Monthly Archives: May 2017

Fiona and Lance’s Wedding at The Inn At Crestwood in Blowing Rock NC

In the age of Ancestry.com and 23 chromosomes, we’re clearly hungry for origin stories. Genealogy fell out of fashion for a generation or two and now it’s back. Meanwhile, this particular groom, Lance Schultz had his kilt and entire wardrobe custom made by an artisan in Scotland and even created his own clan’s kilt pin: a seriously cool thing to do for one of the most important days in one’s life.

The Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers Photo

The wedding, on April 22nd at The Inn at Crestwood Resort in Blowing Rock NC, between Lance and Fiona Martin was the perfect springtime event: kilt, weather, laid-back bride and all. The couple had a small and intimate gathering of friends and family from all over the country and different parts of the world, including friends from Switzerland and Scotland. Only one bridesmaid and one groomsmen were in the wedding party. Each detail was well planned, but when it came to the day, they just trusted everything to go smoothly and as planned. And it did, including the brief arrival of sunshine for a period.

The Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoWeather can be dodgy in April, so Fiona wisely chose to have the event indoors. Good thing too, because the Scottish inspired clouds were out and it did rain. Fortunately, it cleared long enough for photos. Even during the ceremony and reception though, the views from the windows were spectacular with Grandfather Mountain in the distance. They could not have chosen a more fitting spot for a groom in Scottish attire and a bride who looked like a Celtic Fairy.The Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoEven though the couple are from South Carolina, they are serious cyclists and choose the Inn at Crestwood because of their love for the area. They’ve cycled in this area many, many times and so it was no surprise that they towed their bikes with them for their wedding weekend. The day before the ceremony, they went for a long road ride together along the Blue Ridge Parkway. But I wasn’t kidding about how serious they are as cyclists. To share their love of it with everyone, the couple gave water bottles and bicycle bottle openers as favors to guests.The Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoBrides come in all types and temperaments, and Fiona is easily one of the most laid-back relaxed brides we have ever worked with. Her trust in all of her chosen vendors allowed everyone to be relaxed; each of us, from photographers to caterers, were able to take care of them and provide the best service. It’s refreshing when clients have complete trust in your work and don’t give you a list of specifics that sometimes hamper creativity.The Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoLance and Fiona shared that a few of the highlights were when Lance choked up during the ceremony, that they were able to chat with guests out on the patio before the reception started and when the dance floor flooded with ALL the guests who wanted to dance to a song by Average White Band. The reception was a real party!The Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoThe Inn at Crestwood Resort Wedding Photos Blowing Rock NC Pixels On Paper High Country Wedding Photographers PhotoCongrats to these two! We look forward to wishing them a Happy Anniversary this time next year.

If you’re interested in the vendors, Fiona and Lance chose for their wedding, have a look!

Wedding gown: London & Lace, Columbia, SC
Hair & Makeup: Beautiful Bride On Location
Wedding coordinator /planner: Vanessa Hensley at the Inn at Crestwood
Wedding and reception venue: Inn at Crestwood
Flowers: Park Place Florists, Blowing Rock, NC
DJ or band: Mountain Peak Sound
Caterer: Inn at Crestwood
Cake/deserts: Ugga Mugga Bakery

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Kendra’s Outdoor Bridal portraits in a historic setting in North Wilkesboro NC

It’s wedding season, y’all. It’s wedding season, engagement portrait season, bridal portrait season …….. it’s summer! Here’s more proof: Sweet Kendra Green Bell married her beloved Nathan just last weekend on May 20th. We shot their fun engagement session at Piccione vineyard and these bridal portraits. She was as alive and glowing as the landscape and it was a pleasure to capture how radiant she was on this day.Kendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photoKendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photoKendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photoKendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photoThe setting for this session was a relative’s historic 100+ year old farm and property in North Wilkesboro NC in late March of this year. Kendra loves the southern charm and old world style both outside and inside the home. And this wine and Avett Brothers lovin’ girl had the elegance to just float beautifully in the shots we took inside the house and then the boldness to stand in a cow field and outside an old grain silo for a few of the outdoor shots.

Kendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photoKendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photoKendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photoKendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photoKendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photoKendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photoKendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photoKendra Green Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Wilkesboro NC Bride Bridal portrait photo

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Kendra seems to the manor born, doesn’t she? She is so pretty, comfortable in herself and in this place, it was a perfect setting to get portraits of her before she became a wife. We cannot wait to show you those wedding pics in the coming weeks.

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.

 

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Allison – Class of 2017 Outdoor Senior Portraits

Allison Elliott is at the very end of the road…. the road of high school. She’s done.
Remember that feeling? Oh sweet joy! Oh freedom! Oh life!Allison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photoAllison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photoAnd OH YOUTH! Her pal, Paiton Roberts, referred Allison to us for her senior portraits and like Paiton, she’s filled with that glow that comes naturally when you’re under the age of 20. Sweet, buoyant, beautiful and very artistic, Allison is ready to step onto the road to whatever is next. On Friday, May 26th she’ll be graduating from Millers Creek Christian School. She’s already taking classes in graphic design at the community college and she’s an avid photographer. Her friends count on her to get the fun candids for memories and posts. She is eager to learn and go places.Allison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photoAllison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photo

She may look comfy sitting in these outdoor settings, but this country-raised girl is less outdoorsy, preferring instead the idea of big city life, and all things fashion, beauty, sparkle and glitter. You’ll see when we get to shots of her in her prom dress.

Allison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photoAllison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photoAllison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photoAllison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photoAllison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photo

One wonders if the big city can contain this girl. LOOK AT HER! We loved all the costume changes and designing her graduation announcement as well. Her prom gown, from the BeYoutiful Prom Boutique at Bridal Traditions, was edgy and cool and she looked lovely in it.Allison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photoAllison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photoAllison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photoThe 1954 Chevy belongs to her dad and he’s had it since his high school days. Watching his face while she sat in it for her portraits was priceless.Allison's Outdoor Senior Portraits by Wilkesboro NC photographers Pixels On Paper photoGood luck Allison! And to all the graduates out there, go get ’em!
And pace yourselves……………

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.

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Merlefest 2017 | 30 Years of Exhilarating Music | music festival photos by Pixels On Paper

Another Merlefest is in the books, you guys and it was epic. Hot as one of the circles of Dante’s Inferno, if you’ll permit me to put too fine a point on it <smiling>. It was epic. So much to see and so much to share. This was the 30th anniversary and our 3rd year as official photographers. We covered 26 bands, plus the 12 who performed in the annual Chris Austin Songwriter’s Competition and we each walked 15 miles over the 4 days we were there. Frankly, we loved every second of it.As previously mentioned, the temperatures were not springy. It was always a minimum of 80+ with two of the four days posting at just below 90 degrees, because Mother Nature has an audacious sense of humor. We usually layer clothing and then put items back on in the evenings. Nope. This year, a couple of morning showers added to the humidity and we wore just what we needed. The weather wasn’t going to stop us and it did not stop 80,000 other visitors from coming to enjoy the festival atmosphere we were all basking in. God Bless water and sunscreen. The crowd size for this celebration of 3 decades of music and merriment was comprised of every age from infants to 80 years olds and the age range of the performers was expansive too. The youngest performer was 8 and of course there were veterans of Merlefest who’ve played every year since 1987, like Sam Bush and Peter Rowan. Highlights for Ryan were seeing James Taylor (who drew one of the biggest crowds) and the Avett Brothers (who also attracted the hoards) and he relished the Bass Workshop with Bob Crawford, since he’s fascinated by all things bass. (Their combined set with the Avett Brothers blew the place up.) Finally, the crowd noise as they announced that Linda Jean Stokley was the winner of the Chris Austin songwriter’s competition was a thrill. Linda Jean – of The Local Honeys – played her winning song for grateful fans. Cigarette Trees is about the destruction of coal mining and is positively beautiful.For me, the top moments were watching and listening to Sam Bush, who’s not only an incredible musician, but loves to surprise the audience with guests he brings on stage. And Sarah Jarosz is another performer that I looked forward to seeing for months. I’d listened to her streaming online, so I was jazzed to see her perform and she did not disappoint!
We both always enjoy seeing Chatham County Line, the Avett Brothers, Mandolin Orange and Scythian. This year we discovered Sierra Hull, Mountain Heart, Mipso, and The Steel Wheels. We hope to see them again next year.

Every year, we try to store up our energy and prepare to throw ourselves into Merlefest. We are fans. We were fans before becoming official photographers in 2015 and have enjoyed the experience more than we can say. It’s hot, it’s busy (we’re working from when the first eye opens until we crash late at night), it’s exhausting and it’s a blast. We come home spent but grateful and with songs, notes, riffs and phrasing in our heads to remind us. It’s one of the coolest gigs we work all year. Till 2018, Merlefest fans!

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