Pixel Pixie Photography: The Blog

The one with the address

2010-12-29T19:02:00.000-08:00

Don't take off your coat and get all cozy just yet. Pixel Pixie Photography The Blog has moved! From now on out, you can see all new sneak peeks, stay up to date with sales, and news at :
http://pixelpixiephotography.com/blog/

I hate to leave because my time blogging here has been great, but the new blog is going to be awesome. It's still a work in progress, needs a few things here and there, but it's on it's way. Don't worry, the posts from this site have moved over to the new blog too. There is also a tab now on the website that will take you straight to the new blog too.

What are you waiting for? Go.

The one with RyLynn, the best Chritmas gift ever.

2010-12-20T16:29:00.000-08:00

I'm just going out on a limb here and say that I'm 100% positive that Krystan and Cody(and the rest of the family) are going to say they received the best Christmas gift ever, four days ago.  RyLynn,weighing in at 5 lbs 2.5 oz and 17 inches long, made her debut on the 16th. I had the honor of shooting her newborn session this afternoon. She is all kinds of teeny, tiny perfection and I tried numerous times to bring her home with me.   I started off our session by holding her, which was a huge mistake, because that's all I wanted to do the rest of the session.  I just wanted to curl up with her on the couch and take a nap. Newborns make me sleepy, especially the cozy ones.  I thought about handing the camera over to the one of the dogs and letting them handle the session while I snuggled with the little miss.  Congrats Krystan and Cody. You did good! :)


Her great grandma made this blanket from some of the left over material from Krystan and Cody's wedding.

Sporting her awesome scarf her mommy knitted her while she was in labor.

I love, love, love this one.


And I'm pretty sure for making her pose naked and get cold, she meant it!

The one with Aimee.

2010-12-07T12:57:00.000-08:00

So, I met up with Aimee a couple weeks back.  She is a senior this year at East and looking to study Sports Medicine. As of our session she was debating an a couple of schools in NC.  Amiee is awesome :) I asked her if she was planning on wearing her glasses the entire session and she said yes, because "she looks funny without them on." This lead me to believe that once she took her glasses off that she sprouted a uni-brow, a third eye or something  terribly wonderful along those lines.  Finally, much to her dismay, she shed her glasses for a few shots.  Guess what? No uni-brow, third eye, second head.....nothing. I'll have to agree to disagree with you Aimee, you are lovely with or without your glasses! 


Dr.'s, told Mike, Aimee's dad, a few years back he wasn't going to be here much longer. He's still here. June will be a huge milestone for this family. I loved their story :)

Christmas Order Deadline

2010-12-05T15:32:00.000-08:00

Don't forget, all orders for Christmas are do by December 10th! Also, the Christmas sale is in full swing until the 21st. You can read about it by clicking here.
I hope you guys are enjoying these days. I had the pleasure of getting to hang out with Madison today and we had of course had to go out and play in all this snow we are getting. We followed it up with some veggie stew, grilled cheese, art work, a new hat and a warm fire.

The one with Ryan, Renaissance Man.

2010-11-23T09:01:00.000-08:00

Ryan is the business. He can act, he can sing, he can dance, he's even a drum major. He asked for red balloons and for me to bring my suitcase. He even wore red Chucks. Hello! I decided right away we should be friends. I met up with him one afternoon in Buckhannon a couple of weeks back. He squeezed me in between school and his rehearsal for an Opera. Literally one of the busiest boys I have ever met. He's currently auditioning all over for colleges and he made mention of a school in New Jersey. I hope he goes where his heart and talent takes him. Break a leg Ryan!

The one with Kinsey.

2010-11-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

Meet Kinsey. We met up in Alderson a couple of weeks ago for her session. Once I again, I found the creepiest and most tetanus filled location I could for her session. Oh and did I mention the endless supply of glass and pigeon poop? This seems to be a running theme at my sessions. If I go missing, just follow the pigeons. Glass, tetanus, and poop didn't hold Kinsey back. I think she is the best example of spunky that I have ever seen. Not only is she a senior this year(looking to study pre-med in the fall) she is also a dancer. Once I learned that, I knew we were up for some fun. Good luck Kinsey ! Enjoy your year.

The one with the bump.

2010-11-15T10:24:00.000-08:00

Of all the things I've seen Krystan in, I'd have to say, she looks the best in baby. :) RyLynn is due here in a few short weeks, and I know that Krystan and Cody have the countdown clock on. We meet up last week and the rain and snow stopped for just long enough for us to get a few shots. And I know the backdrop probably isn't what you'd think of for a maternity session, but I kind of liked the beauty in the chaos. Congrats Krystan and Cody. Can't wait to meet RyLynn.

Ellie version 3.0

2010-11-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

I met up with Ellie last week for her third session. I think we had the perfect day at the perfect place. Since early this summer I knew I wanted to shoot one of Ellie's session at my family's old hunting camp. It's kind of an amazing spot and I knew we'd get to do lots and lots of great stuff, and we did! Ellie you know you rock!

The Christmas Post.

2010-11-06T10:12:00.000-07:00

Rupert received it's first snow yesterday. It didn't amount to much, just a skiff, but it had me thinking about Christmas and that had me thinking about you.    I know Black Friday is just around the corner, but I plan on sleeping through it, so I'll post this now.   From November 26th-December 21tst get $25 off all session fees and/or $25 off all package 1&2, $50 off of package 3, $100 off of package 4, and $200 off of package 5. To make it even better, you don't have to book your session in November or December, you can book any time through 2011. Payment is due in full at the time of purchase and you will be issued a certificate. Speaking of certificates, don't forget photography makes a great gift! Gift Certificates are available.
If you have placed a print order in the past year with Pixel Pixie Photography, I also have a great deal for you too! Order any time now through December 10th and get a great deal on reprints, gallery wraps,and photo books.
Reprints:                          Gallery Wraps:                                              Photo Books:
16x20   $60                        11x14 -16x20   $50 off    8x8      $25 off
11x14   $40                        20x30 and up $100 off                                 10x10   $35 off
10x13   $30                                                                                               11x14   $50 off
8x10     $15
5x7       $10
4x6       $5
Wallets $10 per sheet

If you are planning on placing a first time print order or a reprint order and want them back in time for Christmas, orders need to be in by midnight on December 10th. Happy Holidays and happy shopping :)

The one with the Payne family.

2010-11-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

So I met up with the Payne family a couple weeks ago for their family session. We met up on the farm and we had to battle some crazy wind and I'm pretty sure the entire state of WV was under a tornado watch. Did we let the stop us? Yeah right. ;) What a great family! What a great day. I had a great time and the boys were able to fly from one hay bale to another. I don't think they minded picture day too much at all. Thanks for driving so far to hang with me! I had a great time.

The one with Jake.

2010-11-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

It was great meeting Jake a couple weeks ago. He's a senior this year at George Washington High School in Charleston. He likes cars and he's into photography. His mom wanted some shots at the State Capital. Since they live literally a block or so away from it, I'm sure that beautiful WV landmark has been a big backdrop and story in their lives. I can't even imagine what it's like seeing it in your skyline everyday. Jake it was great to meet you! Have a great year!

The one with Haley.

2010-10-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

Haley's mom had emailed me awhile back and was running some shot ideas(involving glitter) and locations ideas by me for her session.  I couldn't wait for it to get here.  I knew it was going be amazing and fun. It was. I had a great time and got to bust out a few new props.  I loved Haley's style!  She is a senior this year at Greenbrier East and is thinking about going to The University in Charleston and studying English(a girl after my own heart).  Good luck Haley.  :) 

The one in Pocahontas County.

2010-10-29T15:54:00.000-07:00

If you've ever been there, it's no secret that Pocahontas County is one of the most brilliantly beautiful places in WV. I have fond memories of insanely long Sunday drives with my family and often enough we'd end up in Pocahontas County. I remember trips to Cass, Greenbank, Watoga, Beartown, and picnics on Droop Mountain. One visit I remember being afraid of a log cabin type building at Droop, and my cousins told me that I shouldn't go near it because an old witch with red stringy hair and a ghost lived inside it. That was enough for me to stick with the swings and the slide for the rest of the day, but I did keep looking over my shoulder at that building. Chris, Paul and Jason(my cousins) all decided to walk over to it. Cut to a chubby girl with purple sweat pants saying,"Guys, I don't think this is a good idea." That girl being me. I thought they were crazy. If they wanted to venture over to that cabin and have a stringy red headed witch and ghost jump out, grab them and eat there guts, then they could go without me. I went back to the table and had a brownie and wiped the crumbs on my purple sweat pants. They lived to tell about it, but I do remember two of them running back from the cabin really, really fast saying they heard something. I'm pretty sure that had something to do with the one who came back a little later laughing.

Anyway, I was thinking about that story as I met up with a great group who had decided on doing mini sessions at Droop Mountain State Park. I had about 20 to 25 minutes with everyone. It was a nice change of pace and it couldn't have gone better. I couldn't have asked for a better group. You guys all rocked.

And oh, before I forget, since I'm no longer the girl that wears purple sweat pants and says things like,"Guys, I don't think this is a good idea," I walked up to that cabin before I left for home. I peeked in and saw a blur of red flash in front of me. I could never swear to it, but I thought I heard some one laugh too, but I was running too fast to my car to really think about anything but preserving my guts.


How could you just not totally eat him up?

I love this one :)

The one with Tiffanie.

2010-10-29T15:26:00.000-07:00

So Tiffanie and I spent one morning and one evening together. Early, early that morning we met at her families fantastic farm and we spent that evening on the New River. She's as beautiful as the places we shot at! She has the greatest hair and the amazing eyes! I probably mentioned that to her a time or a 1,000. This year, Tiffanie is a senior at Greenbrier East. She's planning on attending WVU next fall, where, I hope to see her at some football games. ;) Good luck Tiffanie and enjoy your year!

The one with Chad.

2010-10-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

  Chad is a senior this year at East and is looking at possibly studying Criminal Justice or maybe some Graphic Design next year in Kentucky.  He likes to board however, he broke his foot last month so any crazy boarding shots were out. He rocked it anyway.  Enjoy your year Chad!

The one with the Bartlett Family.

2010-10-22T06:41:00.000-07:00

I meet up with the Bartlett family last week for a session and I enjoyed meeting every single one of them. Such a great group, such a great family. It was nice to just watch them interact. I those little moments like these:meet up with the Bartlett family last week for a session and I enjoyed meeting every single one of them. Such a great group, such a great family. It was nice to just watch them interact. I those little moments like these:

The one where I meet Matthew.

2010-10-18T18:08:00.000-07:00

He does serious pretty well, don't ya think?

So I finally had the chance to meet Matthew a couple weeks ago. He is so, so long, has such great eyes and he makes the best faces ever.He did great during our session. I think he liked all the new sights and new sounds.Congrats Courtney he's a peach!

The one with Mr. and Mrs. Crouch

2010-10-18T10:36:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago Cierra and Steven said I do.  It was cool to shoot this wedding because Cierra was the first senior session I had when I first started my business.  It's such an honor when you come back and I'm delighted to to watch your life grow!    The wedding was great. Full of love just as it should be :) 

We planned on a day after session, and I knew it was going to rock! We had such a good time at their engagement shoot. I knew the day after session was going to be just as fun, and it was.  I love the idea of these day after sessions so much that I'm going to be adding it to my price list and as an option in a package. 

Anyway, without further ado........Mr. and Mrs. Crouch!


It was fun to "recreate" a shot from Cierra's senior session.

The one with Mr. and Mrs. Hunter

2010-10-18T10:04:00.000-07:00

So the day before their wedding, I spent some time looking back over Jessica an Chris' engagement session. We shot it in January. It was blue cold and the ground was covered in snow, but they toughed it out. They didn't complain once and we shot for a long time. I still think that says a lot about who they are. It was strange to me to think about that January and how that seemed like such a long time ago, but at the same time I couldn't believe how quick it went by. The days leading up to October 9th were full of anticipation, and I know they were both ready for that day to get here. It was a great fall day and it was perfect for a wedding. Congrats Jessica and Chris! I'm glad that you have found one another. I know good things are in store for you both!

I couldn't resist posting this one. I heard this was probably going to happen, and it made me laugh. Sorry Jess! ;)

The one with Brandi.

2010-10-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

Brandi and I met a week or so ago to shoot her senior session. I liked her right away, but even more so when her mom told me she does "gross manly" things, which, we had to high five on, because I also enjoy partaking of those very un-lady like habits. Spiting is fun. I don't care what you say.

I can tell you this, you have to watch the tiny ones. I'm pretty sure you get her in the right place and the right time, she'll win every time! Good luck Brandi! Enjoy your senior year.

The one where I get long winded and cry a lot...

2010-09-29T21:06:00.000-07:00

I did cry a lot while editing these and only those good tears. This is going to be a long one, but it's not everyday that you get photograph one of your best friends weddings. For a long time, Wes was just a name for us all at RMSP '07. I knew he must really have been something, because he was everything to Christy even then. Trust me when I say that I love when my friends are happy. I love it when they have someone to be happy with. Wes makes Christy happy. Christy makes Wes happy. That makes me happy. All I have to do is look over these images to see that truth. I wish I could show you all the images but a handful(or two) of favs will have to do. Trust me, there are so many, many that I love.
So here's to a great day! Here's to great friends. Congrats to you both. You mean the world to me and remember, always make each other happy....and......keep my bedroom ready. HA. <3

The one in the corn field.

2010-09-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

So, this was a big day for me. I finally got to meet Myles and I've been dying to since the minute I knew he existed, and I'm talking about even before we knew if he was a son or a daughter.  He already had a big day of his own by the time I got to shoot this little session with him. He had to get up early, early, climb aboard a plane and fly to the land of cheese and corn for my dear friend Christy's wedding.  Even with all that, he was so chill.  That's  just who he is though  and his momma can testify to that fact anytime she wants.  Speaking of momma, as if she wasn't already beautiful, this mommy thing makes her even more so.Congrats again Amanda! I can't believe how fast time goes:)

The one before I hit the road....

2010-09-12T15:38:00.000-07:00

It's true. I'm packing my bags, again. I think at last count, I have been on the road or out of town for just about seven weeks this summer. I wouldn't have it any other way. This road trip has been in the works for a very, very long time and one that I've been looking forward to for just as long. One of my very best friends is getting married and I get to shoot her wedding, and I love that. I still remember our first real chat one cool summer morning on the steps of the bank on 210 North Higgins Avenue in Missoula, MT and the one chat in parking lot that made us think we'd known each other since birth rather than a few weeks. That whole summer was like that for everyone that was there. Our little e/f group have seen a lot these past three years. We've seen the creation of friendships, websites, and businesses. We've traveled for weddings and rejoiced at births. We are masters of phone line, emails, blogs and sharing pixels.
I can't wait to see this face and that wedding dress as she says,"I Do" to the one person she talked about a lot when we'd sit on the back porch and watch Montana storms roll in and out. Friends, I can't wait to see you all. :)

Congrats Christy and Wes. I can't wait and thanks for wanting me to be such a big part of your day.

Fall Mini Sessions

2010-09-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

So, I know a lot of you over achievers have already started Christmas shopping and I know a lot of you are already thinking about Christmas card pictures. I can help you out on both accounts. On October 16th, I will be offering 4 mini sessions(possibly 8 if the demand is great) that will come with a great deal on some packages and digital files for your Christmas cards. Here's a little more info:

Fall Portrait Mini Session 
Date:October 16th 
Time:  Four,  30 minute  slots open starting at 4:25 pm.  Come ready to go(that means clothes on, baby's feed and kids bribed hehe). 
Location:  My hone in Rupert, WV
Cost is $40 
Packages start at $100 
Email for further details. Session fee is due at time of booking to hold your slot. 

Rain date will be Oct 17th. 

If you want to book give me a call or email me pixelpixiephotography@hotmail.com and I'll send you along the package and price list.

Halloween Portraits.
October 30th. I know this will likely be the date that the town of Rupert will be trick or treating, but while you’re out and dressed up you might as well stop by and have your Halloween portrait taken. Location is being decided, but more than likely will be at an spooky looking abandoned house in Rupert. Time frame is looking to be 4:30- 7ish. You are under no obligation to purchase anything. I will have a small package put together and will be offering a special rate on fine art gallery warps/float wraps/metal prints that will make a great Halloween decoration for you to hang up for years and years. I will let you know more definite info the closer we get to the 3Oth.

Also, I'll be setting up at Fall Fest again this year. It's a great event held at Western Greenbrier Middle School to help Community in Schools. Come out enjoy the music, vendors and food. The event is on the books for October 2nd (12-4).

The one where you have to kiss a few frogs.....

2010-08-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

Oh my word. Cierra and Stephen's engagement session was a hoot. I had a blast. We laughed a lot and I think we got some of the most fun images because of that. Naturally, we had to have a little bit seriousness(very little actually). I was looking forward to this session, because Cierra was the first senior session I ever photographed and I've loved keeping up with her over these past couple of years. I'm delighted that she's finally got her Prince :) Thanks guys. Can't wait to see you on October 3rd!

The one with Ellie's smokin' hot session.

2010-08-26T07:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, Ellie is beautiful and yes, she did rock her session, but let me explain this blog title. We were in Hinton shooting and we get to our first location and this lady drives up to us mumbling something about a fire. I have no idea what she's talking about and neither does Ellie. The lady turns around and leaves. We start the session. Now, the street we are on is a dead end and I NEVER see a soul there, much less have people drive by on it. Well, not that day. Everyone was driving by looking for a fire. Further into the session we do start to smell smoke, but, we can't see anything anywhere. So, we know possibly something, somewhere is on fire. A few minutes later, a police officer drives up. Crap. I've never been stopped by the cops yet during a session. He nicely asks what we are doing and informs us that they are looking for a fire somewhere close to where we were. He tells us to have a nice day and drives off. Then a member of the fire department shows up and head to one of the buildings beside where we were shooting. Yeah, okay, so the building was on fire. It was time for us to change locations anyway so we left. But let it be known, the burning down of a building will not change our shooting plans. Oh and Ellie loves photography, so we had to have a camera shot. Thanks Ellie for another memorable session....until next time......

The one where we play in mom's flower bed.

2010-08-24T07:25:00.000-07:00

So Cara and Abbey came by to visit me again and this time they brought along their mostly new baby brother Nathan. He has their amazing brown eyes. The rain that day was teasing us, but it held out long enough for us to shoot. We shot on the tacks behind the house and don't tell my mom, but we may have crawled into one of her flower beds too. If she asks, blame the dogs. Thanks again for coming by Sandy, Cara, Abbey and baby Nathan. :)

Kody V 2.0

2010-08-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

So the weather was much nicer last Monday for the second portion of Kody's session. Kody is such a great guy, such a gentleman. Really refreshing. :) Oh and this one is for his mom. He said she didn't now he snuck that shirt out of the house for his session. Ha.

The one with the face.

2010-08-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

I have to start this post with this picture. It gives you a pretty good idea how this session went. Madison is my forever model and her little sister, Layken, thinks it's all pretty ridiculous. We were doing photo's of Madison in her dance costumes and you know, snapping shots of the baby when she agreed to do so. She's about two feet tall, almost two years old and is the boss of everything.

The one where I meet Daniel.

2010-08-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

Everyone, meet Daniel. I had the pleasure of meeting him and his parents early Thursday morning. It was great getting to chat with them and learn about where God's taken them over the years. They are Michigan natives who have lived in Jamaica for a couple of years doing missionary work and are now living in Lewisburg. I think that's awesome and Daniel has had the chance to live a cool life so far. I don't think that will change much for him. He's a senior at East this year, where he plays soccer. He plans on going pre-med next year, but he's not sure of what college he'll head too. Daniel is also a senior rep for me this year at East. If you see him ask him for rep card that will have a freebie on the back of it for you. Thanks for a great day Daniel, Laura and Marc! And thanks you Harmony Ridge for letting us use their amazing store(on of my favorite shops in Lewisburg) for a few shots.

The one where I finally meet Emily.

2010-08-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

So, I've been chatting with Emily's mom for over a year planning her session and a couple of weeks ago, I finally got to meet them both. Emily is a senior this year at Greenbrier East. If you go to school there, chances are you've seen her around and read some of her stories in the high school paper. I had a great time with Emily downtown. She did a fantastic job of modeling for me. Thanks Emily for the great day. Oh and if you do see Emily here in a couple of weeks in the hallway, ask her for a rep card. It will have a freebie on the back for you if you schedule a session.

The one where Kody and I give it the ol' college try....

2010-08-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

Kody got up early(I'm talking butt crack of dawn early) for his session a couple of weeks back. I was diligent on checking the weather, honest to blog I was. Alas, it rained anyway(and weather.com is no longer my friend). We got to shoot for about 15-20 minutes and then the rain drops had their way. We are giving it another go on Monday evening. Until then......

The one where I go to Wisconsin.

2010-07-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

I know. You thought I'd forgotten about you. Maybe fallen off the face of the earth? No such luck. I'm still here. I've been on the road.  I traveled to  Eau Claire ,Wisconsin to help my friend Christy, shoot this lovely wedding on July 3rd.  Britny and Nick said I do. They are kind of heroic, because they braved the sweltering heat and did anything we asked them to do( you know, within reason).  I had a blast. They bride and groom were great, the wedding party were great, the family and friends were great too. I enjoyed getting to hear Britny and Nick's story and learn how many days, lessons, conversations it took them to make it to this one amazing day.   It was also fun to step aside and let Christy take the lead because while she concentrated on one set of shots, I could look for and find a different angle, a different telling.Oh and they had one of the most touching "Frist Glances" I've ever seen. 

The one where I get to see Jack again and meet Mason.

2010-06-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

Jack has heart breaking brown eyes. I can't believe how much he's grown(oh and by the way, he still doesn't have much hair). He graciously sat on my little chair and I didn't even have to ask. I think he's a bit of a ham. He brought along his new baby brother, Mason, and we spent a few minutes together yesterday evening. Mason, by the way, is the most chill baby ever. Ever. It was ridiculously hot and humid yesterday but the boys didn't make one fuss about it. It think the adults complained about it more. I promise, we almost melted.

Calling Class of 2011

2010-06-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

So here's the deal Seniors, if you call and book your session for the month of August you'll get $25 off your session fee!  The first two seniors to book will also get 32 free wallets(a $40 value).  Hurry you must book before July 1st to take advantage of this offer and payment is due at the time of booking to hold your spot. Call(304.667.0917) or email me(pixelpixiephotography@hotmail.com) for more details.

The one where I meet Eddie.

2010-06-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

I met up with Eddie on Monday evening. Eddie is a breath of fresh air. It's good to know he's here, that he's around. He's kind of like creative take-out for me. I love having these amazing sessions but I love walking away with a new friend even more. Thanks Eddie for the great time and Davina, thanks for rocking that reflector.

The one where I wish you luck!

2010-05-27T13:46:00.000-07:00

Class of 2010,did I ever tell you that you are pretty amazing? Cause you are! I have enjoyed each and every one of you! I hope the universe is ready!

First Year Teacher to His Studentsby Gary J. Whitehead

  Go now into summer, into the backs of cars,
into the black maws of your own changing,
onto the boardwalks of a thousand splinters,
onto the beaches of a hundred fond memories
in wait, where the sea in all its indefatigably
stammers at the invitation. Go to your vacation,

to the late morning cool of your basement rooms,
the honeysuckle evening of the first kiss, the first
dip and pivot, swivel and twist. Go to where
the clipper ships sail far upriver, where the salmon
swim in the clean, cool pools just to spawn.
Wake to what the spider unspools into a silver

dawn dripping with light. Sleep in sleeping bags,
sleep in sand, sleep at someone else's house
in a land you've never been, where the dreamers
dream in a language you only half understand.
Slip beneath the sheets, slide toward the plate,
swing beneath the bandstand where the secret

things await. Be glad, or be sad if you want,
but be, and be a part of all that marches past
like a parade, and wade through it or swim in it
or dive in it with your eyes open and your mind
open to wind, rain, long days of sun and longer
nights of city lights mixing on wet streets like paint.

Stay up so late that you forget day-of-the-week,
week-of-the-month, month-of-the-year of what
might be the best summer, the summer
best remembered by the scar, or by the taste
you'll never now forget of someone's lips,
and the trips you took—there, there, there,

where snow still slept atop some alpine peak,
or where the moon rose so low you could see
its tranquil seas...and all your life it'll be like
some familiar body that stayed with you one night,
one summer, one year, when you were young,
and how everywhere you walked, it followed. 

The one where I finally shoot Ellie and get started on 2011!!!!

2010-05-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

This is Ellie and she's my 2011 Greenbrier West High School Senior Rep. I absolutely love Ellie! She just, well, there just no one like her in the world, the universe, and to infinity and back again. There's a pretty good chance if you've booked a session with me, you've seen her because she helps me out from time to time. She rocks the reflector(ha). You'll be seeing much more of her as the months go on because we've cooked up several great ideas for her sessions :) Thanks Ellie! You are fantastic.

The one where I meet Justin.

2010-05-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

So last week, after about a million rain delays, I finally was able to meet Justin. We headed to the farm to shoot his senior session. He'll be graduating from East in a couple of weeks. He plays the banjo, the guitar and is an avid hunter. He even got a bear this year, which gave me chill bumps, cause if you know me at all, you know I think a bear's going to eat me one day. Yeah, it's highly unlikely, but I still fear it. Congrats Justin! It was great to meet you and I hope you had a good time at prom!

The one where Krystan and Cody say I do.

2010-05-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

Their theme was simple elegance and oh boy, was it ever. I know these weddings are rarely simple to put together, but from where I stand, every time, everything just seem to come together perfectly;elegantly. I do adore Krystan and Cody. Meeting them a couple of months back at their engagement session, I knew that their wedding was going to be something to look forward too. I was right. It was a beautiful occasion. I always feel honored to be apart of someones big day, and Saturday was no exception. Congrats again guys. You are the best :) Oh yeah and Paula, it was great to finally get to meet you after months of emailing!

The one where I meet Levi.

2010-05-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

I can say, this is one of the most fun sessions I've had. I loved everything about Levi, from his sense of humor, his suitcase full of clothes and box of shoes, to his hair/make and stylist team consisting of Haylee and Andrew. Levi is the soccer, tennis and track renaissance man. This fall he's off to the University of Charleston where he's going to be studying chemistry and biology. He's going pre-med baby! Oh and he brought a couple of hats and I obviously loved that. I swear there are some pictures that don't include that hat. Thanks Levi. I had a great time and there's no doubt that I will be calling you three for a shoot soon :) Oh and good luck at your
matches this weekend Mr.!

The one where Lindsey turns 13.

2010-05-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

13. There. I said it. Certifiable teenager, who now wears a little bit of makeup. A certifiable teenager who likes the same shoes as I do. Shoes, her mom declares to be ugly. 13. 13!!!! That cross between girl and young lady. I'm pleased as punch to know her. I'm tickeled pink to see her transform. I'm glad she decided to wear pigtails that afternoon, because they reminded me that she's not all grown up yet. She's still at a crossroads.

The one where I hang out with Kaysha.

2010-04-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

So yesterday, my lovely assistant, Jessica and I headed down to the farm to hang out with one Ms. Kaysha. Let me tell you, AMAZING. Kaysha is awesome, like really, really awesome and her session just blew me out of the water. Kaysha brought her A game! After graduating from West in June, Kaysha is planning on going to college where she study Special Education. I think she'll do great! Thanks for playing with us on the farm, Kaysha. Good luck :)

The one where I meet Cassandra, Mitchell and Hayley.

2010-04-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed my time with Cassandra, Mitchell and Hayley yesterday. They were all so lovely and oh so nice and Mitchell was kind enough to carry my green trunk around. Thanks again Mitchell! I think though, if as you look over these images you'll see that Hayley sort of stole the show and we became fast friends. I have a feeling you don't get to have a dull moment when she's around :)

The wonders of Charlie.

2010-04-16T13:42:00.000-07:00

Charlie's fantastic! She came along with her sister, Christian, for her senior session and in between outfit changes we hung out.

The one where I hang out whith Christian.

2010-04-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

So yesterday, I met the lovely Christian. She brought along her awesome books, her bat and softball glove and her awesome little sister Charlie. Christian is from Pineville and is a senior at Wyoming East, where, as you might have guessed it, she plays softball. She's planning on attending Concord this fall where she wants to study Journalism and Theater. Her sessions seemed so relaxed and easy. In fact we started to run out of daylight before I knew it. I think I could have photographed her all day.

The one where the Easts go to the train station.

2010-04-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

Meet the East family. They are amazing people. No, really, really amazing people. The back story is that Sarah is my cousin's cousin. How WV does that sound? Hehe. Last spring I learned that Sarah was starting out in this big world of photography and since then, it's been fun to swap ideas and pep talks and all that. She has this amazing eye you see. I love catching up with her sneak peeks on her blog and watching her creativity explode. I can't wait until we can meet up and shoot some things together because I'm sure it would be dynAmite. Let's just say that we drive the same car(same color and everything) and we edit on the same kind of computer(same color again).

Anyway, Sarah, Dale and Lily and puppy dog Charlie drove in from TN for their session on Saturday. We shot in Bramwell and I can't even wait to go back and shoot more sessions down that way. It was hard making them not stay their all night and pose all over the place. And, um, how adorable is Lily? She had many wonderful things to tell me. My favorite was when she told me her name wasn't George but indeed "A Lilely". Too cute!
Thanks guys for showing me to Bramwell and for spending the evening with you! It was a blast!

The one where I hang out with Leah....again.

2010-04-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

For Leah's senior session, she took me an old farm house where I nerded out for hours of the awesomeness of that place and the coolness that is Leah. I felt like Leah and weren't completely done shooting her session, so we waited for the snow to melt and that lead us to yesterday morning. Yes, I know getting up early sucks, but OH MYLANTA, the light is yummo. Yesterday was no exception. It was just a great morning and it was even better because I love hanging out with Leah!

The one where Tarisa and I fight wind and nudity.

2010-04-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Tarisa and I met up for her senior session in Hinton. We were greeted by the wind(lots and lots of wind) and a random drunk dude that started getting naked in hopes that I would take his pictures. Hello good times! I'm 300% sure I won't forget that and I' sure Tarisa won't either.

Tarisa is a senior at East and will be attending Concord University this fall to study education. Congrats Tarisa. Thanks for a great session and thank you naked drunk guy for the fantastic memories. ;)

The one where I try not to torture Justin.....too much.

2010-04-02T06:41:00.000-07:00

Guy sessions are always fun. Why? Because most of you are doing this to appease your mothers(girlfriend, fiance, and /or wife). Bless your hearts. They love you for it though. I promise. So you come to me, and it's always, "I hate having my picture taken." Hehe. It's my favorite thing to hear. Why? It's almost a double dare for me, but also a funny thing happens, some where in the midst of it I think you end up having a good time any way and I try to make it as painless as possible. If fact, before it's over you laugh some and often are willing to smile at me with out promised threats to kittens or curses on your " insert favorite sports team here". I think it was much less painless on Justin that he thought it would be. Justin is a senior at West. He's going to attend UTI in either Tennesse or Florida to study auto mechanics. I think that's awesome. I'm pretty sure I'll be driving my car for the next 100 years(because I love it) and I'll just call Justin up and say, "Yeah it's making this sound when I go above 55 miles an hour. No, it's doesn't sound like clicking, more like two unicorns wrestling around in a bag of Doritos. Do you know what's wrong with it and can you fix it?" Best of luck Justin and I hope you didn't leave the session a tortured soul.

The one where I hang out with the girl with the green...never mind. ;)

2010-04-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

Meet, Jessica. I had a blast with her yesterday. Her entire family came along for her session yesterday, and I laughed at the many things her brothers had to say to her while we shot. Jessica is planning on going to WVU this fall. Actually, she applied yesterday. So good luck Jess! Yesterday was just a great session all around and I'm not sure if I can even pick out a favorite. The sneak peek was impossible to pick out. Trust me, I wanted you to see them all. Thank you Jess for a great session. I had a blast!

The one where Autumn and Tyler hang out with me downtown.

2010-03-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

We all have a story. Sometimes those stories are love stories. The intersting thing about love stories, is that we all think there's never been a story, a love like ours. Nobody, we think, could be as in love as you are
I guess, that's true really. We are all different. We are all unique and our love stories, well, they are too and nobody can be as in love as you are. And as I go around, meeting the world, meeting these couples, I think every time that there isn't a love like this. Thank goodness. If every love was the same, I'd be bored very quickly.
Autumn and Tyler have a story. A story that settled inside of me because it's a story I can relate too. It's a story that reminds me that there things bigger than us. Some call it fate, or destiny, I call it God.
Of course I asked Autumn and Tyler how they met. I like a good story. Autumn tells me for awhile she was in Florida undergoing cancer treatments and Tyler was in Florida at the same time workings as musical pastor at a church. And badda bing, they meet. You see, here's what I believe. Sometimes things happen to us, big giant things and sometimes they aren't always the best thing, but God puts in you places, in situations and gives you things for a reason. Autumn and I chatted about it for a minute, but sometimes scary health/life situations are a gift. I can say that and I can believe that because I know. It's easy to feel defeated sometimes, and sometimes you can wonder why God trusts you so much to give you such a big task, and sometimes you think it's not fair. But when you come out of the other side things and you're better for it. Stronger for it. God can make you courageous when no one else and nothing else can and if you just lean on Him, just trust in Him you are rewarded.
I'm not going to go into my whole story, but I was told 7 years ago if I didn't have a heart transplant, I wouldn't be here by the time I'm thirty. I'm thirty now and there is no stopping me. Why? Because along time ago I gave this to God because he's big enough to carry it and I am not. Seriously. I'm not going to live forever, but none of us are. I'm just going to go where God leads me, and so far, that's been many great places. He's lead me here. It's not always easy. That's a scary thing to hear when you're 23 and just starting out in life. It's not always easy and the world doesn't rotate around fair. It's not always easy, but it's doable. I'm sure Autumn knows all about that too. She's been there she's done, and now she gets to have this amazing life with Tyler. Very, very cool!
I say all this to remind you that while we don't always understand why, there is an answer, there is a reason. Even in the bad there are gifts. Delightful, wonderful gifts. I fully believe what I've been through has made me a better person. It gave me strength to move 2,300 miles from home and attend photography school and wouldn't you know it, while I was there I met the love of my life too!
Autumn and Tyler, thank you for yesterday and thank you for sharing your story with me. You both are amazing and I had a great, great time with you. Thanks for reminding me of the bigger things in life and for being thankful for the good things!

The one where I meet Krystan and Cody.

2010-03-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

So, um, Krystan and Cody are marvelous and beautiful and fantastic. Paula, Krystan's mom, said that they were and she wasn't wrong at all! I started off the session on a great note. I, for some reason, decided to poke fun of ferrets. Wouldn't you know it, Krystan has a couple of ferrets. Talk about the worst ice breaker ever! Ha. Krystan I think forgave me and we quickly got to shooting their kick butt session. And, Holy Smokes! What a session it was. Krystan and Cody are getting married this May and I can't wait to send the day with them. They are both working through college where Cody, will be graduating with his degree in Criminal Justice, and then he's heading to law school.{ Oh and did I mention that he's also a Marine?} Krystan will be graduating with her Dental Hygienist degree. They're doing all of that and planning a wedding. Phew. They are driven and I love that! Yesterday just seemed easy, and I had a blast. Thank you guys for a great, great day. See you in May!

Attention Seniors!

2010-03-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

I heard the other day that if you are a senior at East, your yearbook pictures are due by April the 30th. I will be out of town the last week in April and so if you are wanting to get your images back in time for yearbook, you need to have your order submitted by the 12th of April to ensure delivery time. Any date after the 12th will incur a rush order fee. The last day I'll be available for pick up or delivery will be on the 23rd of April.

The one where Orion gives me 10 minutes of his time.

2010-03-10T13:26:00.000-08:00

Every time I see him I can't believe how much he has grown. I've held him since the day he arrived on this planet. Now, he's much too busy and important to be held, so when he gives me a hug it really is something!(P.S. I love his messy hair)

The one where I hang out with George and Fred.

2010-03-10T13:20:00.000-08:00

I've called her George for as long as I've known her. She likes to tell me that George is indeed not her name. ;) I meet these two almost a year and half ago. It's, once again, been a pleasure to watch them grow up in front of my camera. What an awesome job I have!

The one where I hang out with Layken.

2010-03-01T09:29:00.000-08:00

Layken came by yesterday and of course I had to take a couple(*thousand*) pictures. I'm training her just like I did her sister.

The one where I wish away the snow and give you an update.

2010-02-24T17:45:00.000-08:00

I've wished away snow. Sorry, it's not worked....yet! I'll keep praying for that magic where I can tell the weather what to do (attention:don't hold your breath as this is highly unlikely to happen). Oh well, I was gifted some tulips the other day, so, I pretend it was spring, just spring inside my house and all contained in a tin cup.

Anyway, I just wanted to give you a glimpse of spring and the hope of warmer days to come. Also, I wanted to update you on the Spring schedule. Saturday sessions for March are getting slim, all Saturday sessions for April are gone, and May Saturdays are fading. Weekends are always prime real estate and they are the first to go. Seniors, don't forget that graduation is just a couple of months away! I know I don't have to

remind you because I'm sure you have the days

marked on your calenders ;)

The one where I tell you about a deal.

2010-02-03T17:50:00.000-08:00

While, I'm going to miss the quiet beauty that is snow, I'm getting super excited for spring. I'm excited for grass, and flowers and all things green. I'm so excited actually, that I'm going to offer you a nice little booking incentive for spring portrait sessions* that will save you a little green. If you book a session for February-May you can take $25 off of your session fee -OR- $25 off any packages 1-4 and $50 off package number 5 (deal not available for custom packages). Just so you know, this offer is only good from February 4th through midnight on February 17th. For details on

how to book your session and how to reserve your spot, just shoot me an email at pixelpixiephotography@hotmail.com.

Talk to you soon!
*This offer is for portrait sessions only, weddings excluded.

The one where I hang out with Jessica and Chris in the snow.

2010-02-01T14:56:00.000-08:00

And, did I mention it was cold? I mean, like really, really cold? I'm still waiting to get feeling back in my fingers. However, Jessica and Chris toughed it out and I think they ended up with one cool engagement session(pun intended?). I've know Chris for a very long time(I'm talking since elementary school). I've only just met Jessica over the past few weeks(she has some of the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen). It was refreshing to be shooting again, it was refreshing to be outside, breathing in the cold air, and it was refreshing to watch Chris and Jessica. It's very clear that they work well together. Anyone who can stand outside in the freezing cold for an hour and a half and pose for me have to be good people! ;)

Boy, I like doing these engagement sessions. I think it gives us a chance to get to know each other a little more, and by the time we make to your big day, we're sort of like old friends. Chris said he was nervous when we started but he got over it pretty quickly I think. I love that! I know that it's intimidating have a camera shoved in your face(I super hate having my picture taken), but I promise you I'm just a goofy girl that some decided to hand a camera to. Jess and Chris, thanks so much for the rockin session yesterday and I can't wait to play with you on October the 9th!

The one with more lighting.

2010-01-23T09:59:00.000-08:00

Here are couple more from last night. Madison and her Nana and my mom. They'll be as thrilled to know that I posted these as they were to be my models last night. Ha.

The one where I play with lights.

2010-01-22T20:54:00.000-08:00

It has been a very, very long time since I've played with studio lighting(very, very long). Madison was glad to oblige me as my model(which she thought was fun for about 10 minutes). Don't tell any one, but I had a blast. I may have to invest in some lighting soon.Madison may not be excited about that at all.

The one where I hang out with Justin and Tabby.

2010-01-19T12:42:00.000-08:00

So yesterday, I had to hang out with my brother and his girlfriend and watch them make out. Ick. Okay, they only did it because I told them they had too, but it was still pretty gross.

The one where I make my shout outs.......

2010-01-18T08:19:00.000-08:00

Can it be so? 2010, and I have yet to speak with you? Wow. It's been a pretty cool year so far. As you can see Pixel Pixie has undergone some amazing changes. Both the website and the blog have undergone a face lift and I think they both look AMAZING! To start with Tiffany over at otssdesigns.com created for me a wonderful logo that I adore. She was amazing to work with and the whole design process was organic. Things just had a way of coming together wonderfully and I can dig on that! Then on of my favorite people in the universe, Christy Janeczko, went to work on my blog, and I love it. She always comes up with great things for me. Not only is she a wonderful photographer, but she can get pretty creative on, well, just about everything. She is my go to woman. I still think she should do this photography/design thing all the time. I'd be her number one customer ;) I also want to send a thank you to Holly over at pinkinkstudios.net for allowing me use one of her designs for the background on the website and the blog. I don't think I could ever ask for anything as awesome as that.

I've also been working on adding new products to the line this year and I think you're going to love them. In fact I've added a lot of things this year. I've started offering a few packages and if you choose to purchase one, I don't think you'll be sorry. Still don't want a tighter package? Don't worry, I still offer the al la carte system. I think everyone's going to come out happy in the end.

I'm gearing up and getting excited for up and coming snow portraits. We're just waiting on the next big snow. I hate to say, even after these feet of snow we've gotten, I'm excited for the next big snow storm.! I love winter and I love snow! I like the slow down it brings. I love the quiet it creates. I just like it better when it makes everything beautiful and doesn't hang around for a month like it currently has! It's strange to think about how fast January is moving and that spring will be here in a blink of an eye. Which reminds me, I need to remind you if you are wanting to book a spring session, the sooner the better. I've been booking sessions already for the spring and summer. So book soon. I'd hate to miss out on meeting you.

So I guess that's about all for today. I'm going to leave you with this though, today a year ago, the love of my life passed away. Today, like most days, I'm thinking about him and I'm reminded that life goes fast. And coming on the heels of what happened in Hati, I'm reminded even more. I guess what I want to say, is go tell the ones you love how much you love them. I haven't forgotten what I wrote about in the previous post. I'm going to spend these days thankful for the time that I had Nic(because he always tried to reminded me to enjoy the here and the now) and I'm going to be thankful for who I have in my life now and what I do have. I think we are often more lucky and more blessed than we realize. Until next time.....

The one where I post for the last time in 2009.

2009-12-31T15:21:00.000-08:00

I’m sorry I didn’t get to wish you ALL a Merry Christmas. I had a holiday attack plan in place for a month and some how, things still managed to sneak up on me. I didn’t even get near my computer for at least two days, if not three. I hope you all had a great Christmas(or insert holiday of choice here).

Honestly, 2009 has been a very rough year for my family and for myself. When I have had five minutes the past few weeks, I tried to reflect on the reason for the holiday and get myself in the right place. With all that thinking(seriously, did you smell the smoke?) it was still hard to get myself right this year. It’s been a year of significant loss that started in January and stretched well into November. On Christmas Eve, sitting in my cousins home surrounded by family, the realization that the people that left this year are in deed gone and not coming back, sunk in. At the time, it felt like such a strange time to have that realization, but as life goes, it happened just when it needed to. I just sat in my chair looking around at the faces that filled the room and I caught the eye of my cousins little girl. She smiled at me and came over and sat on my lap(well, what little lap that I have). She just sat with me and chatted and I felt myself anchor to her. She has always been a light for me and that night was no different. She didn’t wander too far from me the rest of the night and I was thankful for that. Holding her, I realized, that she was what was going to make this Christmas doable. It’s something that we’ve practiced saying over and over this year: “Being thankful for what you do have.” That was the place I needed to be. That was the lesson that would put me in the right place. The rest of Christmas Eve, I looked all about me and was thankful for what I do have, for the people that I still have.

When Christmas day arrived, I felt like I was in a much better place. As we went to the home that I’ve had Christmas in for the past 29 years, the people that were in between and under all of that timber and sheetrock, became my greatest joy. I sat in a wooden chair in the dinning room, and I could see into the living room and into the kitchen of this home that was built by my great grandparents, that was passed on to my grandparents and that is now my aunt’s. I sat there and I did take note of the faces that were gone, but I also took note of the faces that were still there, those faces that lined the kitchen counters and filled the chairs. The best part had to be for all these new faces, all these littles that have been added to our family. They spilled and sprawled all over the living room floor the way my cousins and I used to do when we were small. They all sat there, more patient than we ever did, waiting to open their gifts. As a family we are changing, and I think this year our motto has been “we are never promised a tomorrow.“ Really, it’s not an easy lesson to learn, but it’s a little easier to swallow when you remember what you still have.

And yes, this year’s been rough, but I can’t sit here and write this and pretend that 2009 has been a totally horrible year. I am delighted at were Pixel Pixel Photography is as 2009 draws to an end. Holy smokes! What a humbling feeling this is. I am so, so thankful for what I get to do. True, I may be a little bias, but photography is an amazing subject. It’s an amazing art and I still feel like it’s no small thing to get to do what I get to do. Photography has given me this amazing outlet, it has given me some amazing friends, and it has put me in the path of amazing people(you being among them). I think about my clients and I think about the people who always support me and take an interest in what I do all the time. Seriously, I do. I’m thinking of all of you today. Thanks for the opportunities. Thanks for the support. Thanks for the being the bright spot in my year. Thanks for the light. Because of you, I get to do what I was created to do.

There are lot of great changes coming for Pixel Pixie Photography in 2010 and they are being implemented to better serve you. I’m excited about this New Year. So, here’s to you guys and to a great year ahead. I hope you have a safe and wonderful New Year. I took these images with the last available daylight of 2009. It feels weird to write that. Anyway, enjoy. See you next year.

The one where I nerd out over the snow.

2009-12-18T14:42:00.001-08:00

I'm not even going to pretend that these are a product of art, but more like a product born out of my nerding out over this snow storm and the fact that I haven't picked up my camera for a couple of weeks and I've been lonely with out it. So I've decided to goof off a little until the storm stops and maybe by then I'll go take some more serious shots.........or the novelty will have wore off and I'll just stay inside and read a good book. We'll see.

So these first two shots were taken at 3:34 and we had gotten an inch of snow.
At 5:14 we have already reached the 3 1/2 mark. This is the
same light from above, just covered up a
little more.

The snow is still pouring down. I can't wait to go play in it when it's all said and done.
I'll leave you with this image for the night becauseI doubt I'll feel dedicated enough to
go rescue my tripod from my car.Really it was too dark for me
to be hand holding for this shot,but if you know me at all, I don't love my tripod(or any
tripod for that matter).

{P.S. I love it when the snow covers up all the lights! }

The one where I get Jarren's good side.

2009-11-30T12:14:00.000-08:00

And this is it: HA!

So, after a few minutes it became very clear to me that if I were to hang out with Jarren for more than a few minutes, we would probably end up in a lot of trouble. He kept on making faces and sticking his tongue out at me just trying to see if I was watching. The first time he was able to sneak the "face" past me, but I caught him the act every time after that and I made promises that I would post them one here and I'm making good with that promise.Trust me! But before you see those, you should know that Jarren is an avid hunter, plays ball for Midland Trail(and it was very cool to get to do some images at the ball field)and hopes to join the Air Force after high school. I don't know if they'll let you in when you look like this ;) Thanks Jarren for a great time!

The one where Leah and I climb gates.

2009-11-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

You read that right. I climbed a gate. A fat kind climbed a gate and lived to tell about it. Okay, so I had to get a stool out of the car to help assist me in the gate climbing. Leah assured me that the old farm house that we were heading to was totally worth it, and it was. The gate, the hunters, the mountain(okay the hill), the mud, the cow poop where all worth it. I nerd-ed out over the old farm house countless times and we ended up shooting there most of the session, and we didn't get finished what all I had in mind, so we are planning on shooting another round soon. Leah is awesome and I enjoyed our time together. Leah is involved in countless school activities and outside of school she spends time hunting. She's planning on attending Marshall and studying veterinary science. How cool is that?

Thanks again Leah for showing me around. I'm excited for round two!

The one where I hang out with Ethel, George, and Fred.

2009-11-23T19:14:00.000-08:00

It seems I know a lot of Ethel's, George's and Fred's and I've like meeting every single one of them. ;) On Sunday evening I traveled to VA to meet this crew and it was wonderful way to spend an evening. Everything was beautiful: the people, the property, and how could I forget Opie the dog(what a stud). Thank you guys for having me and showing me around. Enjoy your sneak peek! Oh and P.S. Haley, I asked Brad what 2+2 equaled and you're right, he didn't know.

The one where I go out of town.

2009-11-12T12:04:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that I'm going out of town for a few days. Feel free to email if you have any questions or inquires. I'll be back with you on Monday.

The one where I meet the fourth.

2009-11-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

So a couple of days ago I ventured to Mingo Co. with my friend Cara so we could meet baby Timothy. Timothy is the fourth and newest member of Okong'o family and he is a rather handsome fellow. His brother Josh, was the first newborn I had ever photographed. I remember every little detail about the four day old version of himself. Naturally, I had to grab of few images of him too. It's cool to see him grow and change and to have the privilege of doing the viewing with my camera. Now, I get to watch this new little and I'm very excited about that. Congratulations Casey and Paul on your beautiful family.

The one where I meet the perfect execution of awesomeness.

2009-11-09T12:30:00.000-08:00

Meet Griffin. He is the perfect execution of awesomeness. Griffin didn't cry once and is perhaps the most chill baby I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He was just so relaxed. So relaxed, in fact, he felt comfortable enough to poop in my basket. That was one of blog titles contenders his mom cam up with during the session: "The one where Griffin poops in my basket." I think it has a certain ring to it.
We shot the day away and I'm not even kidding. Spurred on by both Griffin's total"whatever" attitude and the fact that this was also a bit of a reunion for his parents and I, this was a such a fun session that spanned the majority of an afternoon. Babies tend to have a sort of session expiration date, but I think all us adults expired way before Griffin did.
I met Griffin's parents in college and for awhile his mom and I were roommates. Needless to say we have stacks of stories and memories and some that fuel as blackmail. ;) Heather and Luke, it was sooooo good to see you(it's been much too long) and I still think it's weird that you had a baby and I got to hold him. Wasn't college just like last week?

The one where the kids were as colorful as the buildings.

2009-11-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

I met up with the Dotson family on Sunday evening to explore one of my new favorite places to shoot. Roncerverte, has some of the best building around and I love, love all of the colors on some of those buildings. It maybe my new favorite "prop".
Anyway, everyone was wonderful and the kids were lively and colorful and they made my job a little more fun. I know parents worry about picture day and how the kids are going to take to it, but when they show up and are able to act like kids and play a little, well, I think that makes for a great picture day. I think it was a great day indeed. Very glad to have met you all! Thanks for a good time!

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T07:50:00.000-07:00

"A house is never still in darkness to those who listen intently; there is a whispering in distant chambers, an unearthly hand presses the snib of the window, the latch rises. Ghosts were created when the first man awoke in the night". ~J.M. Barrie

The one where I get down on the farm and the girls show me how to wiggle.

2009-10-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

I love what I get to do. Seriously. Photography has put me on the path of many, many great people and this family is one of those greats! The Tomlinson's are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet(and let's face it the kids are adorable). I met them when I shot Elizabeth W's senior session last year. Susie, Elizabeth's aunt, invited us to their farm for the session and what a wonderful spot. Holy Smokes. I don't think there's a more beautiful place in Greenbrier County. I love that place. It's beautiful, yes, but the Tomlinson's are so warm and so welcoming, that you feel like home when you go there. I feel like I've known them forever instead of just a year. I was excited to shoot this session for them because they often open up the farm for me and let me shoot sessions there, and this seemed like the least I could do. We've had to reschedule twice(my first weather cancellation ever) but yesterday ended being just perfect. Thank you guys so much again for, well, everything! :)

The one where I meet Emily and a tour bus shows up to watch her session!

2009-10-25T20:49:00.000-07:00

I'm not kidding, a tour bus ended up at our last location and we naturally had a few stragglers wandering around and watching as we shot, but Emily rocked it anyway.Not only did she rock the tour bus, but she also rocked a bird poo ledge,so she's my hero.
Today's session once again made me realize how fast time fly's by. Emily's dad was my Jr. High basketball coach and I'm sure if I think about it long enough, I'll remember her cheering us on for a few games. Emily is Concord bound this fall. I'm totally loving all these future Concordians these past couple of sessions! It's totally given me licenses to think about my own days spent there. And I promise Emily it is a great college! Thanks again for a wonderful session! I had a great time with you and your mom! :)

The one where I meet Jordan and her mom becomes my hero!

2009-10-23T11:45:00.001-07:00

Meet Jordan, my senior rep for James Monroe High School! Jordan and her mom met me in Princeton for her fantastic session. When we first started our session, Jordan's mom said she might be a little biased but she thinks Jordan is absolutely beautiful. Yes, moms are little biased and have every right to be, but I have to tell you, I agree! Jordan is absolutely beautiful. The best part is that it's a beauty that comes from the inside and out. Jordan will be attending Concord(GO CC!) where she'll study biology and then she wants to go into Physical Therapy. Being a Concord Alum myself, I don't think she could have picked a better college! Her mom quickly became my hero when she chatted up a building owner who finally has given me permission to shoot on her property(not that the lack of "permission" has stopped me before.). No small thing I promise you! Anyway, thanks for another great day ladies! Enjoy your sneak peek!

The one where I meet Andrew and we see some ghost!

2009-10-21T22:12:00.000-07:00

My seniors are awesome. I walk away from every senior session feeling very impressed with where they guys are at in life. I like seeing and hearing what you are passionate about. You guys are at this wonderful place in your life and I hope you realize that your standing at the point where a lot of things are possible. I think when I was 18, I knew that, but it took me a few years to realize it, to understand my passion. Being passionate about something, well, there's just nothing else out there like that feeling. Andrew has that passion. Talking to him today I learned about his acting and all the things that go along with that. You need a lot of dedication to do what he does. After graduation, Andrew is heading to college in Atlanta, and I do think that school is important(IMPORTANT), but I also agree that if you are passionate about something, do it. Andrew, I can't wait to see where you go and one day, when you're famous, I can be like, "Yeah, Andrew Vass?I shot his senior session way back when." ;) Oh and thanks for reassuring me that "cool beans" is still okay to say.

November Scheduling

2009-10-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that weekends in November are becoming limited, so you weekenders may want to book soon! October has been an amazing month for me. I hope you've enjoyed your October too!

Haunted House?

2009-10-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

"Well, if I were going to haunt anybody, this would certainly be the house I'd do it in." ~Robb White

I seriously love this time of year!

The one where I finally get to meet Christine.

2009-10-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

Christine and I have been emailing each other about possible dates since sometime in August I think. She really wanted fall leaves and we settled on yesterday. Naturally, the weather was planning on working against us, but we didn't let it win. I was going to be bummed out if we had to cancel, because like I said we've been planning since August . We cleverly moved the session up a couple of hours and I'm glad to report it never did rain. It's true, moving sessions up is one way to control the weather...okay maybe not. Anyway I just want to say,BOOYAH Mother Nature, Booyah.
Christine has sweetest smile. I asked her a couple of times to give me some attitude and her mom said she was more than capable of that, but, I still don't believe it. ;) After graduation, Christine is headed to High Point, NC to study International Business. Best of luck lady! Thanks again Christine. It was really great to finally meet you and your session was just gorgeous!

The one where I meet Andrea for the second time and find out I need a new zipper.

2009-10-11T20:08:00.000-07:00

Holy Smokes! What a great session. I met Andrea for a few moments a couple of months ago and was excited to see her again today. Isn't she beautiful? Just wait till you see her eyes! She totally kicked this session's backside. Andrea is a senior at East and after that crazy ride's over, she's headed to WVU to study dentistry. Very cool, really. This sneak peek was pretty near impossible to pick out. This is really just a small glimpse of what's to come. I love *Love* so many of these images. I walked to my car thinking about how much this session rocked and on the way there, I realized my jeans were unzipped. :O Oh my! Sorry Andrea if you had to see flashes of my skivvies the entire time. Ha.

The one where Carson decided the suitcase was the way to go and Aidan told me he was 6.

2009-10-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

I have gotten to hang out with some of the coolest families these past couple of weeks. Today's session was no exception. We had to wait out the rain, but it was worth it. I had another location picked out for our session, but since TOOT was in town, we had to change locations and I am still excited about it. I loved our fallback spot and these guys rocked it! What a great session! Thanks again guys and safe travels home! I had a blast.

The one where we waited on the rain to pass and didn't want to sit still.

2009-10-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

The weather didn't know what it wanted to do yesterday. Actually, the rain that blew in was a surprise to me, because I checked the weather forecast a half an hour before our session and it still said no rain......then, it rained anyway. We decided to wait out the rain and were excited when we got on to the tracks and found them to be mostly dry. I know you recognized many of these faces since I photograph them all the time. I think it's easier to capture them in their natural habitat. Kerry was typical 2 1/2 and wasn't into that whole setting down thing, so we were on the run and totally at his mercy. ;)

The one where I caught up with the Ray's and Lindsey and Gavin give me a run for my money.

2009-10-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

If you've visited this blog or my website in the history of ever, I know you'll recognize a couple of these faces. You'll know them as my almost children. Like most families these days, the Ray's are busy. Between church, work, school, and sports it's hard to catch up with them. So, I really value the time we get to spend together and was super excited when Heather called to schedule an appointment. Even though Walter wasn't excited about the prospect of posing, I think he did a great job ;) Once again, I must tell you about how tall Lindsey has grown,(yikes)she's about caught up her mom and in turn me too. Gavin's somehow managed to get taller too and he lost another tooth. I ask them every time I see them to stop growing. The never listen. Kids these days. Geez.

The one where I hung out with Fred, George, and Ethel.

2009-10-04T18:34:00.001-07:00

Okay so their names weren't Fred, George or Ethel, but that's what I called them. They stopped by this evening for a session with their 'rents. I guess it's been about a year since I've seen them and my, have they grown! It seems a bit surreal photographing them because I was in school with their mom since Kindergarten and then both their mom and dad in high school,which by the way, was were they both met and got all this going. We hung out on the tracks behind my house for most of this session. It was wonderful(why don't I shoot there more often?). We hoped to catch a few fall colors in the trees, but they are still mostly green. I don't think that mattered though, because they all dressed in lovely fall colors. Thanks again Davina, Mark, Fred, George and Ethel for stopping by! I had a great time with your lively bunch. ;)

The one where Amy and I get up early to get the good light.

2009-10-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

Meet Amy. I've know Amy, well, a very, very long time. Her brother Chris is one of my absolute best friends. I know Chris and I have tortured her in many ways over the years. We got up very early this morning to grab that sweet morning light before Amy had to head back to North Carolina. Like it has a way of doing, life is changing for Amy and these pictures are to celebrate those new changes. I think the futures strong with this one. Thanks Amy! I hope your coffee high has lasted you well into the morning.

The one where I went to Fall Fest.

2009-10-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

If you didn't go to Fall Fest yesterday at Western Greenbrier Middle School, you missed out: great food, great games, great vendors, and even better, great faces! I had so much fun shooting portraits this year. Julie Coughlin(and gang) always work hard to set me up with a great background and finds me some of the coolest trucks to use a props, and always works so hard to make sure Fall Fest is wonderful. Thanks again Community in Schools for having me back this year! Anyway, here are a few faces from yesterday!

The one where I meet Crissi.

2009-10-04T07:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I met Crissi and her mom for her senior session. Crissi is my senior rep for Meadow Bridge High School. I like Crissi for many reasons; she's beautiful(she had the shinnest hair), we could also swap drive-thru horror stories(we share a high school job) and when she falls out a chair under my direction ,into what can only be described as swamp water, she still can get up laughing(I still feel bad about that!). Crissi is planning on attending MSU in the fall and becoming an RN. Very cool indeed! Thanks again Crissi for a great morning session!

2009-10-03T06:58:00.000-07:00

A couple more from yesterday. I just couldn't resist!

The one where I laid my photographing self in the road, but the baby was cute so it was worth it.

2009-10-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

{As you can see, Becca was super stoked to be hanging out with me this evening!}

I met Becca at her Aunt Jeanette's wedding a couple of weeks ago. I was excited to get to hang out with her this evening, so excited actually, that I was willing to risk getting ran over by a car and sitting on unseen walnut shells(ouch by the way) to get that perfect shot. Becca is this tiny bit of posing perfection. Really, she posed willingly for quite awhile and made the best faces! I've just taken a quick peek at her session, and I already have tooooo many favorites!

Booking.

2009-09-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

Hello gang. Just thought I'd let you know that almost all of the October weekend slots are full, and probably around this time tomorrow we'll be down to one or two left. I know many of you have expressed interest in fall portraits and have indicated that weekends will work best for you. Just thought I'd give you a heads up and let you know. Hope you guys are doing great!
~Mandy

Wee Little.

2009-09-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

Meet Kamdyn. She's pretty new to the world, just about as fresh as they come. I got to spend the afternoon with her and her family(her cousin Jenna, is the coolest little in the history of littleness). Kamdyn had lots of visitors today, and I know she's going to be very, very well loved.
I left this session, just like I leave all newborn sessions:relaxed and sleepy. Babies just do that to me.

{I can't wait to watch some games with this little lady!}

A session 25 years in the making.

2009-09-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

So I met Davina in kindergarten. Hello. That's was forever ago. Ever have a friend practically forever? That's no small thing and I have to tell you I'm blessed with friends like that. Either they've been my friend practically forever or they've been my friend for a while now and really I can't remember them just not always being there, so, it's like they've been with me forever. Phew. Did that make sense or are you thinking that maybe you should have smoked something before reading this blog?
True, we may not get to see each other all the time (you know being "grown ups" can really interfere with the things you'd rather do vs. the things you have to do), but when we do get to catch up, it's always right where we left off. To me, that's just a sign of people that are meant to be in your life always. When we met up the other evening it was no different. I don't think we zipped our lips for 5 hours straight. I think we both got dehydrated. We shot around some new places that I've been dying to try out and I must tell you, they have become a few of my new favorite locations and the best part is I can walk to most of them. It's cool when you start to see the world around you so differently and you start to see potential in things you might otherwise have never noticed before. Anyway, thanks friend for the great day. P.S. every session should end over burritos at
Carlito's.

{See what I had to deal with? ;) }{When you know someone so long, you get to say horrible things to them during sessions}{You see this? She's so beautiful an lovely and best of all she has the kindest heart}