Monthly Archives: October 2016

Christmas Portraits | Welcome Home

Misty 1976

We’re doing something different with our holiday portrait sessions this year. We’re bringing them home. As in to YOUR home. It’s where you live and it’s where the magic and memories live too. Photographs tell the story and evoke all the memories of the season even as they are frozen forever in that specific time. It only made sense to take your family portraits in the place you call home.

pixels-on-paper-photography-boone-wilkesboro-nc-christmas-photographers photo

Misty 1978 – Gifts for my girlie AND my rugged side.

Let’s be honest: isn’t half the fun of old family photographs saying, “remember that couch? remember that carpet?” Or “that was our first year in that house and you insisted on having a mini-tree in your room.” Every family on earth looks at past Christmas photos and has these conversations, in reverie and laughter.

pixels-on-paper-photography-boone-wilkesboro-nc-christmas-in-home-portrait-photographers-photo

Ryan 1980 – HOT WHEELS, BABY!!!! Santa WAS listening.

pixels-on-paper-photography-boone-wilkesboro-nc-christmas-photographers photo

pixels-on-paper-photography-boone-wilkesboro-nc-christmas-photographers photo

Misty 1981 – future Merlefest attendee and Official Photographer, thank you very much!

Ryan 1982 & 1986 with brothers and sister. LOVE the pjs. Sports, super heros and Little House on the Prairie.

Place matters, but so does family, so here’s the origin of this idea: We’ve had holiday portrait sessions at our Pixels indoor studio for years with great success, but this year, I could never settle on a theme I liked. Thinking through it all now, God was definitely showing me why. I wasn’t listening or obeying what he was leading me to do. Finally, about a week ago and after much discussion with Ryan and some fear, I listened and obeyed. I sent an email to a client who has always participated in and anticipated our Christmas sessions. Here’s an excerpt:

Because you inquired early regarding information about Christmas portraits and we’ve photographed yours for years, I’m writing to share my idea for Christmas photos. For us, this year has been hectic, challenging and rewarding all at the same time. Through it all I’ve been very reflective and God has been incredibly forthcoming in showing me direction and insight all along the way both in my personal journey and the path of our business. I want all the work we do to be done with intention and relevance.
Nothing is more important during the holidays (or anytime for that matter) than family. When trying to create the concept for this year’s Christmas theme “family” and “home” continued to resonate in my mind. I wanted a way to create a personal experience for each of our clients, so my resolution is to offer in-home Christmas sessions.
I want to capture families gathered around trees with handmade ornaments, trees where all the fragile ornaments are at a height away from little fingers, stockings are personalized and tree toppers are those that have been passed through generations. I’d love to capture children in their Christmas PJs while they show me an ornament they made at school. Children years from now will recognize their surroundings in a photograph. What it looks like is different for every single one of our clients.
pixels-on-paper-photography-boone-wilkesboro-nc-christmas-photographers photo

Misty 1986 – I was expressive. …still am.

pixels-on-paper-photography-boone-wilkesboro-nc-christmas-in-home-portrait-photographers-photo

Ryan 1983 – and his own hot wheels a few years later.

pixels-on-paper-photography-boone-wilkesboro-nc-christmas-in-home-portrait-photographers-photo

Ryan 1971 & 1981 – there’s a theme developing here……….

pixels-on-paper-photography-boone-wilkesboro-nc-christmas-photographers photo

Misty 1990 & 1992 – “What? NO WAY!!”

pixels-on-paper-photography-boone-wilkesboro-nc-christmas-in-home-portrait-photographers-photo

Ryan 1985 & 1987

We hope you’ll take a moment to remember your own Christmas photos over the decades and consider that this will be easier than you might think, will be fun and SOOOOOOO worth it when you see the results. We know this is going to take some coordination, guys, but we’re in if you are. People start decorating as soon as mid-November and hope to get their cards out or gifts for relatives ordered soon after. As you plan your decorations and holiday festivities (family visits like Thanksgiving, for those who want to get the tree up and capture more than your immediate family), let us know so we can book the date and time and shares fun ideas with you.

The fee of $125 is due when you make your reservation. We will provide 5 digital images for families with up to 3 children. This includes the printing rights along with the option to purchase prints, cards, and gifts. Pets and additional children or family members are welcome for an additional $25. Call 336-990-0080 to reserve or email inquiries to mail@pixelsonpaper.net.

We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddingsbrides, and special events and portraits  of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Family portraits ~ 3 generations sustaining each other

When the late poet (and part-time North Carolinian) Maya Angelou said, “I sustain myself with the love of family,” she was speaking for pretty much all of us. There are exceptions of course, but even when you run away like another NC native, Asheville author Thomas Wolfe, you find that your dreams are always tied to home and family. How do we pull together? How do we sustain ourselves? The Johnsons are an example of what that pulling together looks like. They are tied together and holding on to each other through welcoming new lives and encountering new struggles.

Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography Wilkesboro, Boone, Blowing Rock, family portrait photographers photo

Mary Jane Johnson, seated in the center and surrounded by her family.

Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography Wilkesboro, Boone, Blowing Rock, family portrait photographers photo

Recently, we photographed Kristen Andrew’s newborn son Jaxon with his big brother Luke. They were delicious. New brothers. New besties. Then Kristen contacted me with news that her Mom Mary Jane’s cancer had changed. Despite the early radiation treatment in the Spring of this year, Mary Jane was going to need chemotherapy in less than a week.

Their family had literally just grown by two with Jaxon’s birth in July and Kristen’s sister Lindsay’s son arriving soon after. Mary Jane’s chemo would begin on the 28th and I got the call on Thursday the week before giving me the update. We all know that chemo and hair loss are wedded, but I promised Kristen that I’d find a way to get the entire family photographed on the Monday before chemo began.

Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography Wilkesboro, Boone, Blowing Rock, family portrait photographers photo

“Families are the compass that guides us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.” Brad Henry
Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography Wilkesboro, Boone, Blowing Rock, family portrait photographers photo

Monday arrived and it was pouring rain. Our plans for an outdoor session fell through, but with no time to spare I arranged the indoor studio with a backdrop that would suit what I knew about this fun-loving, country-inspired family of 10 and we made Mary Jane’s wish for family photos come true. She couldn’t have been more in her element surrounded by her husband Steve, daughters Kristen and Lindsey, and their husbands and their sons.

Chemo has been brutal and Mary Jane has already spent days in the hospital recovering from her first cycle of treatment. When the family returned to the studio last week to view all the photos, they were thrilled to have captured these memories. I hope that these images give Mary Jane a renewed energy and strength before she goes into treatment #2. Nothing will make you fight harder than love and she loves her family first.

Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography Wilkesboro, Boone, Blowing Rock, family portrait photographers photoPixels On Paper Portrait Photography Wilkesboro, Boone, Blowing Rock, family portrait photographers photo“The family – that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to.” – Dodie Smith

The Johnsons are strong in their faith and prayer is going to be a big part of them holding together as they move forward. As we love them and pray for them, we hope that ALL of our clients know how completely loved they are. Chemo is tough. It throws everything and the kitchen sink at cancer. We throw everything we’ve got toward making our clients happy. If Ryan and I can be there for you and help you create a memory of a moment, we’ll do it.

We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddingsbrides, and special events and portraits  of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.

Save

Save

Sarah and Daniel | Just Because portraits

There’s not enough of this in my view. Frivolity. It’s underrated. Doing things you want to do “just because” you want to do them? We need more of that. We’re all for duty, family, responsibility, setting goals and achieving them, but COME. ON. Sometimes, you need to hit the “Just Because” button, pick up your pass at the counter and cash it in.
This shoot of Daniel and his long-time girlfriend Sarah is one such example.

Daniel and Sarah | Elkin NC Portrait photographer | elkin | wilkesboro | blowing rock | boone | pixels on paper portrait photographers photoDaniel and Sarah | Elkin NC Portrait photographer | elkin | wilkesboro | blowing rock | boone | pixels on paper portrait photographers photoDaniel and Sarah | Elkin NC Portrait photographer | elkin | wilkesboro | blowing rock | boone | pixels on paper portrait photographers photo

Daniel was one of our All About Prom models in 2013 and he’s been a Pixels and photo enthusiast since. [WE LOVE YOU TOO, DANIEL!!] So, when he approached us and asked if he had to be engaged to have an “portrait session,” we said of course not! You don’t have to be married, engaged, or even in a relationship to have photographs taken by a professional.
Life is short. If you have a person (or pet) you love, an event, an important time in your life you want captured forever, get a pro involved. We met these two in Elkin, NC just as the seasons were changing from summer to autumn and after we made them comfortable in front of the camera, they fell into their own groove and their personalities really shined through. The image of Sarah above looking at Daniel is an example. There’s a lot going on in that look and smile, I think.

Daniel and Sarah | Elkin NC Portrait photographer | elkin | wilkesboro | blowing rock | boone | pixels on paper portrait photographers photoDaniel and Sarah | Elkin NC Portrait photographer | elkin | wilkesboro | blowing rock | boone | pixels on paper portrait photographers photoDaniel and Sarah | Elkin NC Portrait photographer | elkin | wilkesboro | blowing rock | boone | pixels on paper portrait photographers photoDaniel and Sarah | Elkin NC Portrait photographer | elkin | wilkesboro | blowing rock | boone | pixels on paper portrait photographers photoNot only are we photographing Daniel’s sister’s wedding to his best friend in December, but Daniel decided that he and Sarah would like photos taken of them during each of the 4 seasons at places near home and others that they love. We’re looking forward to photographing them again, just because.

We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddingsbrides, and special events and portraits  of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.

Save

Save

Save

Baby, baby, baby photos | Full Year of Portraits

Someone once said that “the days are long, but the years are short” and it’s true. It’s usually repeated by those of us over 40 who still feel 24, but I won’t go there. This blog is about babies. Big, round, gushy, adorable, cooing, cuddly, pooping, burbling bundles of life and hope. Some parents want to document way more than babies first newborn portrait and we love that we offer a way to do this.
But first… here’s Holden. Soak up that deliciousness. I mean seriously – WHAT ON EARTH is he dreaming about to be making a face that awesome?

Holden Gray Newborn Photography by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography photo

Little Holden is no longer the teeny-weenie newborn or the 6 month old above, and we know because we photographed him several times as part of the Brand New Baby Collection, a package we offer to families who want to capture the first year of their child’s life and then some. We feel like we not only get to know the family even better, but are able to see and record even minuscule changes in each baby’s growth.
Below are a couple of goodies from Holden’s 1st birthday portraits and cake smash photo session.

The Brand New Baby Collection is something we love to do for parents, because it allows us to start with maternity (if Mama wants those shots) and takes us through the first year of the child’s life: newborn portraits (within the first 10 days of your babies life), 6 months, 1 year/birthday photos and with discounts on cards and a variety of package options including digital files, prints, image selections, etc.

Pixels On Paper, photo studio, 6 month portrait photo

Little Miss Harper Huffman… “I’m ready for my close up Mr. DeMille!”

Pixels On Paper, photo studio, 6 month portrait photo

Harper Huffman, 6 months

Harper, Carson and Ivy are 3 more kiddies whose parents chose from this package and watching them transform was so much fun.

Outdoor one year old child portrait photos and cake smash in Yadkin Valley NC by Wilkesboro NC family photographers Pixels On Paper Photography. ©2015 Pixels On Paper Photography http://www.pixelsonpaper.net Do not copy, print, crop or remove watermark.

Carson Mathis, One Year and rocking the bow tie.

Carson Mathis one year portrait photography photo

Carson’s Cake Smash

Harper Huffman’s baby announcement

pixels on paper wilkesboro nc outdoor family portrait photography photo

Harper Huffman and her proud parents

Harper Huffman, 6 months

Ivy Myers Newborn Photography by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography photo

Ivy Myers, Newborn

Ivy Myers 6 months child and family portrait photography by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photography

Ivy at 6 months

Ivy Myers, 1 year

Contact us with questions about Brand New Baby packages or consider giving this package as a gift to expecting mothers and fathers. We photograph at our studio in Wilkesboro, where we have an outdoor portrait garden and lots of props and set ups or at a location that’s meaningful to you.

We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs, engagements and weddingsbrides, and special events and portraits  of all kinds in our Wilkesboro, NC studio. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your family and be a part of taking special portraits that will become, we hope, family heirlooms.

 

Save

Save

Save

Save