Mother’s Day
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.
Happy Mother’s Day.
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.
Oh, Dear Moms – Maternity photos
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.
Expecting Baby Tibbett – Maternity Photos
Lovely redhead Brooke Tibbett is expecting her first baby. There’s something about new life and spring in an orchard that reminds me that the world keeps spinning, flowers will bloom and new members to the world are being added all the time. In our little corner, we celebrated Brooke.
Ryan and I photographed Brooke and Joey’s engagement portraits at Moses Cone Manor in Blowing Rock, and later their beautiful wedding at the Gambill Estate. We loved getting to know them. We haven’t seen these two since their wedding day. Brooke chose the most gorgeous dress for the setting and the shoot. She looked like one of the blooms.
Brooke’s husband Joey, and the father-to-be, was hovering on this shoot with us. The peach orchards were exploding with blooms and he wanted his wife to be the star. Even with Joey hanging out in the background, you could feel the excitement of these two. Did I mention that it was awesome seeing these two again?
I cannot wait to meet the new Tibbett, and to watch this family grow. Congratulations Brooke and Joey! It won’t be long now.
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.
Holbrook Family – Spring portrait photos
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.
Dreaming
When I am feeling tired, and I have been lately, I think about the newborns I’ve photographed. They are not lying underneath a hefty burden of 21st century cares yet. They aren’t worried about making ends meet, people pleasing, child rearing, personal growth or daily discipline. They don’t even know how to speak or count. They lay their perfect little heads down to sleep and, I hope, dream the loveliest little butterflies of dreams. I am not world-worry when I see their faces, but renewed. I look at each one and pray for safe-keeping and love throughout their lives. Here are a mere few favorites.
“No day is so bad it can’t be fixed with a nap.” — Carrie Snow
“My mother told me to follow my dreams, so I took a nap.” — Unknown
“I love to sleep. Do you? Isn’t it great? It really is the best of both worlds. You get to be alive and unconscious.” — Rita Rudner
“In dreams, we enter a world that’s entirely our own.” – Steven Kloves
“When we are asleep in this world, we are awake in another.” –Salvador Dali
“A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you’re fast asleep.” – Walt Disney
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.