Why Booking Early is AWESOME!

Are you considering booking a maternity and/or newborn session? Wether you are booking with me or another photographer it’s important to book early! So let’s talk what I mean by early…

If you are wanting a maternity session it is ideally done between 32 & 34 weeks. Your belly is a beautiful bump & you still feel great! I, like many other photographers, like to make sure your vision comes true, and that takes time. I currently have 8 maternity gowns available, but if you want something different it takes 6-8 weeks for the dress to be made & shipped. Sometimes I get lucky and find the prefect gown ready to ship (RTS), but that honestly doesn’t happen very often. If you are wanting to do a stylized session (like a bed by the river), I need plenty of time to plan out all of the details! So, when do I suggest you contact your photographer? Between 20-26 weeks, but no later then 30! This isn’t to say they won’t squeeze you in if you call at 34 weeks! Just know if you do, they may not be able to accommodate all of your wishes.

 

Newborns, Newborns, Newborns! Newbies are my favorite. By contacting me while you are still pregnant, I can guarantee I will have time for your little bundle! I prefer for newborn sessions to be done within the first 16 days, but some photographers want them before 10 days. If you wait to contact your photographer after baby is born they may not be able to get you in while baby is still sleepy, flexible & fresh! I take a limited amount of newborns every month. So by contacting me & getting your deposit paid you are not only retaining your spot with me, but you are also giving me time to shop! I have a weakness… It’s newborn props. With almost every newborn session booked early I buy a new prop (or three…) just for that specific baby! By contacting me early it gives me the opportunity to get to know your taste and what kind of props you are hoping for! Just like maternity gowns, most props (hats, headbands, tie-backs, etc.) are not made until ordered. All prop vendors I use create hand made props, and they take precious time, usually 4 weeks. Booking early not only gives me a shopping advantage, but also allows me to create a payment plan that fits your needs! In my opinion the best time to contact your photographer about newborn photos is no later then 34 weeks.

 

So, four reasons booking early is AWESOME:

1. Guaranteed availability
2. Props that fit your style
3. Payment Plan
4. Less STRESS!

 

The best way to contact me is via email at dixielandrumphotography@gmail.com.

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Emersyn, Rainbow Baby

The Urban Dictionary defines “Rainbow Baby” as a baby that is born following a miscarriage or still birth.

In the real world, a beautiful and bright rainbow follows a storm and gives hope of things getting better. The rainbow is more appreciated having just experienced the storm in comparison.

The storm (pregnancy loss) has already happened and nothing can change that experience. Storm-clouds might still be overhead as the family continue to cope with the loss, but something colourful and bright has emerged from the darkness and misery.

This is Shawn & Kelcie’s story. The storm, the darkness & the rainbow found at the end.

         My pregnancy was nothing like I had envisioned it being from conception to delivery. It was challenging in every sense of the word. It all began when we found out the only way we would be able to have children would be through in vitro fertilization. In vitro, artificial insemination, and infertility are words you hear every day but never put much thought into. Until it consumes your entire world. We began our journey to get pregnant through fertility treatments in September 2014.

During our IVF round we collected 23 eggs. We knew I would produce a high number of eggs and in order to avoid getting sick afterwards we had to freeze all of our surviving embryos. We ended up having 7 survive to the stage they needed to in order to be frozen. 7 possible babies. Because of my young age and overall health my doctor advised that we only put one of the embryos back. Being the stubborn person that I am, I wanted to transfer two. Something in my gut told me, despite what everyone around me was saying, that we NEEDED to put two back. So we did. We signed the waiver at the clinic stating that we understood the risk for a pregnancy that resulted in multiples.

After transferring the embryos you have to wait 2 weeks for a blood test to know if it worked. I got a positive home pregnancy test for the first time in my life 4 days after transfer. IT WORKED! We were pregnant. At the 2 week mark, the blood test confirmed it. A few weeks later, it was time for our ultrasound. I will never forget the moment my doctor said “TWO babies!” Holy crap. They both took and we were having twins. Overwhelmed, shocked, and so excited are just some of the emotions you feel at that one moment. When you do fertility treatments they monitor your pregnancy closely in the early weeks. We had ultrasounds every week and every week we got to see our babies growing and their beautiful hearts flickering. Until one day we didn’t.

Twin B lost it’s heartbeat at 8 weeks. Not only had it’s heart stopped, based on growth it stopped the DAY we had our last ultrasound. Baby A was still growing and doing perfect though. Talk about having conflicting emotions. Devastation for the baby we lost, hope, and excitement for the one still growing. Lucky for us the remainder of my pregnancy was fairly uneventful. Today, as I sit here holding my beautiful baby girl I am so thankful that I listened to what my gut told me that day I decided to put two embryos back. We now have another angel in Heaven watching over our family. We also have a great adventure ahead of us in raising our daughter.

We beat infertility. We survived a miscarriage. We have our miracle. Our rainbow at the end of a seemingly endless storm.

-Kelcie McCarthy

 I am so grateful to the McCarthy family for allowing me to capture their sweet baby & be a part of their parenthood journey!

 

Comments always welcome.

 

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Hello, it’s me…

So, I figure it’s time to introduce myself and let all of you get to know me.

I’m Dixie. A coffee loving, God fearing, lineman admiring, laundry conquering, wine drinking, camera carrying, country music adoring, hound chasing, horse riding, make-up wearing, tough mama! Whoa, that’s a lot…and just a tidbit. So, lets start at the beginning.

 

I’m an Arizona native, born in the small town of Miami to a copper miner & nursing student. At age 9 my dad died in an accident at the mine. A couple years later my mom remarried and we then moved to Higley, which is now Gilbert. I attended and graduated Queen Creek Schools, Go Bulldogs!!  Small town growing-up was a pure privilege! As a young teen I spent most of my free time feeding & doctoring cattle with my step-dad Mike. Old timer traditions run deep in our family. Traditions that my own family has carried on. We hunt, fish, raise beef & laying chickens, we say yes ma’am and no sir and always say grace. At 19 I married my high school sweetheart and moved to Arizona City. By 26 I was a mother of three beautiful girls, and living in Coolidge. Flash forward five years and here I am, living back on my childhood street, married for nearly 12 years and chasing our dreams.

So now you’re probably wondering where photography comes in…

I’ve always loved photographs. At about the age of 10, my moms friend Geri took this amazing photo of my mom standing on the edge of some large boulders and I distinctly remember the way I loved that photograph. It inspired me. I would steal my mom’s camera and pose my stuffed animals. As I got older, I moved on to posing my family and friends. During college I took photography as an elective, and then convinced my husband I needed a new point & shoot, haha point & shoot! After our first daughter was born I just couldn’t see leaving my sweet baby with a stranger or at a daycare, so I became a stay at home mom. Thirteen months later we became a family of four! CRAZY, I know! It was about this time that I decided I needed something to do, I mean more than changing diapers & chasing babies. I bought a DSRL crop sensor camera and started begging all my family & friends to let me take pictures of them. Poor peeps. Lol. I never gave up. After our third daughter arrived I took some time off and found that I just couldn’t stop thinking that I could do this, and be great. I started literally at the bottom & worked my way up and I’m still climbing!  I saved my money and upgraded to a professional camera, went to workshops & watched YouTube like it was going out of style! I’m proud of my work & the growth I’ve made and will continue to make. I don’t think one can ever stop learning. I’m passionate about babies & families, and love delivering photos that will forever be cherished. Our home has a dedicated studio space, its my mom cave! I work from home 80% of the time and love being able to be with my girls and be at home when my husband comes strolling in from a long day of work. Speaking of my husband…

Say hello to my main squeeze! Ryan is a lineman and houndsmen but most of all an amazing husband & father. He has always been my biggest support & advocate. He is my best friend, and I truly mean that. We aren’t your average couple, instead of date nights we have hunting trips & trail rides.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our daughters are a perfect little blend of the two of us. They are tough, but kind. They are tomboys, but love to dress-up.

They would rather brush a horse than their own hair! No joke. I don’t know how many times I ask every morning if they have brushed their hair, but it’s definitely more then I can count on one hand. I have big dreams for these kids & sincerely believe they will move mountains.

Here we are!

 

Fact break down:

Camera- Nikon D800

Favorite Lens- 50mm & 35mm

Lighting- Studio & Natural (Studio lights for work done in studio & natural lighting everywhere else!)

 

photo credits: Twig & Olive Photography.