Posts Tagged: baby mountain family photographers
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.
Spring 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?
Twinkling 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.
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.
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.
Going 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.
A Brand New Girl | Newborn Pictures of Penelope Jo
Penelope Jo was born February 28th at 4lb 12oz – a miniature gift and one month early. While small enough to put in your pocket on the way to grab lunch, she was completely healthy and discharged before her mom. I KNOW. “Look out, people!! I’ve got stuff TO DO!!” At only 8 days, Whitney and Preston brought this little jewel to our studio for their first ever photo shoot as a family of three. She took my breath away. How can something so teeny pull your heart out of your chest? But she did and I was only the latest. Her parents and grandparents are doing all they can do not to gobble her up.
We photographed Whitney and Preston’s engagement and wedding and watching them gush over Penelope Jo was incredibly sweet. She may be the smallest newborn I’ve photographed – both adorable and beyond cooperative. In fact she was so good that I didn’t want to stop photographing her as she slept peacefully. No matter what props or positions we put her in, she would bend like a reed and as cutely as possible. 
I have no interest in wishing this little girl’s life to fly by – especially with that little tutu and headband – but I’m anxious to see her and photograph her often and watch her grow up. So much satin and sweet, so much cool and composed. She’s a little dream.
new addition | newborn cameron
How lucky you are, Cameron. You can’t imagine the love that was surrounding you on this day. They say that newborns are near-sighted and mostly focused on mom’s eyebrows and forehead, so you will indeed have to take my word for what you couldn’t see. Behind my lens, you laid there in complete coziness, but you were not alone. So much of your family’s journey was floating around me. From seeing your mom and dad newly married and in love to capturing that couple with a baby on the way and a new daughter and now you. Your timing was perfect. Welcome!
Even your feet were in love with each other. They kept smooching.
Your sister Madelyn came to the shoot and we’ve photographed her growing up too. While we only see your family a couple of times a year, we always look forward to it. And now here you are. This may not always be the case [Secret: siblings can get on each others nerves, but it usually ends well. Keep that in mind when Madelyn boots you out of her room in 10 years.], but right now, you are the apple of her eye. Your sister adores you.
You are a precious being, Cameron and I’m adding my name to the list of fans to go along with your mom, dad and older sister. Come see me again soon, please and take sweet care of yourself. You’re at the very beginning!
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.
jaxon turns six months old
In no time at all, you can go from delicious 6 day old bundle to bib overalls.
Meet a little man working the bald is beautiful angle. And he really works it.
We blinked and this little brother and son is half-way through his first trip around the sun. If I had a nickel for every time I got to stare at the mini-down on top of a kid’s teeny head, I’d be rich and I’d still be behind the camera. That smile is going to break hearts and it’s already bringing his sweet mama, and this photographer, to her knees.
He’s thinking, processing, gesturing, grinning and for all we know making trades over the phone with a savvy broker who speaks fluent Baby. Perfect skin and working bubbles, Jaxon shines with that kind of inner light that comes from no worries. His grandmother saw these portraits and said: “How beautifully done! These show his personality so well.” And his mom thanked me for being “so patient and loving with Jaxon.” I love what I do. I love the families and the squealing newborns, the 6 month old squishies, the siblings and the crawling and everything that comes after. I cannot wait to see him at his first birthday. Maybe he’ll let his brother come along!
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.
A Half Birthday Portrait Session | Sweet Sawyer Dean
Traci Pierce has been standing over her second son Sawyer and apparently holidng a watering can.
He’s growing fast and now at 6 month’s, he has a face that’s moving from baby to boy.
Traci wanted Sawyer’s 6 month photos to be the same as his older brother Holden’s. White cotton, simple and classic. It’s pure and sweet and I love that she wanted that simplicity. It’s a color-scheme that let’s the child shine through. Both Sawyer and his mom were crisply dressed, but gooey together. I loved this shoot!
Traci and her husband Andy have moved into a new house – as if 2 young boys wasn’t enough work. We loved being with them at Christmas for their in home session and the newness of the house was everywhere – and wonderful. A special service Pixels offers is assisting clients with rearranging and redesigning previous wall collections we created for their old home when they transition to the new one.
A few weeks ago I visited their home, took measurements and photos of all the walls where they saw their story being told and where they wanted to show off their family, and I made an inventory of all the photos we’ve printed and framed for them. Back in the office I created new wall collections using their existing photos and made suggestions of how to continue to build upon those layouts with the addition of Sawyer’s photos as well as future family portraits. The monochromatic approach makes this transition a bit easier, because bright white looks elegant in any surrounding. 
We love creating heirlooms for our clients, especially in a culture of selfies and snapshots and we certainly love it when a growing family can recalibrate a wall of photos to accommodate new siblings and new memories. The Pierces are dear to us and we’re excited that even on the busiest day, when there might be chaos in every direction, Traci and Andy can glance at the walls, see those boys in crisp white and think: “Well, THAT happened! At that time they were new and teeny and luscious and perfect.”
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.