Posts Tagged: engagement pictures
engagement photos …. outdoors, after the wedding (not kidding) and utterly magical
Elisabeth and Isaac, so far at least, enjoy taking a timeline and then completely turning it on its ear if not hitting the Jettison Button altogether. Let’s recap. They moved their wedding up by more than a year because they wanted to buy a house. None of this first apartment, “ramen noodle days” stuff for them. No time for bridal portraits, engagement photos or anything before their June wedding, which was a stunner, by the way. It was at Tanglewood Park, and the bride was gorgeous, the groom handsome and they were surrounded by joyous friends and family. (Oh! And killer shoes/booties on the bride…..). So, we took the engagement and bridal portraits after the wedding. We’re starting with the engagement photos!
We ended their wedding blog with “your wedding was magic” and honestly, so was the engagement portrait session. We met up with them on a trail in Blowing Rock. Isaac is outdoorsy and Elisabeth went to Appalachian State University, so this was a perfect spot. It was a cold but clear day when we got there, I turned to Ryan and said, “I have a vision, but it’s going to take more light.” He said, “lead the way.” When the couple arrived (and I should say, they feel like old friends now, having bonded with them while shooting their wedding), I said “I know it looks dead, but trust me,” and they said “we already do.” And just like that it was magical. I actually posted about this on Facebook because I was so completely jazzed.
The fact that I can describe what I see as the final product to Ryan and together we can make it happen is still the most amazing feeling. We’re a team in so many ways and without the other this just wouldn’t be possible. PLUS, we have clients like Elisabeth and Isaac who will happily step into the middle of a bunch of dead trees that look drab and dull without any hesitation. WOW!
There was another incredibly tender and magic moment during this shoot that we didn’t anticipate at all. Elisabeth and Isaac told us that they had hoped to write their own wedding vows, but with the wedding sped up it just didn’t happen. All the other planning and details of the wedding ate up their time, so they ended up going with traditional vows. In preparing for their after engagement session, they decided to write their wedding vows and asked us to photograph them as they read them to each other for the first time. This was an enormous “whoa!” How beautiful to think of doing this and what a blessing for us to be there not only to take pictures but to bear witness! We found a picturesque setting that was private and romantic, set up a light, put on a zoom lens and then stepped way back, even out of ear shot. As they had their private moment we snapped away. I teared up during those minutes realizing how incredibly special this time was to them and honestly, I’m tearing up again thinking about it. Because of this and so many other reasons we can’t help but feel a special connection with this couple.
ostendarp family portraits | then and now family photography
Pixels On Paper had the honor of photographing the entire Ostendarp family, three generations and four families within the family, in Charlotte, NC six years ago. From the moment we captured a particular image of the grandkids walking and running across the bridge at Freedom Park and circling around our lens, we knew that one day we would HAVE to recreate these moments. Well, recently we had the chance to do just that.
Lois Ostendarp and her husband Ken have 3 children and 7 grandchildren. When Lois asked us to capture the extended family in August 2006, we were thrilled and dove in head first. When they saw the photos, everyone commented on how neat it would be to photograph the youngest generation again years later to see how all of the grandkids had changed.
Six years later, what Lois did not know was that her children had not forgotten that wish either, and when it was time to celebrate a milestone birthday for Lois, her daughter-in-law Courtney reached out on the family’s behalf and put into motion the surprise gift of a lifetime that involved Pixels On Paper family photography. It took a few tries to get the schedules coordinated between all of the 7 grandkids’ sports, camps and other activities, but we nailed down the time and everything was set.
Ostendarp grandchildren August 2006
Ostendarp Grandchildren June 2012
What came out of the family portrait session was nothing short of amazing. We brought the original images and recreated 3 different photographs. When we compared the pictures, it was crazy to see just how much each grandchild had grown and changed. The youngest generation still remembered that moment from six years ago, the fun they had and the memories that were captured with their cousins. Even now while some have become teenagers they were just as eager to capture another moment that would bring pure joy to their Grandmother.
Ostendarp grandchildren August 2006
Ostendarp Grandchildren June 2012
The family was able to present Lois with the new photos at her birthday celebration. We would have loved to have been there to see the look on her face, but prior engagements kept us away. What was incredible was the message we received from Lois a few days after:
“Misty & Ryan ~
Just wanted to drop you a note to say a great big thank you for being so flexible in helping the kids to put together a 5-6 year later retake of that wonderful photo coming across the bridge at Freedom Park. Misty, you always said you wanted to take that shot again in 5 years! What a wonderful surprise, and it was probably the best birthday gift I have ever received. AND they are resolved to do it one more time when the kids will range from 16-21 years old. Yikes! Anyway, it is beautiful and so is the second photo take ‘from the ground up’ of all of them. What a treat and what a thrill for me.”
Ostendarp grandchildren August 2006
Ostendarp Grandchildren June 2012
Ostendarp Family Portrait August 2006
We look forward to the day when the phone rings again asking us to take the next round of photos. It will be an honor for us to keep the tradition going!
If you would like family portraits, we are booking sessions all the time, just send us a message through the contact form or call 704.641.1131.
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bailey + phillip = blue ridge parkway | high country nc | engagement photos
Bailey and Phillip live in the Raleigh Durham area, are getting married in Charlotte, but wanted engagement photos in a much more tranquil location in the Blue Ridge mountains of NC. Spending time with these two in a beautiful outdoor setting and playing with their fur baby, a gorgeous German Shepherd named Bongo, made it easy to see why they are so in love. No matter how uncomfortable a couple is in front of our camera, being totally in to each other puts everyone at ease. The way Bailey beams with happiness and is filled with laughter by Phillip’s simple touch is obvious in the candid photos. And Phillip’s ADD tendencies were hilarious and reminded me of Ryan, especially when there is a dog to pester and play with.
Engagement photos are a great way to get to know our couples making it more fun and easy going on the wedding day. What I know for sure is that I can totally see myself hanging out with these two and Bongo anytime!
View these and more engagement pictures on our website and on our facebook page.
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ashleigh + philip = gorgeous autumn engagement photos in the country
Ashleigh and Philip wanted to take advantage of what was remaining of the gorgeous fall foliage in the Wilkes County mountains for their engagement photos while a bit of the color still remained. We found a perfect hidden gem of a spot that suited them just perfectly. Surrounded by trees wrapped in vibrant colors, running water, wooden bridges and golden hay bails, these two love birds were the perfect feature in an environment that they seemed more than comfortable to be a part of.
We are looking forward to photographing their outdoor wedding in Wilkes next May. In the meantime show us and them some love on the blog. Our blog loves comments!
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heather + jason | engagement photos | pixels on paper | creative photography
Heather and Jason are super casual and relaxed. They live in Asheville and both absolutely love to be outdoors spending a lot of their free time fishing in the mountains or working in their garden. Heather changed her mind only a matter of weeks before their wedding date and decided to have engagement pictures taken with us so that they would be more comfortable in front of our cameras on the day of the wedding. This is absolutely one of the best reasons to have engagement photos. Not only does it give us all a chance to get to know each other but its good practice and a lot of fun. If you’re the least be anxious about having your photo taken a portrait session will help relieve those worries and fears. We also always recommend that its a setting where you could normally be found so that years down the road your not looking at a photo in an insignificant place or activity.
We’re looking forward to being in Asheville at the end of August to photograph Heather and Jason’s outdoor wedding pictures at Claxton Farm.
View more of our work on our website at www.pixelsonpaper.biz.
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