NC « Hilary Mercer! Photography

About a month ago I put out a casting call for local soon to be mommies. Rachel was suggested to me and she was due super soon. I pitched her my idea and she wanted to do it. Which made me ecstatic. Super excited and nervous since I have never been in the same room as a person having a baby.

Rachel text me at 9:45 Sunday night the 29th saying her water broke. I immediately grabbed some snacks, water and gathered up my things to head to the hospital in Fayetteville, NC. As I got there she was having contractions and they were close to putting in an epidural. Soon after the epidural Rachel was feeling .. well she wasn’t feeling much which is great. Her labor progressed quite quicker than I had anticipated which isnt a bad thing at all.

Feel free to watch the slideshow BIG by clicking in the right hand corner at the bottom.

Laila Rose was born August 30, 2010 at 4:57 AM She weighed in at 7 lbs. 11 oz. and is 20 inches long.

I love that perfect pink skin! (1 of 1) Rachel & David, Thank you so much for allowing me to share all of those special moments with you and your family.

8 Comments About: Birth of a baby, Chapel Hill Live Birth Photographer, Durham Live Birth Photographer, Durham Live birth photography, Fayetteville, Fayetteville live birth Photographer, Fayetteville live birth photography, Goldsboro Live Birth Photographer, Goldsboro live birth Photography, Labor, Miracle, NC, North Carolina, Raleigh Live Birth Photographer, Raleigh Live Birth Photography

Meet 10 day old Shelby. She took a while to show up (poor Mom.) You might remember Shelby’s mom Nikki from a few weeks ago. 20100820-DSC_6252 20100820-DSC_6243 20100820-DSC_6313

This cradle is a family heirloom of theirs. Nikki’s grandfather made it for her when she was a baby and its been passed around the family for a while and now its back where it started, well sorta. Again, I love that a blanket I made is making an appearance in the photos :) 20100820-DSC_6357 20100820-DSC_6213

Call me!

20100820-DSC_6371 She fought sleep the whole session but finally she managed to drift off.

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something is not like the rest

20100820-DSC_6570 20100820-DSC_6573 gotta love all those little details, they aren’t that little forever Nine_Square_Grid

Jodie and her husband are stationed in Spain right now. So I was quite excited when she asked if she could have a photosession while her and the family were in town. We had an early session to try and beat the heat and I think we did for the most part so that was awesome. 20100815-DSC_3834 The little one wasnt quite feeling me that morning. :(

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This very friendly cat kept following us around all morning! What is it with “old town” type places having cats? 20100815-DSC_3959 20100815-DSC_3970 20100815-DSC_3985 20100815-DSC_4021 20100815-DSC_4034 20100815-DSC_4058 20100815-DSC_4080

From the hug we morphed into all looking at me. Again, the little one was done but I still think its cute :) Three_Rectangles You guys were fun!! Hope to see you soon.. even if it is in Spain :)

3 Comments About: family, Goldsboro Childrens Photography, Goldsboro Family Photographer, Goldsboro Family Photography, NC, North Carolina, Wayne County Childrens photographer, Wayne County Family Photographer

Charlotte or Charlie is a cute little baby. She is probably the best baby I have photographed although it might have been my new bean bag. :) I really like newborns and I really wish I could meet more of them. They are my favorite subjects to photograph besides couples and lindy hoppers. I really like the fact that I am their first professional photographer. When they are older they will see these pictures and think, what was she thinking? “Wow! How cute was I? Mom, I fit into a bowl?” Or other random things like that.

Charlotte is about a month early. Her mama wasn’t due to have her until September 6th. Luckily she came early since her daddy really wanted to meet her. To second that luck the whole family was able to hang out with me on Sunday. Thanks for taking the time out of your limited days to spend with me. Now on to Baby GaGa (her in womb name which I might steal when I pop’m out.) She was 6 days old when I finally got to meet her. 20100815-DSC_5658

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Chad, I know youre going to hate this photo because of the missing ring(and i love it!) but Y E S ladies, he is taken! 20100815-DSC_5869 20100815-DSC_5887 copy 20100815-DSC_5899 20100815-DSC_5915 I made this quilt for her as a baby present. It thrilled me that she wanted to use it for the photos!! 20100815-DSC_5933

I have been wanting to photograph a baby hanging for quite a while, yay for parents being game! 20100815-DSC_5948 copy love those little rolls. 20100815-DSC_5969 no wonder this kid is so cute.

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Happy Day at Sea from the Carnival Freedom!

I met Holly at Gabby & Will’s wedding and she was a bridesmaid. We instantly clicked so I was excited when she contacted me about her wedding in March. I met up with them to talk about their date and the most fun part of the wedding packages the engagement session! She and Craig mentioned they wanted to use their car as a prop. Of course I was excited. Holly also explained her love of cats to me. Craig actually proposed in their new house using one of their cats. I found it a little funny that during out session a kitty cat followed us around the whole time, although I dont think I got a photo if the little guy. :( Okay! on to the goodies!

20100707-DSC_4426 We started out at the Kenly Tobacco Farm Life Museum. They are lovers of antique things so it was a perfect setting to start out at. 20100707-DSC_4475 get it craig! 20100707-DSC_4489 20100707-DSC_4537 20100707-DSC_3241 20100707-DSC_3265 I love how excited they are to be going nowhere. Ok ok, I told them to look excited. 20100707-DSC_4571 20100707-DSC_4580

you wouldnt believe how bad it stank on this road. they were troopers! 20100707-DSC_4596 20100707-DSC_4615 20100707-DSC_3276

yowwwwww owwwww! 20100707-DSC_3284 20100707-DSC_3321 20100707-DSC_3341 20100707-DSC_4683

1 Comment About: Johnston County Wedding Photograher, Kenly, Kenly Tobacco Farm Life Museum, NC, North Carolina Wedding & engagement Photography, Plymouth Grand Fury, Smithfield, Smithfield Engagement Photographer, Smithfield Engagement Photography, Smithfield Wedding Photographer, Smithfield Wedding Photography

Erin & Brandon are fun. I like them a lot. They also have beautiful blue eyes. I like those a lot too. They are getting married later on this year in October. Brandon was one of the first grooms that happened to contact me instead of the bride. I really like that he’s getting involved. It shows a lot about the future; or at least I think so. We met up at their house(which also happens to be where the ceremony will be) in Bailey, NC. Since I have had so many sessions recently I felt as if I was getting to be a little bored.. or burnt out on it. But there was just enough time in between the last session and theirs to make me refreshed and I was super excited about this session. When I say super excited.. I totally mean it too. I mean really, when I met them they said they were bringing along their vintage truck. Uhm AWESOME! Anyway, we met up. I got to see the place then we made a little trip down to where the reception is going to be and let me tell you I am SUPER excited for their wedding as this is one sweet spot in lil ole’ Bailey NC. So excited for October to get here already! After we saw the sites we went downtown to Wilson and shot a few.

20100624-DSC_3627 20100624-DSC_3641 Then we went back to their place for some sunset photos

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Gotta have some of that bling! 20100624-DSC_3968 20100624-DSC_3979 You guys are great! I cant wait until your big day!

3 Comments About: Bailey, Bailey House, Bailey NC, Bailey North Carolina Engagement and Wedding Photography, Bailey Wedding Photographer, Chevy, NC, North Carolina Wedding and Engagement photographer, vintage truck

Gabby and Will were married on a very hot Saturday in June. It was a lovely day though compared to when we did her bridals when it rained cats and dogs. Throughout the day there were lots of reasons for Gabby to be stressed but she handled it awesomely. She and Will both are super down to earth and calm. If she was stressed you sure couldn’t tell as she was all smiles all day!

20100619-DSC_0042 These first two images are my second shooters images. I was a fan of these over my own. Maxine is awesome. 20100619-DSC_0099

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I really enjoyed the Rosedown Plantation. It had a ton of interesting rooms to go through and they all had awesome, antique beds and furniture in it. I think the coolest thing about it was the “bachelors house” except for the decor inside it. I think they should to some updating to it to make it more “man friendly” but I really liked that. Plus the owners were nice, that’s always a plus.

20100619-DSC_2156 Also, that second dress photo, Maxine’s I couldn’t resist blogging that awesome flare! 20100619-DSC_2157 This cake from The Cakery in Selma was probably the best cake Ive had in a while. I was a bit hesitant to try it because of the fondant but Nikki worked her magic and it was scrumptious! 20100619-DSC_2061

Her flowers for the wedding were magnolias so I thought it fitting to have the rings on it. None of the ones blooming were that pretty so I figured the bud would work out just fine.

20100619-DSC_2179 When you entered the reception space it smelled like grape koolaid. What a GREAT idea for coloring the water!? This next one is Maxine’s. 20100619-DSC_3590

Will wrote Gabby a letter. 20100619-DSC_2067 Gabby read it. 20100619-DSC_2095 20100619-DSC_2143 All the girls wore magnolias in their hair 20100619-DSC_2189 20100619-DSC_2203 20100619-DSC_2208 20100619-DSC_2292 20100619-DSC_2297 20100619-DSC_1623 20100619-DSC_2401 20100619-DSC_1632

Gabby’s favorite part of the day was actually getting to marry her best friend.

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Max’s shot. I need to get me a good wide angle lens. Its next on the list. 20100619-DSC_0695 20100619-DSC_3101 20100619-DSC_3110 20100619-DSC_1853 20100619-DSC_3222 20100619-DSC_3333 20100619-DSC_3442 20100619-DSC_3519 20100619-DSC_3572

Gabby’s advice for the future bride: Dooooon’t worry about stressing out over every detail. Hire good vendors, give them a general ideas and kind let them do their thing. they are the professionals. Also, if you are feeling a little iffy about a vendor, don’t hire them to cross them of your list. Pick people that fit you, and a palm pilot never killed anyone :)

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