Baby, Baby, Baby Favorites
The only type of blog we love more than a round-up of our favorite blogs ALL IN ONE PEOPLE! …. is a blog that is a round-up of baby photos that we’ve taken over the years. As a mom and a professional photographer, baby photography is a passion of mine.
For those of you new to “the round-up” – it’s basically a way to compile a bunch of flashbacks to our baby blogs. If you are expecting a baby, it’s a chance for you to see the kinds of studio, and occasionally outdoor, sessions we do at Pixels. This is going to be a 3-part series. Let’s start with newborns!
Above is baby Marion, who was born on her exact due date: December 3, 2018. As a lover of old-fashioned names, I’m a fan of hers already. I love how it evokes another time, the tradition of family names and makes me think of timeless beauty. This little rosebud is named after one of her grandmothers. Read more >>
Meet Barrett Spillman. We loved shooting images of this little man in our studio. Since his parents love to be outside and love nature, we decided to keep the attire and props to earthy neutral colors, with simple softs furs and adorable little bib overalls for his portraits.> (opens in a new tab)”> Read more about Barrett >>
This little nugget below is Hannah Harrison. Before Hannah’s arrival we planned for the shoot. Parents Jamie & Daniel sent me photos of her nursery and various areas in their home where they wanted to hang photos. I found out her nursery colors and also that Jamie’s favorite color is purple. I then used those details and photos to plan the backdrop, gather props, wraps and headbands that Hannah would wear. With this preparation I was able to compose photos and design wall art that will coordinate with the family’s home and proportionally fill some of the bare walls. We love providing this service and our families/clients do too.> (opens in a new tab)”> > (opens in a new tab)”>Keep reading >>
A few more: Luka (below), Tinleigh (next) in the ruffles, and finally Miss Ava in purple.
Themes are popular and we oblige with props when we can, but moms and dads tend to have an idea and bring their own. Below are just a few favorites in the theme realm!
Sawyer Pierce on is little surfboard. > (opens in a new tab)”>Read more >>
Little Rylie with some of his Disney pals.> (opens in a new tab)”>Read more >>
The ball with Wyatt’s name was ready long before is birth. Capturing his pic with it was the payoff. His Dad is a huge baseball fan. > (opens in a new tab)”>Read more >>
Holden Pierce (brother to Sawyer mentioned earlier) wore gear that was a nod to his father’s occupation: pilot. What to Expect from a newborn photo shoot.
Stay tuned for two more round-ups about baby portraits: 6 month portraits and 1st birthdays!
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
All photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Heirloom Photography
A while back, we blogged about engagement portraits as heirlooms. While 21st century portraits are no longer as severe and in grainy sepia tones, they do still serve a purpose as historical artifacts. I look at these young sisters below and think of the photos we’ve taken of children that their mothers cherish.
When we look at images today and see the amazing things we can do with filters and timing, it’s no wonder that everyone wants to be their own archivist, storyteller, photographer and keeper of the family history. Consider finding those moments where it will mean the most to have professional shots and remember that they will one day be heirlooms. And consider getting a professional to take them. You won’t regret it.
Two young brides above and below. They are a mere 150 or so years apart.
One family portrait – posed above.
A family portrait – posed below.
Sometimes the heirlooms are not heirlooms because they are posed. Images become heirlooms because they capture something specific – like the bride reading her favorite book for her bridal portrait. It was important to incorporate it for her. Sometimes, it’s the place – like the mountain home that a family rented so they could converge from all over the country for a reunion. Or it’s the mountains that became a back drop for an engagement photo shoot. And sometimes it is the unexpected moment, like the one above we caught of the bride and groom sharing a happy, sorta private hug.
Maternity portraits and new family portraits are heirlooms as well for generation and these shots, especially in informal outdoor settings tell a beautiful story of time, place and love.
Consider the photo albums and images in frames that you love seeing from those relatives you’ll never meet and schedule a photo shoot that will some day be relished by your future family.
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 LicenseAll photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Day in the Life Photography
The longer that I’m in this business of being a photographer, the more I’m interested in the non-posed sides of life. In fact, while I still love portraiture that is structured and more formal, documentary style photography that allows the mundane, the small moments and the realities of life to shine through has captured me.
If you follow Pixels on Instagram, you’ll know that I share our work and our lives in a kind of story mesh that feels authentic to me, and that is by choice. It’s silly, it’s real and it’s who we are as we do what we do as professionals. And, of course, it celebrates our clients and friends and our adventures too. Posting allows for more sharing of our lives and values.
A summer family picnic or images of Finley playing or asleep or dressing up are current faves. We’re just doing our thing and other families deserve this to, but with an eye to quality. So for today’s blog, I thought I’d share a few of the images I’ve taken that are favorites in this area of people just “doing life.”
Nothing would make me happier as a photographer and as a human than to be asked to do more day in the life images. I’m not talking about the stuff you get with a cell phone, or even the stuff you get with an expensive camera and an untrained eye. A professional photographer brings more to the table than her tools. I bring the experience of all my work, my trained eye and a quality that snapshot photographers cannot.
Day in life portraits have another equally important advantage: they let you be present. We’re busy and over-scheduled so being present for our kids and partners is a tall enough order. And people may sometimes resent being asked to be the designated photographer during a day out, a family reunion or holiday season. It falls to someone and that someone is missing from nearly EVERY photo. Having a photographer document the day allows you to focus on what’s happening instead of on composing images, trying to get people’s “good side” or chasing the day light.
I hope more families will consider day in the life photo shoots. You should enjoy the moment and let us capture the memories.
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 LicenseAll photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Fall Wedding Photos
At summer’s end, we tend to think that weddings are a done deal, and for the most part, they are. But there are more than a few couples who prefer an autumn wedding. The temps are cooler and there are opportunities for gorgeous decorations and in beautiful venues. These are some of our favorites.
Fall light is decidedly NOT summer sun. It’s elegant and combined with brisk air, turning leaves and an earlier hour for shawls and fires, make autumn a perfect time to get married in the North Carolina mountains. Locations with vistas and panoramic mountain views mean that there are loads of options for getting not only great group shots, but the images of newlyweds that will one day be family heirlooms.
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 LicenseAll photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Awkward Family Photos
As part of our series on fall portraits, I thought we’d celebrate The Awkward Family Photo. Every now and then, we’re reminded of this awesome site and what can absolutely go wrong, whether by chance (see above) or by design and family taste. All credit to these guys at Awkward Family Photos DOT com and those who upload. If you’re ever having a rotten day, these images will lighten your mood.
I’m sure she doesn’t mean it.
Some looks are classic and some say, “I love Robert Smith from The Cure and I’m going to express myself, I don’t care if you’re framing it or not.”
One wonders if their parents didn’t consider just skipping portraits that year… or at least allowing them to remove the head-gear.
What really IS life about?
Napping.
I’m praying these guys are also a family band.
It’s as though Dad has just now realized what a bad idea this was.
I love these parents. They said, “you know what? we’ll laugh about this someday.” … and just went with it.
When the court stenographer read the recorded notes back to the jury, it did indeed say, “If the baby doesn’t have to wear his shirt, I’m not wearing mine.”
They love each other…. and public parking.
Of course, at Pixels, we make sure that all photos are approved and we have permission to share before sending them out into what has become an overly judgmental world. Wardrobe, theme and mood are all discussed before we get started and we help with suggestions for what to wear, location and props. That said, don’t you feel better?
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 LicenseAll photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.