Posts Tagged: cake smashing

Barrett Turns One

Some photo shoot themes have to be crafted and developed out of thin air. And others are a natural because of family hobbies, vocations, passions, whatever. For Barrett Spillman’s one year portraits and cake smash, the choice of baseball was a home run….. I know. I’m ducking as I type, but this stuff writes itself, you guys!

Mom Elisabeth told me her idea of “MVP of the Year” and to “run with it” and that’s exactly what I did. Both her father and her husband Isaac, play baseball, so this theme felt like a fitting tribute to them and a fun way to celebrate their one year old.

I love doing an outdoor cake smash but rarely get to because many parents prefer to photograph them indoors. Fortunately, these parents weren’t at all worried about their little rookie getting dirty. 

We adore Elisabeth and Isaac and have photographed their engagement, bridal, wedding, Barrett’s newborn portraits and At Home Christmas. So it’s nice to feel relaxed and ready to play with faces we know well. This family is one of those who’ve hired us from the beginning and appreciate the continuity we capture through photo sessions over the years.

Now for some baseball! Thanks to our Parks and Rec director here in Wilkesboro who met with me and gave me full access to newly refurbished baseball fields that were otherwise locked down for the season. It’s hard to have a baseball shoot without the right setting. And thanks to my dear friend Ashley Shumate, the busiest baseball Mom I know. She let me borrow all the baseball gear to bring my vision to life for the Spillmans. 

Pixels On Paper Photography Barrett Spillman One Year Portrait and Cake Smash Photo

Barrett loved being outside, in the dug out, and on home plate and played the role of MVP as if he were born to it! His first birthday cake was a reward, so he was game for just about anything we needed from him. He was a good sport! 

Those expressions during the first taste of icing are always priceless and rewarding. 

We also photographed some studio portraits where Barrett wore an outfit that was a family heirloom. It’s been passed down and worn by other babies in the family turning one before him. Hence the need for these shots to be indoors. I wanted to preserve and protect it for future generations. That and it was 100% wool! To hot for outside. 

Happy Birthday, Young Man!! We’ll see you soon, I hope – whether you’re a sports star or not, we’re fans of yours.

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 weddingsbrides, 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.

88x31 lucy & glens valle crucis wedding photography | pixels on paper boone wedding photographers

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.

Baby, Baby Series Part 3 – 1st BIRTHDAY & CAKE SMASH

“I just completed my first trip around the sun. Time to start my memoirs.”

If only we could record even the obtuse, undefined, blurry world of a one year old, what an interesting document that would be. What would we glean about ourselves, our sensory experiences and most especially our developing soul? I would love to be tasked with being the documentarian of the Life of the Mind – Year One Project. Here’s more of our son Finley (above) and his first birthday cake smash.

Instead, we at Pixels document the first year from the outside and it culminates with a first birthday cake smash and/or photo session. See more of Sawyer – above – on his first birthday.

Ivy Myers 12 months child and family portrait photography by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography
Still Life with Ivy & Cake
pixels on paper photography, portrait photography, family portrait photography, photo studio, outdoor portrait photography, photo

Gavin’s birthday party took place at our favorite orchard. Here’s even more from that day!

Carson Mathis one year portrait photography photo
Carson’s Cake Smash

But it’s not all about the sweets and the mess that follows. We ask our client parents to bring other props or take advantage of ours and if possible, we love to take the session from our studio into our portrait garden and yard.

Amelia turns one. First Birthday. Child photography, children photo

See a little more of Ivy’s first birthday and lemonade stand.

What we cannot provide in an internal monologue for your one year olds, we can provide in photography. See some of our other favorites.

And this little man below is Barrett. You’ll see more of his first birthday cake smash any minute now!

Pixels On Paper Photography Barrett Spillman One Year Portrait and Cake Smash Photo

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 weddingsbrides, 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.

88x31 lucy & glens valle crucis wedding photography | pixels on paper boone wedding photographers

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.

Baby’s One Year Package

If you’ve ever heard a friend, relative or even yourself lamenting the fact that you didn’t get more photos of specific milestones, then take note. Pixels offers a “Baby Package” that we thoughtfully put together so that you’d never look back in regret. You don’t have to figure out which portraits you want in order to cobble together your own package. We’ve done this for you.

Newborn portraits are first, of course. You cannot have a Baby Package with no baby. Labor is over and now comes the fun part: raising this little angel through the first year. Don’t worry; you can do it and so too can you get those newborn portraits taken. Part of our studio is designed specifically for these sessions, with a lovely and private place to rest, nurse and change. We suggest that you bring in your new bundle sometime during their first 10 days. We make it easy on you! This isn’t our first rodeo.

Holden Gray Newborn Photography by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography photo

At six months, we bring families back in for more portraits. Babies are ready to sit up – making them perfect models – but they are not yet walking, so we can get them alert and happy, curious and surrounded by siblings, toys, lights or in a theme. At six months, they are incredibly responsive and some of the best portraits we get are at these sessions.

Conner Tevepaugh Six Month Photography by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography

At one year, it’s time for a party, so families who buy this package set up cake smashes, celebrate on location, at our studio, with a theme, costume changes – you name it. Kiddos at one year may or may not be walking, but they are alert, are showing their personalities and are ready for their close ups.

Ivy Myers 12 months child and family portrait photography by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography photo

Some expecting moms don’t think that they will want these, but we always hear from those who choose a maternity session that they are so glad they did. We recommend the seventh month and we will not only pose you in the most flattering lighting and angles (don’t stress), but we’ll also make sure that you’re completely comfortable and cared for.

For newborn, six month and one year sessions, clients receive a 10 x 10 custom designed album that includes all of your favorite images, as well as an 8 x 10 portrait from each session at the end of the year. If you choose to add a maternity shoot, it’s a minimal upgrade and completely worth it. The baby package also comes with a 20% discount on all card orders, so you can send announcements or holiday cards using these images and maximize your package.

From Maternity….
… and expecting with Dad and Siblings …
pixels on paper newborn baby family portrait photographers wilkesboro nc
… to newborn shots welcoming the baby into the family…
Pixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Hirsch Reilly family and baby outdoor portrait photos
… to 6 months ….
Pixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Hirsch Reilly family and baby outdoor portrait photos
… and waiting for the Big One Year!

We also offer two other packages. The Baby & Baby which includes a one hour maternity session, a 2 hour newborn session and a 5 x 7 from each session. You can also schedule a one hour Baby Bump or Newborn session.

All of our wedding clients receive a free newborn session and/or credit toward a newborn session can be applied to the package purchase. 

We hope you’ll call us if your curious, have questions or want to chat about the news that you’re expecting (CONGRATULATIONS!) and work out best dates.


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 weddingsbrides, 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.

88x31 lucy & glens valle crucis wedding photography | pixels on paper boone wedding photographers

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.

Our Finley Turns One with a Cake smash

America’s beloved Walt Disney said, “I think of a child’s mind as a blank book. During the first years of his life, much will be written on the pages. The quality of that writing will affect his life profoundly.”

I don’t know what was more profound this last year of our lives and the first of Finley’s. Everything he poured out, we soaked up… some of it we consumed lovingly with no sense of what the heck was going on, but more of it with the greediness of parents who understand that time is flying. I hope we filled the pages of his blank little being with the imprints of love, care, tickles, laughter, confidence and some unspoken knowledge that we have his back till our last breaths.

That’s heavy. I know, but I’m his Mama and I get a pass. Want the sweet stuff? See below. We celebrated his first birthday with the traditional cake smash and he did not disappoint.

one year cake smash photographers photoone year cake smash photographers photo

I’m amazed at the amount of growth and change I saw in Finley in just 12 months. We opted to photograph his cake smash portraits during his birthday celebration while he was surrounded by family. A few days prior, Ryan and I sat in the middle of the floor creating his one year backdrop while he played around us in the balloons. I made his birthday cake, following a tradition where my Mom always made my birthday cakes while growing up. When he is able, he will be able to request what kind of cake he wants just like I did. Traditions run thick in our blood! It’s what memories are made of.

With Ryan behind the camera and family filling our studio, little man could not contain his excitement as I carried the cake in and placed it in front of him. In mere seconds he dove in – first with a hand and followed promptly with his his entire mouth. At one point when looking around to see that everyone was laughing and cheering and no one would stop him his arm was in the cake up to his elbow getting as big a handful as possible. He definitely likes chocolate and cake!

one year cake smash photographers photoone year cake smash photographers photoone year cake smash photographers photoone year cake smash photographers photoone year cake smash photographers photoone year cake smash photographers photoone year cake smash photographers photoone year cake smash photographers photo

After eating literally 1/3 of the small cake and covering himself in icing he got a bath. Here’s a little funny but gross note…. the next morning he sneezed chocolate. I’m not kidding.
Happy Birthday, Sweet Finley. What you’ve given us far outweighs any birthday or other gifts we’ve given you. We love you, Son.

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 weddingsbrides, 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.

88x31 lucy & glens valle crucis wedding photography | pixels on paper boone wedding photographers

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License

All photos are ©2018 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

macanna’s first year celebration | child portraits

Pixels On Paper was incredibly lucky to photograph portraits of Macanna turning 1 in our Wilkesboro portrait studio. We welcomed the cake smashing cuteness! Birthday celebrations bring us great joy and some incredible child portraits that will capture these memories for a lifetime.  View some of her parent’s favorite photos from the portrait session in this video.

Let Pixels On Paper capture your child’s First Year with creative portraits that will always remind you of that special moment in time.  Contact us at 704-641-1131 or 336-990-0080 to schedule your session and visit our website at www.pixelsonpaper.biz.