Posts Tagged: Asheville NC event and music photographers

Event Photography

If you are new to our blog, welcome! Look around and make yourself at home. One thing you’ll notice fairly quickly if you visit the commercial page of our blog, is that we have been Official Photographers at Merlefest every year since 2015. And we love it. We love ALL OF IT.

We love the dynamism, the energy, the chaos, the crowds and fans, and BOY do we love the music. As photographers, we are all over the place during that weekend of bands, vendors and community celebrations. Our task is to capture all of it – not just the various stages where some of the best performances you’ll ever see are taking place. We roam on a schedule and freely and it’s all amazing.

Pixels on Paper photography Merlefest 2016 Steep Canyon Rangers photo

Event photography in the form of weddings is a completely different animal and when we were grabbed hold of by music event photography, it grabbed us hard!

Pixels On Paper official photographers MerleFest 2015 music festival photo

Not all events we shoot are days long and with multiple performers. Grievous Angels is a North Carolina band that Ryan and I love and we’re pals with the members. When they asked for photos of them playing, it was a no brainer. Like Merlefest, we were able to capture the energy and the musicians while enjoying the music. They play at smaller venues like coffee houses and they play to tried and true fans as well as newcomers who find themselves drawn in.

Pixels on paper photography charlotte band music photo

Pixels also covers non-musical events be they community or family. Last year in June, Ryan and I took Finley to Touch-a-Track, an event and fundraiser where we volunteered and captured photos.

Pixels On Paper North Wilkesboro NC Touch-A-Truck 2019 Event Photo

If you have an event, musical or otherwise of the non-wedding variety, please contact us. We would love to hear more about it and help you capture and promote it with professional images and good vibes.


We love graphic design and commercial photography whether logo design, brochure design, head shot photos, architectural photography or product shots. At Pixels On Paper we pride ourselves in listening to a broad range of clients and customizing our photography and graphic design services to meet each individual request. Our skills, styles, and visions come together to be a permanent record that either reflects an identity or delivers a message that speaks to thousands. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your business needs. Email us at mail@pixelsonpaper.net or call 336.990.0080 to learn more, receive a quote or to let us know how we can put our skills to work for you.

88x31 lucy & glens valle crucis wedding photography | pixels on paper boone wedding photographers

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License

All photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

merlefest 2019

Another year in the books and we returned with more great memories, stats and gratitude that being Official Merlefest photographers is a part of our business profile.

Merlefest 2019 Pixels On Paper music festival photographers photo

At this year’s festival, Ryan and I shot approximately 30 bands and performers. We’re always amazed by the talent… never surprised, but amazed, you know? I get why there are so many television shows dedicated to singing, songwriting, finding musicians with talent and the like. They are everywhere. Each year the line up is diverse, but 2019 seemed more so than ever before. It was incredibly inspiring to see and hear bands of all different cultures, races and genres. Traditional bluegrass, Americana, Afro funk, Celtic, blues, country, Indy rock, etc. 

A portion of the MerleFest photography team members. Photo by: Hilda Smith

Merlefest is a little bit like going to camp. You get there and remember the things you love about your time spent and see faces you love that you’ve missed all year. I realized how much I missed the work itself, and how much I love the crew we work with throughout the event. Seeing them only once a year feels like being cheated, but it makes it more special when we’re all together again.

For Ryan’s part, he missed the atmosphere of live music and live performances. Like me, he can get lost in the sounds on stage while capturing both performers and ambient crowd fun. He also said he missed the late night editing sessions when he and other official photogs would process and laugh and swap stories.

I also felt a bit of remorse for how “out-of-focus” I was last year while juggling being a new mom to Finley. There’s some negotiating when trying to breastfeed between photographing stages, getting the work done but then wanting to make it home to tuck the little guy in by bedtime. Whoa it was hard! This year held much less pressure and felt normal again. 

The kid is legit… a Merlefest fan from the get-go!

And on that front: Finley is no longer content riding on my back in the carrier for 10-12 hours. He attended the fest on Thursday with Grandma KeKe. He spent the majority of his day on the playground, in the kids area sand box and playing with rocks in the VIP seating. What we became even more aware of because of this kid is just how incredibly family-friendly the fest is. With an entire kids area, activities and even stages of entertainment specifically for children, it’s a huge draw for families.

Another revelation was realizing that I was approaching an A-list performer with a pre-conceived notion only to have that perception completely changed for the better after watching, listening and meeting that artist. I love those personal shifts that come with professional growth.

For Ryan – it was about being up close and personal, on stage even with musical talents and feeding off their energy during a performance. That’s what turns him on.  

MerleFest photography team members. Photo by Hilda Smith

Each year, the fest challenges our photography skills and takes them to a level of creativity and demand that’s unlike anything we do all year. We love how much our relationship with other photogs on the team has grown. It’s fun to be in the upload room together throughout the event comparing our work, sharing experiences, laughs, and exhaustion. It truly feels like summer camp. 


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.

88x31 lucy & glens valle crucis wedding photography | pixels on paper boone wedding photographers

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States LicenseAll photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

music, memories, & the magic of merlefest ……..

We joined the Merlefest brigade of official photographers in 2015 and as our 4th year approaches and we prepare for our badges to arrive and the admin stuff to cross our desks, we’re getting jazzed. I just wrote about dreaming of spring and the orchard we love. This feels the same to me. There’s heat and sweat – the layers come off as the spring air evaporates the dew, lawn chairs are set in rows, the stages are literally set and the throngs arrive to listen to the very best in blue grass and Americana. We love Merlefest.

The Stray Birds Merlefest 2017

Avett Brothers Band Merlefest 2017

James Taylor with Transatlantic Sessions Merlefest 2017

Pixels on Paper photography Merlefest 2016 Steep Canyon Rangers photo

Pixels on Paper Photography Merlefest 2016 Lindsay Lou & Flatbellys photo

Our first year credentials and we loved every single second of it. Cannot wait for 2018. The line-up is still  evolving and the dates are April 26 – April 29. Get your tickets now and we’ll see you there!pixels on paper merlefest 2015 music festival photographers photo

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.

88x31 lucy & glens valle crucis wedding photography | pixels on paper boone wedding photographers

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License

All photos are ©2017 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

Outdoor Photo Shoots – It’s About Location

In my recent blog about summer photos, I mentioned that you don’t have to be getting married to plan a photo session with us during this gorgeous time of year. Although….. look at these two below. Pretty fab standing in the Church of Mother Nature. Potential outdoor shots are practically everywhere.

Charleston SC engagement portraits photo

Amanda Walling and Bonnie Hostetler On The Windfall outdoor Wedding West Jefferson NCThe Blue Ridge Parkway, The Biltmore House and Grove Park Inn in Asheville, The Piccione Vineyards in Ronda, NC, trails and fields in Blowing Rock, your own family property, camps and cabins, and any number of beaches in North or South Carolina, state parks or favorite neighborhood recreational spots make perfect destinations for a photo shoot. Green/Bell Pixels On Paper Photography Engagement portrait photography photoSchultz Crestwood Resort Blowing Rock NC High Country WeddingSydney & Cherokee beach portrait photography by Wilkesboro NC Photographers Pixels On PaperNC Blue Ridge Mountains engagement portraitsPixels On Paper wedding photographers. Biltmore Estate engagement portrait Asheville NC photoOur own portrait garden at the Pixels Studio is often the best option for those who want a beautiful outdoor shot but cannot travel too far. And honestly, we have more than a few clients who DO make a long drive to us BECAUSE they love our gardens and the relaxed feeling of the place.
Meade Outdoor Family Portrait PhotographyBrock's 12 month baby photography, pixels on paper studio family portrait photography

Pixels on Paper Photography outdoor portrait garden photo

pixels on paper 10th anniversary party wilkesboro nc photoContact us about your summer adventure and if you’d like to commemorate it with photos!

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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a photography workshop shines a light in the dark places

Toward the end of March, I struck out on my own and took a leap outside of my comfort zone to attend a photography workshop and retreat. I love perfecting my craft, learning new techniques, comparing notes, etc., and we all need professional renewal, regardless of what we do. The invitation promised a focus on wedding photography, mastering and using lighting and exposure, and connecting with both your clients and your own desires in life. Tricks of the trade meets self-help meets community and introspection. I’d made excuses for not going in the past and this had an extra element of trepidation – spending 4 days in a house with 9 other women, all strangers. But what’s growth without a bit of surrendering to the unknown?Exposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperExposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperExposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperThis retreat was hosted by Elly’s Photography and I’ve been a fan of her work for years… another incentive: meet a fellow traveler, working photographer, wife, business woman. As it turns out, Elly’s really a life coach in addition to wonderful photographer and I found that my need to stretch was more important than my fears of hanging with strangers – without Ryan – in a house for 4 days. I needed it more than I knew. Exposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperExposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperExposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperExposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperExposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperBoth before and during the retreat, Elly and I spoke for hours so that I’d get the most out of my retreat. She asked questions about what I wanted to learn, what I wanted to see change in our business, how I wanted to connect with our clients. But then there were even harder questions. What are you really passionate about, what drives you, where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 15 years, what is your impact? I did work in “Clearing,” “Dream Casting,” and communication exercises. Photography is easy for me, the personal stuff can be really hard and at times very emotional.

I needed someone to ask me the hard questions. I needed my creativity to be reawakened, to have a new perspective. I needed to have more tools in my tool box to offer our clients. I needed to be surrounded by 9 other creative people that felt the same as me. I ended up having a blast and learning a lot about myself.Exposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperExposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperExposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperThe best part is that, through all of the personal aspects of the retreat, it was mixed with learning new ways of using my camera and seeing both natural and artificial light differently. Over the past 8 years I’ve become very comfortable with using artificial lighting for photography. I can manipulate light to be what I need it to be in almost any situation. This is a good thing. In fact, Ryan often jokes that I always wish I had one more light to add to the scene no matter how many I have. But what I found during the first half of our workshop is that I had stopped looking at natural light the same way. Natural light can be manipulated. It can be found in sources and locations I have ignored. All of the portrait photos in this blog use natural light and it’s not necessarily sunlight. The dark dramatic head shot photos for example were taken in a bathroom stall with a single overhead light on. The photos are not altered or changed in Photoshop at all. They’re straight out of my camera. I am newly empowered and so excited about using what I’ve learned during portrait photography, weddings, events, day in the life shoots and elsewhere. Exposed Photography Workshop and Styled Photoshoot Photos by Misty McGuire Case of Pixels On PaperThe next blog will be a continuance of this one, so stay tuned!

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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