Posts Tagged: newborn portraits nc

Leo Orozco newborn photos

“Babies smile in their sleep because they’re listening to the whispering of angels.” – Author unknown

This little angel is Leo Orozco and we had the pleasure of not only photographing his parents – Ashley and Oscar – for their engagement and wedding portraits – but his first portraits just about a week after he was born in April.
And yes, he is feeling his developing bicep.
Pixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait PhotoPixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait PhotoPixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait PhotoPixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait Photo

Leo loves to keep his hands near his face at all times – it’s like he knows to pose or he’s preparing for the Peek-a-Boo chapter that is on his horizon. And while he appears to be much older in these photos than he is actually, he also loves to snuggle. I thoroughly enjoyed having him in my arms, cuddling him into props or holding him to give his parents a break. He is Ashley and Oscar’s first child and they are exhausted. Just IMAGINE THAT…. hee. We could relate for sure. This dapper little charmer was so easy during the portrait session – he was a dream.
“When my baby is asleep, that’s when I think, ‘WOW, I made that!'” – Maria Jose Ovalle

Pixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait PhotoPixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait Photo

I love creating these little videos for families, because this early time in their lives really does pass so quickly. A friend of mine with older kids reminded me recently that the days may seem long but the years are short.


Pixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait PhotoPixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait PhotoPixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait Photo“His little hands stole my heart,
his little feet ran away with it.” – Joshua RileyPixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait PhotoPixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait PhotoPixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait Photo

It’s going to be so much fun watching this multi-cultural little man grow up surrounded by his loving family and the strong community within their church. 

Pixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait PhotoPixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers Orozco Family Newborn Portrait 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.

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

Newborn photos : pinterest vs. reality

Our recent blog about brides who come to us with Pinterest boards, some with nearly impossible shots or ideas that belong to someone else, prompted me to write one for moms of newborns. You’ve been dreaming about this amazing new creature and addition to your family and dreaming about how she or he will change the world. Getting great FIRST images of your precious child is also something we know you dream about and we’re in an age that tells us that if we saw it online, then someone was able to do it and so I should be too.

pinterest.com/pin/232357662001291228/

In the case of newborns, babies often dictate what poses are possible. Each baby is completely different and that’s the way we want it! As with brides, where we want their wedding day to be about who they are in that moment surrounded by what and who matters to them the most, copying someones else’s newborn portraits is not only difficult – it’s inauthentic.

With babies, we cannot necessarily duplicate what comes from your inspiration board, but the difficult part also has mostly to do with their temperaments….., and their flexibility, whether they are heavy sleepers, are comfortable no matter what, need to eat often, hate to be naked, don’t want to be moved multiple times, have upset tummies…… You with me? There are lots of variables.

Wilkesboro, Boone, Blowing Rock, NC Newborn Photographers Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography photoAaron Schlinsog Newborn Photography by Pixels On Paper Portrait PhotographyMoments with babies don’t necessarily occur naturally and we are happy to look at your Pinterest board inspirations, but parents should not get their hopes set on any particular poses. Safety is a major concern. Some Pinterest favorites are composite images (several images combined to make one) and involve a lot of photoshop work. Most newborns do not naturally have the strength to prop themselves up on their elbows.
DO NOT let that keep you from getting newborn photos!
We will absolutely to do our best to capture your little lamb and all of his or her little features, smiles and sweetness. We have been professional newborn and baby photographers for a long time. We know when to engage and snap the shutter, how to help swaddle and pose and make them as warm, cozy and comfy as possible. We also know when to let them just be and see what happens in a setting.


Mathis Newborn Photography, Family portrait photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On Paper photo

To note: there are some poses to be aware of in advance of hiring a newborn photographer. These are the hardest and most uncomfortable poses for most babies:
We will do everything we can to create the best versions of the inspirations you bring to us, but we also want you to be flexible along with us as we take into consideration the setting, props and the various needs your baby may have that day as we work. Stay tuned! Our next blog is about how to prep your newborn for their first portrait session and….. how to be ready yourself. No drama!!


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

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

Meet the New Case – our newborn son

Well, it’s happening. A blog about our own child. I’d say “finally” but God’s timing is always perfect and if it had been any other way, Ryan and I wouldn’t be parents to Finley James Case. We’ve welcomed a son into our lives, our space, the 100+ year old home we fixed up, and absolutely into our hearts. “Into our hearts” is a phrase that can sound cheesy when you don’t have kids the way we didn’t until recently, but I soooooooooo get it now. It’s a feeling of completion, if that makes any sense. He’s ours in every way. We’re transformed because he’s here.
And it’s surreal too. Our lives are now riddled with surprises, joy, moments of “WHA???”, exhaustion and daily revelations. So, as we introduce the newest Case to you guys – our sweet followers, clients, supporters and friends – here’s a little bit about what’s been on my mind.

Pixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoI’m obsessed with his cheeks. I know, but I ask for no leniency, Judge! From the moment I could see them in the ultrasound pics, so plump and round, I was enamored. They’re even more adorable in person. Close runners up are his lips, fingers, toes… well everything. So there’s the love affair portion of this which is the vast majority of it when I intellectualize it.

But there’s the exhaustion too and it’s what we all think about with newborns: the absolute lack of sleep. We’ve learned how much a person can do with so little sleep. It’s astonishing, really, but I don’t want to make a habit out of it. I’m amazed at how quickly days turn to nights and the nights are so very very hard. But when he’s awake and serene – God help me, he’s perfect.

Pixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoWhat is not serene and perfect is postpartum depression. I thought about not mentioning it, but what is the point of sharing if I’m not going to be honest and forthright. It is a very real thing and the internal struggle of hormones, body, intellect while tired and wanting to remember who you were and who you now are is dicey. I’m still very emotional and my body hasn’t healed. I’m not yet able to do everything I was doing before and pick up life where it left off. I know I’m only 41, but I’m 41, you know? There are times when I feel that God is taking this opportunity to show me how little in control I actually am. And for a person that’s always strived for independence and perfection this is a situation where I can do neither. It’s a hard lesson. I know I’m growing, but the patience part is not easy. If you’ve been through it, I send you a hug in my mind. I get it. Thank God for perspective and knowing how to take the long view.Pixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoProfessionally, this session was a study in insight. We’ve been photographing babies for a long time and wanted to capture our own portraits of Finley. For once I felt what every Mom who comes into our studio with a newborn must feel. Anxiety when he cries and doesn’t cooperate, frustration when you are so close to having him settled for that perfect shot only to have him abruptly need to be fed; discouragement because you would think it would be easy to swaddle my own child… it’s harder. If anything, being a new Mom has helped me be a better newborn photographer rather than the other way around. Pixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoPixels On Paper Photography outdoor studio Newborn portrait photoRyan and I never thought we would see each other in these roles. It’s showing us sides of each other and our marriage that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. The few hours (never sequential – ha!) that Finley is awake and alert are my favorite times of day these days. His eyes wander all around taking in every sight and sound. We are at the beginning and it’s crazy, but the Finley shaped hole in our lives was filled just in time and perfectly by this little dude.

Thank you for loving us. We know that that love extends to our son and it means more to us than we could ever express.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll just bzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

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 ©2017 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

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“remind me what he looks like…”

A story that a friend shared with me that a chaplain once told her … sort of a parable – and a sweet one that comes to mind sometimes when I look down at my own son’s face – is about a little girl, aged 5, being told that she was going to be a big sister. No joy in Mudville for her, so to speak. She was not interested in the role or title of sister, not interested in a new companion, in sharing, in change and let her parents know it with her scowls and body English. She became disobedient and/or quiet and lost her own excitement about simple things. The couple hoped it would pass when the new baby arrived.

The baby was born – a little boy – and when the pair was introduced, she gazed at her little brother but wasn’t affectionate or warm. She mostly just stared at him.

 

Because the parents were trying to be good parents and had read books about siblings and parenting and the struggles that come with introducing a newborn to an established 5 year old with opinions and agendas, they kept an eye on her and were always careful to be near her when she was with her little brother. She never showed affection or interest; she was just watchful. She was always staring at him, they noticed. She never spoke to him.

One day, she asked her Mom and Dad if she could be alone with him in his crib, and warily they finally said yes. They cracked the door, though, so that they could watch her in case she decided to hurt him.
Anya Parry Newborn Portrait Photography photo
Through the crack in the door, they watched as she stood silently by his crib and gazed through the slats. Nothing happened for the first several minutes. Then she leaned in and they heard her say, “Hi, baby. Will you tell me what God looks like. I don’t remember.”I love this story and the idea that babies are heavenly makes perfect sense to me. But it’s also a reminder that when we are far from God, we sometimes forget His face and His love for us. It’s in those times that a perfect little creature is sent to remind us.

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 ©2017 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

for the love of newborn babies

From the downiest bit of hair fluff that smells indescribably baby and yet something only J.R.R. Tolkien could describe – something elves or fairies make – to their feet that manage to wrap like rising pretzel dough – newborn babies are the closest thing to heaven. They are intoxicating, which is why you see mothers, aunts, grandmothers and countless others holding a newborn, then rolling their eyes into the back of their heads while sniffing and cuddling. You see a newborn being held, the head is supported, but mostly what they are doing is smelling that perfect newborn head scent of unadulterated yum.
Terpstra Newborn Baby Family Portrait PhotographyThe feet really are too much. There are wrinkles and ridiculously small nails and they twist and turn, based on how they were in utero, into impossible shapes that can fit in your mouth. Find a baby’s foot and maybe a little clarified butter (and a decoy) and you’ve got snack time.
Holden Gray Newborn Photography by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography photo

What is he thinking about? Warmth? Peeing?
What I always think about is scale. It’s important to capture the beginning and it’s hard to miss the study in contract between his little head and his father’s hand supporting it… the size of his fist next to his father’s fingers. They’ll never be able to create that again and I love capturing it during that one moment.Mathis Newborn Photography, Family portrait photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On Paper photo

While we’re settling in with our own newborn masterpiece (forgive me, but he’s pretty perfect) and preparing for the holidays, I’m holding my newborn close and thinking of the newborns I’ve photographed, the exhausted parents who are in love with them, and how I know the time will fly. I’m wishing rest and peace for us all.

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 ©2017 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

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