Posts Tagged: Asheville NC Family Photography

Fall Portrait Sessions

We are in the midst of booking fall portrait sessions and with the mild weather and coolish temperatures, these sessions are some of our favorites. I thought for today, I would share a handful of our blogs that feature fall portraits and encourage you to book yours asap!

Find more of the Martinez family portrait blog here.

See more of the Anderson family fall portrait session.

See more of some of our favorite locations for fall portrait sessions.

Before the weather turns against us, let’s schedule your outdoor autumn portrait session. Contact us and we can make it happen!


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 newborns and families, 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.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States LicenseAll photos are ©2020 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

the love of parents – portraits of grace in the 21st century

Arnold family outdoor spring peach orchard photos by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photographers photoHow’s that for a grand title? Parenting has been on my mind for a minute: certainly years ago when I realized the sacrifices of my own parents, and absolutely again when becoming a parent myself with Ryan, my partner in all things.

Parenting is a full library. It contains every journal about how to do it, parenting magazines showing it in all its shades, every map of potential adventures with a child, every poem or bit of wisdom from the Kahlil Gibrans, and every scrapbook showcasing the memories of parenting. I imagine rows of volumes about life with a child – in good times and bad, on bikes, on camping trips, in boredom, during downtime, at holidays, recitals, studying, first days of school, and all the random but well-captured calamity that “just happens.” The layers of thought, work, imagination, terror and self-analysis that go into the concept of genetically forming a child and then physically raising that child, while trying to impart and protect them are frankly endless and would fill shelves – and do.

But honestly, especially these days of division and acrimony on cable news 24/7, what is most valuable to me as a new mom of a nearly one year old are the examples and illustrations of parenting with LOVE. I read and seek counsel, believe me – from the doctors and psychologists and from the Bible, but when I have nothing left to metabolize mentally, I return to simply providing love for Finley and looking to my friends, and clients, for proof of it. It’s not over-intellectualized or over-wrought, it’s easy and natural and primal and perfect.

Seeing that love through my lens is restoring me, ya’ll. Thought I’d share.

Listening. Spending time. Including them in preparing for the new baby. Picnics and time together. We’re photographing memories, but we’re also watching our friends and clients be “show up” parents. We’re watching them be present.

Parenting through showing others how to care for the least among us, including adoption dogs.

Parenting through some friendly competition.

And being the protective parents during some much needed downtime.

Anya Parry Newborn Portrait Photography photoOur time with these families gave us some insight into what we might expect with Finley, and looking back at some of the photos I’m reminded about what matters most: sticking together and showing love and grace. Starting at home.


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 ©2018 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

Our Foundation part 5 – family

Family portraits round out the professional foundation of our photography business. We do lots of commercial and event photography, but as the penultimate wrap-up to this series about the photography that gave Pixels our start, I’m sharing some beloved images of families that we’ve taken over the last decade plus. We’ve photographed many of these families multiple times and been in their homes for Christmas and Holiday portraits and Day in the Life sessions. Family and foundation go hand in hand.

Church Outdoor Family Portraits photo

Barnes family outdoor photos by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photographers
With autumn and winter, the holidays and new school year all around us, be thinking about a family portrait session and give us a call!


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 ©2018 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

Portraits – stages of life

The temptation to write about the various stages of life we get to photograph – cradle to grave as it were – has been with me for a while, you guys. The grave part seems morbid, but honestly, we do capture the circle and cycles of life. Your parents have your baby portraits taken and before long, you’re scheduling your own kids’ photos.
Heirlooms are magic and they last long after the people in the frames are gone, so we consider it an honor to be the ones behind the camera during all the stages of your life. It seems like every year the baby, family, engagement, wedding and reunion photos become more profound as our own lives advance and expand personally.

Here is a topless newborn (not even 2 weeks old) in a tutu. Are you in? Paying attention? Well, a little pink lamb is always a good place to start.
But we often form our client relationships at the intention to marry. You fall in love and when you find the right one, you make it official – perhaps. Maybe you just start a life together.



Those images from your engagement and wedding are coveted by parents, grandparents and friends and they become markers in your life story. For many of our couples, kids are the next piece of the puzzle and we love taking maternity, newborn portraits, birthday cake smashes, outdoor photos and photos with the siblings that follow the first kid.
Pixels on Paper Photography Outdoor Portrait garden photo

Family’s grow and we love being a part of watching them expand – seeing multiple generations gather for whatever reason.

There are friendships, school milestones, proms and graduations. Again – your family members – those now and those you’ll never meet – will want to see these moments and relish them along with you.


Pixels On Paper Senior Photography Portraits Wilkesboro Boone Blowing Rock Charlotte Photographers

Do people from other regions of the country use the expression, “do life?” I wonder. It feels distinctly Southern, but who knows?
As you do life, no matter what season of life you’re in, we hope that you’ll make time for professional portraits that will put a pin in that particular chapter of your life. Your kids will grow and your family may spread out, you’ll head to college and fall in love or decide to venture forth and want family portraits taken. You’ll also come together for reunions and birthdays. Maybe you just want to document this year in Day in the Life photos. Regardless, we’re here and would love to be the ones to capture this specific moment for 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.

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 ©2018 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

ellis family outdoor portraits – elijah turns one

Another family we love and have been photographing since forever is the Ellis Family and they have added a member over the last year. Ashley and Kevin hired us to photograph their engagement and wedding photos and we’ve stayed in touch since. This couple is so loving and so cool and fun that we were happy to have another reason to see them when sweet Isaiah was born. We photographed his newborn pics and he was so bright-eyed and cute. The following year, the Ellis’s came back to us for family portraits on Isaiah’s first birthday.

Isaiah – One Year!

For this most recent portrait session with newest member Elijah, the Ellis’s wanted to be outdoors again, but the constant rain earlier this season caused us to reschedule this session three times. Mom Ashley joked that Elijah might turn two by the time the rain stopped. But as always, everything happens for a reason. When we finally got to photograph them, it was gorgeous out and Ashley’s Mom was visiting from out of state so she was able to be a part of the day. We all met up at a park in Statesville, NC where Ashley once played as a child.

Ellis Family Outdoor Portraits by Wilkesboro NC Photographers, Pixels On Paper Photography PhotoEllis Family Outdoor Portraits by Wilkesboro NC Photographers, Pixels On Paper Photography Photo

Like all kids, no two are alike. We’ve joked in past blogs that Isaiah, with his ties, looks like a serious businessman. Ashley calls one year old Elijah her “Wild Man” and she warned that he probably wouldn’t be as easy to photograph at this age as his older brother. The kid indeed is full of energy, excitement, curiosity and is rambunctious and always on the go. Keeping up with him was fun and we were up for it.

Ellis Family Outdoor Portraits by Wilkesboro NC Photographers, Pixels On Paper Photography Photo

This pic below cracks me up. How much would you pay to know what Elijah was thinking? He looks so suave and cute and the curls on the top of his head are just too much.

Ellis Family Outdoor Portraits by Wilkesboro NC Photographers, Pixels On Paper Photography Photo

Ellis Family Outdoor Portraits by Wilkesboro NC Photographers, Pixels On Paper Photography PhotoEllis Family Outdoor Portraits by Wilkesboro NC Photographers, Pixels On Paper Photography PhotoEllis Family Outdoor Portraits by Wilkesboro NC Photographers, Pixels On Paper Photography PhotoEllis Family Outdoor Portraits by Wilkesboro NC Photographers, Pixels On Paper Photography PhotoEllis Family Outdoor Portraits by Wilkesboro NC Photographers, Pixels On Paper Photography PhotoEllis Family Outdoor Portraits by Wilkesboro NC Photographers, Pixels On Paper Photography Photo

Ellis Family Outdoor Portraits by Wilkesboro NC Photographers, Pixels On Paper Photography Photo

“On the road of life together.”
This photo – all of these photos – give me so much joy and hope for the future. Family continues to be the institution we all turn to the most for inspiration, comfort and hope. Cheers to the Ellis’s. Keep holding together you four. Keep chasing each other around and hugging and bonding. We hope to see you again soon.


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 ©2018 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.