Posts Tagged: wilkesboro
newborn portraits | what really happens?
Earlier this week, I wrote about how setting realistic expectations for your newborn portrait session is important. And it is, but don’t let that deter you from scheduling and having a portrait session when they are so young. Some of the most beautiful portraits we take are not always of brides, but of the newest creatures to join us on this spinning planet. More importantly: we’re ready! We know what we’re doing and we’re ready to go. Don’t worry!
So, what really happens during newborn photo sessions?
Well, for starters, the sessions don’t flow from pose to pose and set to set, as I’m sure you’ve already imagined. We’re dealing with fresh little beings who have been breathing on their own for only about 10 days. They don’t know about lighting, where to look or to remain still, because they are little tubes. Breast milk or formula goes in and poop comes out. In the middle they stare, cry and sleep.
A newborn session can take up to four hours. During that span, our camera is not up with the shutter clicking away, because, as mentioned, newborns babies are entirely unpredictable. We never know when or how often they will cry, sleep, eat or need a diaper change and all those things tend to take the most amount of time during our session. A fraction of the 4 hours is spent capturing images, but don’t worry, we tend to get the magic because we know what to look for and when to seize a moment.
To get those cute cuddly curled up newborn photos, our portrait session needs to take place within the first 10 days after birth. An exception to this would be premies and Moms who are recovering from a c-section. While there are breaks for diaper changes, feedings and tears, newborns at this early, early stage, do tend to be more receptive to cuddled and curled poses and will drift off to sleep while we orbit around them.
Inspiration & Props
At our Pixels studio, we have lots of props, wraps, hats, bows and head bands. New parents have enough to think about without having to bring a lot of extra stuff with them. You don’t need to bring any special outfits or props unless there is something specific you want incorporated. We ask that parents send us photos of the nursery or any other part of the house where they will be hanging the portraits so that we can coordinate props to match. All of our studio props and wardrobe items are cleaned after each session.
Studio Space
Our studio is also clean, cozy and extra warm for newborns. We have a convenient changing table and if you’re a nursing Mom, we’re prepared for that as well with a clean boppy and a private comfy chair for you. Ryan and I have been doing this for a long while and have been prepared since the beginning. Now that we have our son Finley, I’m proud of the accommodations we provide for newborn portrait sessions.
Here are a few tips and suggestions that I email our clients prior to the session:- Give your baby a bath and lather him or her in lotion and bring the lotion with you. This will help condition any peeling skin.
- Keep your baby awake before the session if possible. We know this can often be tricky during the car ride, but do your best.
- We want you to bring us a hungry baby! When you arrive he/she will be ready for food and a nap. Those sleeping angels make the best portraits. Try not to feed for a few hours before arrival. Feeding when you arrive at the studio will ensure that he/she will drift off to sleep and be most cooperative to being posed and photographed.
- If you are nursing, there is a list of foods that we recommend you avoid for 48 hours before your session that will help keep your baby from being gassy or fussy during the session.
The most important thing to us is that you get photos of your sweet child that you will cherish. That only happens when we make you feel comfortable, free to move around depending on what the baby needs and completely supported. Believe me, you are!
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.
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.
8 Photographer Tips: What to Wear for Portraits
More from our mini-series of expert advice, and by the way, for those of you with score cards at home,… we don’t run around referring to ourselves as experts. We try to live humble lives where we work hard to be good at what we do. We just happen to have done this for so long, we know “some stuff.”
So today, I’m giving the 8 key pieces of info about what to wear to a professional portrait session. When it comes to what to wear for portraits, pretty much anything goes. But we know lots of Moms and teenagers stress when it comes to planning what to wear when in front of the camera.
1. Don’t be afraid to wear color. Colors in outdoor portraits that coordinate with the season look better than a wardrobe of black and white.
The Arnold family dressed perfectly during their spring, orchard portrait session. And the Church family’s autumn session is coordinated perfectly too.
Complimentary colors and shades work great especially for large families.
4. Wearing black or white along with khaki or denim are best in studio portraits or outdoors if you want a classic, traditional and timeless look.
Keeping it neutral allows personalities to shine through.
Sticking with the white, here is sweet Sawyer in his 6 month portrait session.
5. Shoes can most often date a photo more than any other piece of wardrobe. If the weather and surroundings lend itself, considering going with bare feet or stick with classic solid leather styles for adults and children. Children’s tootsies are so delicious (Ryan and I routinely munch on Finley’s….. his are just right for snackin’), if they can be outdoors and shoe-free, do it!
8. We also have a helpful “What to wear” Pinterest board for inspiration. Bear these in mind and you’ll look brilliant!
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.
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.
Sharing is Caring – The win-win of client referrals & community
Ever heard that phrase? Well sharing really is caring when it comes to our clients and the reciprocal love fest that happens when they tell others about us. Lately, we’ve been musing about how much our clients stick with us over the years. In fact – true, loyal friendships have developed and we consider more than two handfuls of our clients to be family now. It’s a real perk of this gig: doing life with you guys.
Celebrating Pixels’ 10th Anniversary with clients (ie our friends and family)
photo by Michael A. Anderson Photography
In an effort to spread some of that love around, we’re introducing a referral program to reward those who share our name with others, allowing us to continue growing our business and our community of family.
So, if you are an existing client, listen up – (please and thank you):
- Any existing client of Pixels (you’ve hired us for a wedding or portrait session of one type or another) who refers us to someone who then books us for a wedding, will receive their own FREE portrait session PLUS $250 in print credits from us.
AND, ALSO:
- Any existing client of Pixels who refers us to someone who then books us for a portrait session, will receive their own FREE portrait session that year PLUS $50 in print credits from us. For every additional referral they send us, they will receive yet another $50 print credit. The more you send others who book with us, the more rewards we’re happy to lavish on you.
Portraits, for us, come in all types, just like our subjects come in all shapes and sizes. Newborns, first birthdays, families and family reunions, milestones, graduations, and of course bridals and engagements.
- KEY NOTES: We want our existing clients to make sure to tell the folks they are referring to us to MENTION THE REFERRING CLIENT’S NAME, so that they get the rewards they deserve. If someone books a wedding or portrait and doesn’t mention that they heard about us from you, how will we be able to shower you with some love?
- This program offer EXCLUDES limited edition and promo session referrals. Contact us if you have questions!
If you have friends, family, coworkers or neighbors who are about to embark on a milestone or celebration, we hope you’ll tell them about us. And when you do!!!!!!….. you will be rewarded. Thanks 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 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.
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.
Madi & Preston Make Headlines with their Wedding
We wanted to share a love-up to a couple we photographed, both for their engagement, bridal portraits and their wedding, as they are featured in the All About Weddings issue of Mountain Times. Madi and Preston were married at a Warrensville family owned farm, surrounded by laughter, friends, blooms, cowboy boots and lots of fun and we were honored to be their photographers documenting the day and the celebration.
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.
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.
Orchard Portrait Photos – Spring in the NC Mountains – time to book!
As the exclusive photographers at one of our favorite places – a nearby orchard – we look forward to gathering there with families, couples, prom goers and the like to capture them among some pretty gorgeous blooms. Yes, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, but at some point during that crazy change-over, this orchard is magic. The weather can and does affect it but we stand at the ready to photograph.
To see the kinds of photos we’ve taken in previous years – have a look! And gang, it’s time to book. So consider this your official reminder and contact us to schedule your session.
Stacie in repose
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.
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.