Monthly Archives: July 2017
Chetola Sporting Reserve Shooting Club at Blue Ridge Mountain Club Blowing Rock NC architectural photography
The collaboration between Chetola Recreation Sporting Reserve and the Blue Ridge Mountain Club is a smart and fairly seamless one. “On 67 acres of rural rolling terrain, among towering pines, red maples, and mighty oaks, and surrounded by the incredible Blue Ridge vistas in the heart of the gated Blue Ridge Mountain Club, lies Chetola Sporting Reserve. The private club, open exclusively to those with annual memberships or lodging guests at Chetola Resort, features an array of outdoor sportsman activities including gun, rifle and pistol ranges, sporting clay course, 5-stand clay station, archery range, and fly fishing. All activities are led by NRA-certified instructors specialized in a particular discipline, with customized Churchill-style instruction based on each guest’s proficiencies and needs.”
What Ryan and I saw was the usual amazing work from the minds at MBI Builders. It is an absolutely gorgeous timber frame lodge for the members and guests of the Resort and Club to enjoy and perfectly situated with beautiful views and area to practice your marksmanship.
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All photos are ©2017 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop or remove watermark.
Madison’s NC Mountain Outdoor Bridal Photos
This was a fun shoot for a number of reasons. Madi was excited on this day. She was dressed as a bride for the first time completely and the trial run was sort of her first opportunity to feel all bride-y. She was practically jumping out of her skin.
Secondly, this young woman is an only child, which I “get” entirely. I am one too and watching her mom get chocked up during the session took me back. Her mom shed tears multiple times and made me think about my own mom – how critical that relationship is and how much we’ve shared and will share in the years ahead. I loved watching them relate as bride and mother of the bride – that mix of unbridled excitement and nostalgia.
Madi chose well in Preston. He’s a great guy and their engagement portraits and the questionnaire they completed for us showed how in sync they are – and how funny. Here’s to many, many great years ahead and to gorgeous summer brides.
Madi’s dress: New York Bride & Groom, Charlotte NC
Hair & Makeup: Shear Shakti, Boone NC
A Leatherwood Mountain Resort Outdoor Wedding for a Princess and Her Engineer
Katie Vance loves Disney Princesses and Patrick Carlson is a computer engineer and self proclaimed geek. Together they are absolutely perfect for each other and their wedding was perfect too. Perfect location, perfect weather, lots of sentiment and love, laughter and tears. It’s what you hope for when you decide not to elope.
From the tiaras and sparkling purple sneakers to the roses under glass centerpieces, Disney – and specifically The Beauty and the Beast – was on display when these two said their vows at Leatherwood Mountain Resort (and a BIG shout out to our friends there). We loved getting outdoor shots of all the flowers and purple sashes, the smiling friends and family and the many details, including Patrick’s boutonniere which contained a circuit board and wire. He really is a computer geek and we’re allowed to say that because he said it first!
The couple told us that their favorite moments were the toasts from the maid of honor and best man, watching Katie’s dad try to keep it together while dancing with her and Patrick dancing with his mom. 
Family and friends from all over and from various cultural backgrounds came to Leatherwood to celebrate with these two and boy did they ever. The dance floor was jumping. The DJ and vendors they chose are listed at the end of this blog and everyone worked well together to keep the stress to a minimum — something Katie shared with us that she was so grateful for. 
Katie arrived to walk down the aisle and the couple departed in Katie’s Dad’s classic muscle car, a Supersport Nova. Not bad, huh?
Key Vendors at Katie & Patrick’s Wedding
Location: Leatherwood Mountain Resort
Wedding Gown: David’s Bridal, Charlotte
Wedding Planner: Abbie Hanchey
DJ: Soundstorm DJs – Boston Bobby Cavanaugh
Catering: Woodlands BBQ
Cake and Desserts: Lowes Foods
Another big shout out to our close friends Anna & Devin Ulery of Boone Photobooth.
CONGRATS to the newlyweds! We wish you nothing but happily ever after!
Happy Anniversary – Wedding Portraits of Celebration
Author and environmentalist Rick Bass has a great quote about the seasons of life:
“My life, I realize suddenly, is July. Childhood is June, and old age is August,
but here it is, July, and my life, this year, is July inside of July.”
Erica & Mark Makowski, 7 years July 2nd
For each of these couples, in their year, in July, they were in the beginning of their new lives. Childhood was June. But they were entering the July inside of July.
Anna & Jordan Isaacs, 6 years July 9th
Elizabeth & Chris Bankett, 8 years July 11th
Jessica & Jason Clinton, 1 year July 16th
Precious & Damon Murray, 9 years July 18th
Lila & Joseph Duke, 6 years July 23rd
From Jessica and Jason, who were married in 2016, to Precious and Damon who’ve been married for 9 years, we hope that for the best and longest Julys in their lives. August can wait. Keep celebrating. Keep enjoying each other. Keep planting and harvesting, knowing how loved you are. Happy Anniversary, all of you!