Maternity
Newborn Images
6/7 Months
One Year/ Cake Smash
Hellooo May!! Morganton North Carolina Photographer
Posted on May 2, 2012
Hi Friends 
Just wanted to catch my blog readers up on the busy April that we just had! What a whirlwind! Tons of great images were created, and so many awesome people visited the studio last month! I might not say this enough but I really enjoy getting to know each client on a personal level. So much bonding happens in that studio during the baby feeding, rocking and snuggling downtime while we wait for them to get sleepy for us. I really do consider myself blessed to have such wonderful, loyal clients. Thank you all.
Speaking of babies: Lots of you have commented on my facebook weekly maternity pictures, sent messages or just mentioned to me how totally AWESOME those chalk board ideas are! Thanks to my amazing friend, and co-photog, Beth for desiging them each week! She is so stinkin’ cool & ARTSY! Here is the one from last week.. We will take a new one tomorrow, so watch for it! My pregnancy is going well, I fall more in love with this little guy every single day. Simply can not WAIT for him to get here so I can take tons of pictures and kiss his sweet face anytime I want.
Here are a few of my favorite shots from April! Be sure to check out our facebook page (you can click at the top of this screen for a direct link) to see the special deals that we are offering in May!
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Mama Sarah in front of the lens!
Posted on April 19, 2012
The cat’s out of the bag! Now that everyone knows our favorite photographer is preggers and expecting a baby boy, it’s time to start documenting!
This session was inspired by Pinterest and I can’t wait to design next week’s board. Doesn’t Sarah look perfect?
~Beth
Week 18
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Spring has sprung! North Carolina Newborn Photographer
Posted on April 2, 2012
Hi everyone!!! If you’ve seen me lately, you may have noticed that I’m in a particularly great mood. Partly because we had almost NO winter this year, and partly because I have exciting news! Ryan and I are expecting a new addition to our little family this fall! We are so thrilled, and sooo blessed. I actually felt him/her move in my belly for the first time this morning while driving to work!! *Eeeek* I’m in love.. if you’ve kept up with my sad attempt at blogging (I promise to try harder!), and read my previous post “Blessings” then you know what a wonderful answer to prayer this baby is. I appreciate all of you who have sent messages of encouragement, and all of you who I know have been praying for us. Thank you.
Due to this new development, I’m also much rounder than normal.. (and growing by the minute it seems) so it’s getting a tiiiiny bit more difficult to do my normal newborn session acrobatics in the 90 degree heated room with this extra baggage! Not to worry though, I have a plan! My great friend, Beth, has been honing her photography skills for a good while now! She’s a gifted artist who is eager to learn, and more than willing to help me out with your portrait sessions for the next few months (and maybe longer if I can talk her into it)! Soo if you see an image on here or on the facebook page that says “Beth Willard for Soulshine Photography” you will know that my very talented friend snapped that! She will likely be helping me with newborn portraits until I get too big to move, and then you may be seeing her flying solo in the studio!
Here are a few of my favorite shots from the past couple of months!
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BABIES, everywhere!
Posted on February 16, 2012
Wow, this year is already starting off with a bang! God has blessed my business like CRAZY! Usually January, February and March are the slow times in this industry, but I have been slammed! I can’t help but wonder if it’s because I decided to take every Sunday off this year? Hey, it works for Chic-fil-a! Whatever the reason, it’s awesome for me… every client means taht I am one step closer to going full time with this thing!!
I’m terrible at blogging after each session (right, like you haven’t noticed) ha! So here’s a little recap of the past month! Everything from newborn sweeties to 6 month old twin girls to a fantastic cake smash session! Enjoy this eye candy, folks!
Also, keep in mind that I have an amazing offer going on for all expecting mother’s in 2012! Email me or fill out a contact form on this site for more information on how to get your newborn session fee and prints at absolutely NO cost to you! *Woot*
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Happy 2012! A resolutions post!
Posted on January 3, 2012
Hi friends
2012 is going to be an awesome year! Don’t you love the feeling of ringing in the new year? It just feels like a fresh start.. a time to leave everything you failed at in 2011 behind you and start all over! I was so proud that I achieved all of my resolutions for 2011 that I have made even more for 2012!! I know some of you don’t like to make resolutions, but I LOVE it! I also find that it’s such a huge motivation for me if I put it out there for the world to see..so here goes!
In 2012- Business Related Changes:
1.) I will be accepting Credit Cards! Woot! I had so many people wanting to use their cards in 2011, and after finally looking into it, setting this up was way easier than I had feared! So, check that off of my list!
2.) I will continue running my business debt free so that when I decide to make the transition to full time photography, it will be SO much less stressful!
3.) I will no longer be booking sessions on any Sunday of the year. I tried to be strict about this rule last year, but fudged a little because I hate telling people no. The truth is that as long as I continue working a full time DAY job (Burke County Health Inspector) to fund my DREAM job (Soulshine Photography), then I really can’t expect myself to work 7 days a week and keep my sanity. I need at least one full day a week to devote to God, to my husband, and for myself. Thanks for understanding I knew you would!
4.) I will be teaming up with Katy Cook Photography (www.KatyCookPhotography.com) as her exclusive associate on 2012 weddings. I will not be taking on any weddings except through her, so please visit her site if you are interested in wedding photography! Also, please note that this will mean I’m going to be busier than normal, so book your sessions in advance to secure the date you want!
5.) 2012 will be devoted to growing Soulshine Photography as a newborn-one year old baby photography business. These clients, as well as my existing clients, will have priority in scheduling. I currently book up at the very least 2 months in advance, so please contact me as soon as you are sure you want to schedule your appointment.
6.) A $50.00 retainer fee will be charged to schedule an appointment. You may pay this via paypal or with your credit/debit card over the phone (*yay* see number 1) The remainder of your session fee will be due the day of your session.
Personal Resolutions:
1.) Pay off my vehicle, becoming debt free other than our home! (Hellooo Dave Ramsey Program!)
2.) Drink water until my eyeballs are floating.. and then drink some more!
3.) Continue doing my daily devotions with Ryan every morning!
4.) Prayer journal- (send me your prayer request if you want!)
5.) Take an all girls cruise with my family!
On that note, I will leave you with my favorite maternity image from 2011! I appreciate your business in 2011, and look forward to working with each of you again in 2012! I pray that you will all enjoy a blessed and prosperous year ahead!
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Fall 2011~”Blessings”
Posted on November 22, 2011
This fall has been such a roller coaster, full of tragedy and blessings, what a combination. God knows that I like to have opposites of everything- My favorite category on Wheel of Fortune is Before & After, I love to eat sweet foods with salty foods (thank God for whoever invented the Payday candy bar), I like to be burning up under the covers but have one leg hanging out in the cold, and my favorite pictures are black and white. So, I guess it only makes sense for Him to give me blessings with my tragedy..
One huge blessing is that I have been too busy to stop this Fall, even for a second.. It has helped keep me focused on my business instead of dwelling on the devastating loss that a few weeks ago I thought I would never be able to talk about… In August Ryan and I found out that we were expecting our first child, due on Cinco de Mayo. How fun! Dreams of adorable yet hilarious photo sessions with my newborn baby sleeping in a huge sombrero immediately started to develop. With each day that passed, as I felt the symptoms of a growing life inside of me, the simplest way to say it is, I fell in love. I loved that tiny little apple seed sized embryo more than I have ever loved anything, ever. Of course, I was terrified.. Life was getting ready to change forever, but the love that I felt chased every ounce of fear away. I had a new outlook on life, a new reason to live, to take care of myself, to be the best person that I could be.. I wasn’t only responsible for myself now; I was a walking incubator for the most precious thing that would ever be born. I loved getting up every morning, and I couldn’t wait to hold the love of my life in my arms.. I thought ‘how do people wait 9 months for this miracle…I’m way too impatient to have a baby!’
Ryan and I told our families the good news. We celebrated with happy tears, laughter, shared plans of shopping for cribs, adorable tiny baby clothes… it would be my parent’s first grandchild, and they were over the moon excited. Our lives were different, magical somehow, and it had happened so suddenly. Even though I didn’t feel great physically, I was the happiest that I’ve ever been. We decided it would be best to wait and tell the world when the first trimester was over, just to be safe.. But, I didn’t make it through the first trimester. One Sunday in late September I started to have early signs of a miscarriage.. my heart slowly started to break, but I held onto hope that it wasn’t what I suspected.. Monday morning the doctor worked me in for an ultrasound, and although they weren’t sure at that time what was going on, things didn’t look good.. my hope was slipping through my fingers faster and faster.. I wanted so badly to protect my sweet child, but there was nothing that I could do. Helpless. I lost my pregnancy, my heart, at home later that night during the most devastating, and painful experience I have ever been through.
So many women have been through this, yet nobody could have ever prepared me for the pain. I am so blessed to have been surrounded by people who love me. A precious husband who has held my hand through the darkest nights, a few best friends who sent me messages every single day to check on me, brought me dinner, cried with me, prayed for me, shared their similar experiences with me… family that grieved with me, a mother who has been there, great co-workers who picked up my slack while I was out, and most importantly a God who showed me that He is the greatest comforter of all. He sends His people to wrap their arms around us and carry us when it’s impossible to go on. I write this in a blind attempt at gaining closure on such a very sad chapter of my life…in hopes of beginning a new chapter with a much happier outcome. I will never try to forget, but I can no longer dwell on the loss…I can only look forward to meeting my Angel in Heaven someday. Ryan and I are so thankful for the prayers that have been prayed for us, and please know that every single one has been felt. The following lyrics of the song, Blessings, have been priceless encouragement for me the past few months. If you are hurting, place the broken pieces of your heart in the hands of God. He’s the only one who can mend it.
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe
‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It’s not our home
‘Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise ~Blessings by Laura Story
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Beach Trip 2011
Posted on October 17, 2011
Our family has been going to Holden Beach since way before I was around! I LOVE that island, and was so excited when my sister got married there seven years ago. This September, we went on our usual vacation, and Heidi asked me to do some anniversary pictures for them. The scenery was amazing, and she is stunning.
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Charlie’s Newborn Session!
Posted on October 11, 2011
I had so much fun with Charlie & his big brother Alex!! I got to use my new antique bucket that I have been dying to use!!! Check it out!
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North Carolina Child Photographer: Alex
Posted on August 12, 2011
Alex is 6, going on 16! You can see his huge personality in these few photos, and I’m pretty sure that fun was had by all during this session. His baby brother Charlie will be here anyday now, and I can’t wait to get him in my studio!! Alex was SO excited to be the star of my page on facebook for a few days, so I’m sure he will be sooo happy to see his face all over my website now!
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North Carolina Newborn Photographer: Annie Grace
Posted on August 12, 2011
Little Annie Grace will forever have a special place in my heart. The first baby that I have ever watched come into the world, my first birth photography experience, the first baby of my best college friend… what a special blessing! She was SO awesome for our newborn session! See for yourself-
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