes, bred contempt. We married couples know each other well and that love has deepened.
Parents with their babies = undeniable love. It spills out and they cannot help it, even with a photographer circling them, lighting them, and getting multiple shots. And the same is true with siblings who snuggle.
There are those quiet, less obvious moments too. Resting in love is soul-restoring.
And there’s friendship. God gave us so many types of love, but one of the greatest is our love for our neighbors, our weird friends, the people who aren’t bound by blood, but who show up to “do life” with us.
We need love for each other now more than ever. Whatever it takes or looks like, I plan to take a moment this week, whether it’s with the Valentines I share a name with, or just someone who makes my life better, and show them a little love. I hope you will too.
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 weddings, brides, 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.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License
Tinleigh 6 months portraits in Ruffles and Bows
Tinleigh is the only girl among her siblings and it feels like a blink since she had newborn portraits taken. On this occasion, we turned our studio over to her and her stylist and let her go nuts. For her six month portrait session, with no brothers around, and my stash of dress up options, ribbons, ruffles and pearls, this little light shined. Man, she is cute! And her mom loved seeing her all girly for the photo session.
Although it was hard not to see a little tomboy in her since she’s surrounded by brothers, Tinleigh loves all things girly at the moment. I created a creamy Victorian setting and in a little ruffled onsie she was adorable. We also let her drape herself in a bright pink tulle number, … as one does.
I love the expressions this little girl makes. Her face says a million discerning and hammy little things in micro-seconds. I cannot wait to chat with her when she starts talking.
I typically keep my two year old Finley out of the studio during sessions, but Tinleigh is so accustomed to being entertained by her brothers that when she appeared to be getting bored I allowed my little curly haired Ginger to join us. She loved it and was all eyes and smiles. He perked her right up, something I know from first-hand experience that he’s great at.
I cannot wait to get this little nugget, with or without her older brothers, in front of my lens again. Maybe another outdoor, day in the life session with the whole family……….hmmmmm. I have a phone call to make!
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 weddings, brides, 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.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License
Baby Luka’s Six Month Milk Bath
It doesn’t seem possible that just 6 months ago, we were taking little Luka’s newborn baby shots, but the calendar doesn’t lie. He was as snuggly as he could be, but just look at him now. Fresh as a bowl full of summer cream, so to speak.
Luka’s Mom Sierra had some specific ideas in mind for the session and one was that we do something really different. She suggested a possible bubble bath, but I’ve recently discovered during my son Finley’s bath time that bubbles don’t last very long. Add a six month old to the mix and what sounds like a good idea could easily turn into the loss of a day. So I suggested a milk bath instead. These aren’t just for Cleopatra, ya’ll, and it allowed us to incorporate the antique tub his brother was photographed in as well. Win-Win!
I’ve been wanting to try this for a while, but without interest from a client, I just kept it filed away. Once we agreed on this for baby Luka, I experimented with how to keep the temperature just right and the color opaque. A simple white background and some greenery for bit of color were all we needed. And 3 pairs of hands! (God Bless parents who jump in.) Luka was the true centerpiece, literally bathed in white and even when we added some rubber ducks and bubbles to elicit various reactions, he’s the focus. He was comfortable, alert and his parents and I, while a bit tired and covered with milk in the end, are all in love with the final outcome.
Sierra was also keen to have Luka’s 6 month photos coordinate with Conner’s. Connor was captured in an orchard in the height of summer during peach season. We used lots of props and cute outfits for Conner, that July. It’s a tad hard to replicate this in January though, when the temps are barely above freezing, but we stuck the landing with forethought and planning. I was able to coordinate similar colors with Luka’s attire and created a handmade backdrop inside the studio. The 6 month portraits for these brothers are different yet complementary.
Any photo session where the clients feel understood and we’ve succeeded in getting the goals images is a great session. And then there are those where we try something entirely new to great success. This session was both. We love collaborating!
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 weddings, brides, 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.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License
Newborn Atticus shines in his Grandfather’s Shadow
Atticus Ford belongs to Micala & Tyler and mom Micala shared with us that this session was particularly special because it was their “first official moment as a family of three.”
A great deal of thought and planning went into the theme and backdrop of his session prior to his birth. Micala had a vision and Pinterest board, but her true inspiration was her grandfather, someone she’s incredibly close to. She wanted to dress Atticus in the clothes and surround him with items that would convey the man that she hopes he’ll be some day. His hat was chosen because it’s so like one that his grandfather wears. She found his outfit on Etsy and I had all the props to create the scene. Thank goodness for my love of antiquing, reading and thrifting. Between us, we pulled it all together.
Is Atticus going to be an attorney who shines the light on injustice, even when it’s not easy for him and his family? His name would certainly suggest that. Will he join the ministry and spread the gospel? Or is he a writer of fiction who illuminates the lives of the common man? These pictures make you wonder, but there is no mystery surrounding his parents’ love for him.
For additional images for their home and for giving to others, I stuck with classic neutral / earthy tones and textures to highlight his beautiful dark red hair and coordinate with his nursery. His mom thoughtfully shared their home interior and colors through photos. On the day they came to the studio, we were more than ready.
Atticus was good throughout the entire session. No crying, awake when he needed to be with great eye contact, and asleep when it was picture perfect. I kept taking pictures long after I’d gotten more than we needed.
As wedding clients, the Rash’s took advantage of our packages and received their newborn session free. We also shot their wonderful engagement session when Tyler surprised Micala with a song before proposing. This couple is really about making memories with a purpose and being present during the entire photo process. We encourage others to adopt this attitude and let a pro handle your milestone portraits … hint hint!
Atticus: we love you little man! Cannot wait to see you soon!
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 weddings, brides, 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.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License