Monthly Archives: March 2015

college football ~ waterfalls ~ baby girl and a bright future ahead

There is a moment in the life of every bride-to-be when she worries about how she’ll look in her gown posing 5 feet from a waterfall. If we had a nickel…… So we’re going to start at this point in the Minick story – the moment when Rachel navigated her way through hill and dale for bridal pictures, looking radiant in her wedding gown and Keen’s. You heard us. You gotta do what you gotta do.

pixels on paper bridal photos engagement photos baby pictures and wedding photo

She told us, it was the funniest part of all the shoots we’ve done with Pixels. “Hiking around the location where my bridal portraits were taken was a blast. Wearing Keen’s with my wedding dress and getting strange looks from people fishing at the waterfall was the best!”

pixels on paper nc mountain outdoor bride photoRachel and Ryan met at an Appalachian State football game and so began their relationship. 4 years later we are still photographing them and enjoying not only their company, but watching their family grow and their lives take the various twists and turns it does.

For us, this is not just a business of photography. We’re documenting, watching history unfold, and creating heirlooms that will link generations. The Minick’s, like many of our clients, have become our friends. We “do life” together when there are no cameras around. We feel very strongly that God has given us this gift so that we can become another supportive resource, cheerleaders and advocates for the married couples we’ve met through Pixels. We love seeing them create families and celebrate milestones and feel honored to be a part of the journey. Creating relationships has become as important to us as the photography work.

pixels on paper appalachian university ASU mountaineers football engagement photo

pixels on paper appalachian university ASU mountaineers football engagement photoBelow are just a couple of wedding pictures, but we hope you’ll view more of the Minick’s Big Day (teaser: check out Rachel and her bridesmaids’ shoes – they are not Keen’s, but they rock!)

pixels on paper wilkesboro nc outdoor wedding photographers photoNot surprisingly, people who love each other as much as these two do were destined to add to their family. So two became three with the arrival of Amelia. We’ve enjoyed capturing her with her parental units in a variety of settings. Always fun!

pixels on paper nc family portrait photographers outdoor family photo

pixels on paper nc family portrait photographers outdoor family photopixels on paper nc family portrait photographers outdoor family photopixels on paper nc photographers child studio portrait photopixels on paper family christmas portrait studio photopixels on paper wilkesboro nc mountains outdoor family christmas portrait photoPixels has an expansive and versatile photography studio for certain shoots, and we love photographing newborns, family portraits, prom pictures, weddings, engagement photos and the like. But we also absolutely embrace those moments when we can be creative in mother nature, and are experienced outdoor photographers in NC. We’ve been able to do both with the Minicks.

Rachel: “I want to remember the early days of our marriage and family and look back at the stages of Amelia’s growth. I know that I will delight in these portraits for years to come and love creating future family heirlooms with Misty and Ryan.” WE look forward to it, too. We love you guys.

 

 

the dinner ~ the dresses ~ the hair ~ the limo …. THE PROM!!

It’s nearly prom season, people. Do you hear me?? PROM SEASON.
Do you remember yours? Most of us sweated over asking someone or being asked, finding the right dress or renting a tux, where to go before and after, borrowing the family car or renting a limo. Maybe you got ready with friends and double dated or you had a steady boy or girlfriend to plan with. Well, maybe you have teens in the throws of these Big Decisions and we’re here to help. This group of glamorous and hammy students (and certified pals) from Wilkes Early College High School decided to do it up right with a photo session at our studio.
pixels on paper photography wilkesboro nc prom outdoor portrait photographers photoNeedless to say, with regard to feeling and tone, it was a dead heat between glamour and silliness. We loved watching them interact both in the studio and in our outdoor portrait garden. They were clearly excited and it brought back memories for us. At Pixels we talk a lot about creating memories, but honestly that is the point afterall if you do what we do. We are not overseas in a war zone or chasing stories for the media. But we are blessed to be documenting moments — moments that our clients will look back on with fondness, laughter, the “Oh my Lord – look at my hair!” facial expressions and all the while recounting the memories attached to each shot.
We hope this crew feels this way about their pics. “We love these.” “One day I’ll show these to my own kids…. maybe.”
Studio photos for prom start at only $55 per person. Grab your date or a group of pals and let us create and capture your 2015 prom. Now’s the time!
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polka dots + bows + 12 Monkeys jumping on a bed = the release of spring

OH, Winter. We do love you. We love it when you land on us and grace every limb, hill and valley. We also love saying BUH-BYE. We’ve enjoyed our time with you and now need fresh green things and a new day.” 

Seriously, aren’t we glad that we’re close to the end of this season with its spring sucker punches of warmth and then more frigid temps?

That said, part of what makes the winter thaw special for us at Pixels is that it releases little sprites from their dormant stage and jettisons them into spring. Amelia (even her name is fairy-like) broke loose from a chrysalis and landed in our studio, glorious in pink and purple with blooms on her shoes, polka dots on her coat, big blue eyes and that grin.

For these Easter portraits, we placed her in a garden of blooms of our making – a backdrop where we could play kiddie tunes and make her come out of her shell. The song “12 Monkeys Jumping on a Bed” turned out to be a fan fave and Ryan jumped around, pretending to bump his head, and crack her up. It worked.

She is the smiliest (is that a word?) child and we’ve had her in our lenses since she was a newborn (see the last couple of photos).

With Easter on the horizon, and winter season packing up for a while, schedule your session with us. Whether you have 1 tot or 10 kiddos, we’d love to photograph them before they are lost to playing in the woods, building forts, finding fireflies and trying to escape capture. The studio backdrop is still available for Easter, spring and special occasions when you just need to be surrounded by flowers.

Amelia Minick Easter Studio Portrait Photographer Photo

Amelia Minick Easter Studio Portrait Photographer Photo

Pixels on Paper Photography Baby Photography Kid photographers in NC Family Photography Charlotte NC Kid Studio Photos

Baby Amelia's family christmas portrait photo

Amelia at almost two months old

Amelia's outdoor spring portrait photography photo

Amelia at six months old.

acre upon acre ~ the mathis farm welcomes a new member

Pixels on Paper Family Portrait Photography, Newborn Photographer, NC Outdoor Family Photographers, Farm Family Portrait photo

“The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life. Without proper care for it we can have no community, because without proper care for it we can have no life.” – Wendell Berry

We don’t know about you, but we look at this picture above and do not think: “Oh, sure! They’re farmers!” This picture says, “welcome to our world, sweet thing.” They might also say, “You’re going to be outside quite a bit as a kiddo, and there will be tons to learn and many places to explore, but we love you and promise to show you the way. You have no idea what grace you’re about to inherit.”

Megan and Luke Mathis however are, wait for it, farmers, and they are the real deal. But what did we expect? That couple from Grant Woods’ famous painting American Gothic?? Remember those two – you know the old, dour pair with the pitchfork and sense of despair and exhaustion? On the contrary, Megan and Luke are the full time farmers that the 21st needs and depends upon and we have no doubt that their little boy Carson will continue to nurture the land, care for what surrounds him, contribute to the family business and bless everyone he meets. We adore these 3 and want to be a part of documenting every single moment they want us to grab.

Pixels on Paper Family Portrait Photography, Newborn Photographer, NC Outdoor Family Photographers, Farm Family Portraits photo

Pixels on Paper Family Portrait Photography, Newborn Photographer, NC Outdoor Family Photographers, Farm Family Portrait photo

We were also honored to create a new wall for the Mathis’ of pictures from this shoot. We hope they consider it a tribute to their generation and the next and the next – “acre upon acre,” family after family.

Pixels on Paper Family Portrait Photography, Newborn Photographer, canvas wall collection, nursery wall art photo

We envy you, Carson. That’s really the bottom line. The adventures you’re going to have on that land are untold, but your story is waiting for you to write; and you will add a line or verse every time your feet go running through the woods. Get your sleep now, boy. It’s all out there.

Pixels On Paper NC Newborn Photographers Carson Mathis Newborn Photo

Following is a video we put together from our shoot with the Mathis family and we love creating these as part of family photography packages or as special requests. We find that people are anxious to share the shoot in one file that can be passed to family and friends.

Have a look at the video and maternity photos of Megan and Luke, pre-Carson, on their gorgeous land.

the meade family ~ a visual narrative

Pixels on Paper Family Portrait Photography, NC Outdoor Family Photographers, Farm Family Portraits photo

A dear friend of ours tells a story about coming home to his very young sons one evening, the oldest of which was around 4 years old. The sitter left a note that was found later saying that she’d prompted the boy about how much he loved bears. She took the time to write down, “he said adamantly, ‘I don’t love bears!!! I love my daddy!”
Our pal still has the note, even though his son is now in his 20s.

What if she hadn’t taken the time to write down that little moment, that little throw away comment? It would be gone.

This life of ours is a continuum, isn’t it? At any given time, bits can be solidified or lost.

We do our part at Pixels On Paper Photography to help with this by being your journalists, and sometimes archivists, of sorts. We capture and catalog your family by establishing a set time, a studio, amazing outdoor settings, imagination, photos and a great amount of care.
The Meade family continuum has been a blessing to us. We first photographed them in 2010, in a field near a family farm in the NC Mountains.

Outdoor family portrait photography by Pixels On Paper photo
2 years later, we took pictures of their newborn second child, Alarie – a bundle of sugar that put all of us dangerously close to becoming diabetic.

Pixels On Paper NC Photographers Newborn baby photo

Pixels On Paper NC Photographers Newborn baby photo

Our third session was in the fall of 2013 near the Blue Ridge Parkway and Blowing Rock, and their last session in the summer of 2014, included pictures of Carisa, Bradley, Slater (their eldest and boy-man) and Alarie. Mom, Carisa told us, “it’s a blessing to watch our two children interact, and show their love for one another. This summer session revealed a great example of sibling love, and capturing those moments was priceless!”

Pixels On Paper NC Photographers outdoor family portrait photo

Pixels On Paper NC Photographers outdoor family portrait photo

Slater and Alarie are a study in complete opposites. Slater is a 40 year old man stored handily in the body of a 6 year old. He is the only child that age we know who worries more about others more than he worries about himself. He’s an old soul combined with great parenting.

Alarie could not be more different. She is fearless, silly and may have Red Bull running in her veins where there should be blood. We’re waiting to hear back from her pediatrician. She will take on anything at any time. She finds trouble, gets into it and when punishment is doled out, leaves Slater often saying, “well I guess now we’re not going to be allowed to [fill in something fun here].”

Pixels On Paper NC Photographers outdoor family portrait photo

Pixels On Paper NC Photographers Blue Ridge Mountain Club outdoor family portrait photo

They love each other though. All 4 of them and it shows. Can’t you tell?

We asked Mom, Carisa: What do you want to remember most or tell yourself when you look back at these photos in 5 years?

“To be very thankful we captured these special moments that I can’t ever go back to relive.”
The Meade’s have committed to this concept by having us create a wall in their home of some of these captured moments.
We could not be more proud to be their journalists and archivists.

We’re looking forward to seeing them this summer and for many more to come!