I recently came across an article that listed some of the best things about being a mom, and my mind reeled. There are too many to name. On nearly the eve of another Mother’s Day, I wanted to share a few quotes along with some of my favorite shots of moms and their kids taken by Pixels over the years. Outdoors, dressed up or down, laughing and exploring, these are some pretty adorable kids and spectacular moms.
“The smell of a freshly bathed child.” Finley’s bath time makes me lose track of time. I love those moments and the sweetness of his wet, red curls and warmth in his pajamas. It’s the best.
“Getting to mold a little human being.” I love this part of being a mom even when it’s tough, and I am definitely grateful that I get a chance to learn from other moms going through each stage along with me. Some of my dearest and most important friendships are with moms I’ve met before and after Finley was born. I realized that I’d joined a tribe that understood me, love our family and could lift me up or ground me.
“Being a safe space for my child.” Even on the toughest days, Moms still hold space and energy to let their children come to them for care, listening and comfort. I don’t see an end to this. I speak to my mother all the time and even as the topics change and the worries are different, she’s always right there. My hope is that my son knows that when he enters the wide world of independence, his dad and I are always here for him.
“Finding joy in simple things.” I am transported daily to my own childhood when I watch Finley. The craziest stuff will light him up and that lights me up too. Keeping it simple and about love is my goal. I’m especially appreciative of the multigenerational impact of families on each new member.
Call your mom this weekend, and if you can see her, see her. Love her. Thank her.
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 License All photos are ©2021 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Currently, our son is testing me as much as delighting me. If you know, you know. They go from soft little bundles to opinionated, frustrated, little testers. I laugh, smile and pray some days, and cry, search for my sanity, and pray others. But I stay the course. Discipline, repetition, consistency, guidance, cuddles, consequences, and did I mentioned prayer? Those are all part of this child-rearing season for me.
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, I wanted to revisit some favorite maternity portraits I’ve taken and remind myself that the journey is not one chapter. And so much of motherhood is a series of miracles. Enjoy!
Outdoor maternity portraits – including those with gowns, siblings, flowers, vistas, whatever – are an elegant way to capture motherhood. I know from the ladies you see in these images, that many of the portraits became gifts.
These mamas are perfect. They are all on this motherhood journey at the moment, and while the days are long and the years are short, there’s no better role to play than that of Mom.
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 License All photos are ©2021 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
This outdoor portrait session at the peach orchards was an absolute treat. Mom Rebecca and I have been in the same women’s Bible study for years. Eldest daughter Maycee and Finley are just a month apart, and I have fond memories of those two rolling on the floor as our group unpacked scripture together and supported each other through all the joys and trials of early motherhood.
When discussing getting together for these portraits, Rebecca mentioned that the family had not had a portrait taken of all of them since son Preston was around a year old. Time flies, to say the least and they are now a family of five. Their third and youngest child Everley was born during the pandemic, so this was our first chance to spend time with her as well.
You’ve never met parents more fun or chill than Rebecca and Brian, and with the warm weather and perfect scenery, we struck out to remedy the “no family portraits” situation. I loved every single second of it. I adore this bunch and was thrilled to spend time with them, camera in hand and heart open.
It was a beautiful day with this beautiful family and while the trees will lose their blooms, this family is a reminder that, with portraits, the memories will last.
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 License All photos are ©2021 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
“If ever there were a spring day so perfect,
so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze
that it made you want to throw
open all the windows in the house
and unlatch the door to the canary’s cage,
indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,
a day when the cool brick paths
and the garden bursting with peonies
seemed so etched in sunlight
that you felt like taking
a hammer to the glass paperweight
on the living room end table,
releasing the inhabitants
from their snow-covered cottage
so they could walk out,
holding hands and squinting
into this larger dome of blue and white,
well, today is just that kind of day.”
Poet Billy Collins nails it and SPRING is finally here. While we don’t feel like we’ve emerged completely from the woods, the dense, dark and intense forest we’ve all been walking the last year, our family is welcoming the first breezes, bees buzzing, birds chirping and flowers blooming. Let’s keep our heads up, folks. Welcome, Spring!
Don’t believe in fairytales? I highly recommend a portrait session at our favorite orchard. Ryan and I have been exclusive photographers in this amazing spot for more than a decade and just being there will change your mood.
It’s time for scheduling spring portraits at the orchards (generally mid-March to early April but it FLIES BY) and I can smell spring from here. Easter portraits, updated children’s portraits, family sessions, engagements, senior photos, celebrating friendships, all of these are legitimate reasons to book one of our orchard sessions.
Props? Sure. With your best friends? Absolutely. These sessions are perfect for families, but they are really just perfect for anyone. Planning on getting engaged or maybe you didn’t get portraits during lock-down 2020? Let us photograph some images for you … of any kind.
Families LOVE these orchards. They are so dressed up, you don’t have to put on a show yourself.
If you’re itching to get outside where it’s safe to shoot photos, or just because it’s time to celebrate spring with new portraits of your family, now is the time to contact us if you want to get on our schedule. We will be keeping a close watch on the blooms. Can’t wait to see!
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 License All photos are ©2021 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.