Posts Tagged: family portrait

Family Time

As I continue to ponder the priorities that Ryan and I have for 2020 and beyond, family keeps coming up.

photo of Misty, Ryan and Finley by Joy Davis Photography
Pixels On Paper Wilkesboro NC Photographers York In Home Family Christmas 2019 Photo

As a family, we are focusing more on time together and making memories, especially with our extended family who all want time with Finley.

Why a Family Documentary Session?

Because you won’t regret it.
When we have a milestone, we hire our peers to photograph us with Finley, family and friends and we are also encouraging our client families to do the same. Let us capture your casual down time together. These are not stressful photo shoots. NONE of our photo shoots with families are unless there are last minute changes and even then, we know how to laugh and hug and say, “you’ll be telling this story decades from now.”

One Year Old Child and family Portrait Photography by Pixels On Paper Jefferson NC Photographers Photo

Some families plan a day in a special place like an orchard, a greenway, a park, beach or mountain retreat. For these, we get posed images for the archives, frames and scrapbooks, of course, but we also get the more casual shots of them just hugging, chatting and being together.

Reid family Pixels On Paper Boomer NC outdoor portrait photographers photo

I know I sound like I’m giving a sermon, but family is important and some of the best pictures we take, those that the family members love the most, are caught off guard or of people just relaxing.

Things to Consider When Planning a Day in the Life or Family Photo Shoot:

+ How often do you ALL get together? Identify the time and start contacting your relatives and friends;
+ Is there a special place that your tribe loves? Can you visit, book it or plan to meet up there?
+ Do you all like to do something together? Do you ride bicycles or hike or ski or go bowling? Do you have a workshop where 3 generations can build something together? Do you love to cook or paint? You do not have to have an activity, but if your family is drawn to the water or to the garden, to your alma mater or family business, let’s include that.

Chapel Hill Family Portraits
Pixels On Paper Photographers Wilkesboro NC Anderson Family Outdoor Fall Portrait Photography Photo
Family Portraits at local Waterfalls
Guerrant Outdoor Family Session

If your priority this year is a photo session that is easy and casual and personal, think about a Day in the Life session. We can help with the details and planning and we’re ready! Contact us to discuss further.


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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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.

brianna’s high school senior pics | north wilkes high school

Photographing high school seniors is so much fun especially when they are excited to have a portrait session that is unlike anything they’ve ever experienced and so different from those their classmates are having made. Pixels On Paper is focused on creating a fun and unique photography experience for all of our Senior Sessions. We are bringing an original style and quality  to Senior photos that Wilkes and some of the surrounding NC Mountain areas have never experienced or had access to in the past. Why should all these awesome and energetic young people settle for just another boring senior photo shot by a high school appointed photog in front of a dull backdrop? We don’t think they should which is why we’re offering an alternative. If you are or you have a rising High School Senior call us now to schedule a Senior Portrait Session. The ideal session time for the Class of 2013 begins in June. We are looking for reps from each of the surrounding high schools that are enthusiastic about sharing their experience with their classmates.

Brianna contacted us a short time ago eager to schedule her senior session even though she was only a few weeks from graduating. She wanted Senior Pics that would stand out from everyone else and since we had photographed her in January as one of our 2012 Prom Models she knew exactly what kind of photos we would deliver. Not only did she want unique portraits, she wanted us to use those photos to create a graduation announcement that she would be mailing to family and friends, an alternative to those offered by the High School.

For Brianna we designed a 5×7 Graduation Announcement Card. Here is a look at the front of the card.

And a look at the back of the Graduation Announcement card.

It’s hard to believe that Brianna is only a High School Senior when you see her. This girl is gorgeous in and out and aspires to be model and fashion designer. She is artistic, creative, beautiful, humble and a little shy when she is the center of attention. She is the class of 2012 and represents North Wilkes High School. We wish her all the best in everything she does.

Leave Brianna and us some LOVE on our blog. Our blog loves comments!

Visit www.pixelsonpaper.biz to view more Senior Pics and contact us to schedule a portrait session.

bennett family photography | pixels on paper creative photography

The Bennett family holds a special place in our hearts for many reasons. We got to know them through our work with the Charlotte Checkers Hockey Team and have considered them part of the family ever since. We were thrilled when they wanted us to capture their memories during a family photography session and we recently made it happen!

The Bennett’s story is beyond remarkable. They moved to North Carolina from New York last year following their favorite hockey team which also moved from Albany to Charlotte. This might seem a bit extreme for even the most serious of sports fans but to truly understand it, you must witness it. Danielle and Zach Bennett (or “Bug” as the hockey players call him) have neurofibromatosis.  Zach and the entire family simply love the team that helped them through some tough times including 20+ surgeries, extended hospital stays, and the simple struggles that come with every day life. When the team, the integral encouragement system, moved South the Bennet family knew they had to as well. A bonus was that the medical care in Charlotte, NC is better and closer  than where they were living.

Take a few moments to watch this awesome video featuring the Bennett family as captured last year by ESPN 360. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L78sf_-Kc_s

Being a part of the Charlotte Checkers family of staff never meant more to us than it did during the moments that we were able to know and love the entire Bennett family. The strength that is displayed by the family is part of what makes us love them so much. Through everything that they have experienced, they manage to pull through it together. They are an inspiration in that through out life you have a choice to take the bad and either let it get you down, or face it head on and tackle it, or better yet to “check it” into the boards and come out a winner!

The Bennett’s are running full steam ahead into a new set of challenges. On January 31st Mom Danielle will be having amputation surgery.  Danielle says that her strength comes from Zach. But knowing and loving Danielle the way we do we would say they all four gain strength from each other. What goes around definitely comes around and in this case their strength is contagious.

The day of our family photography session was a cool winter day, but not cold enough to put the shoot off. In fact, Danielle had to get in a jab or two about it not being cold at 45 degrees in January. And that southerns didn’t know what true cold was until they had endured NY winters. We photographed a great family and had a ton of fun with them. Despite the pain and difficulty moving they were determined to have a photograph of all four family members standing together without the wheel chairs. It was a powerful moment. And a moment that was more of a blessing to our lives than they will ever comprehend. It was a justification that God gave us these skills and gifts for a purpose and that we are right where we are supposed to be, doing exactly what God wants us to be doing.

Thanks Randy and Danielle for allowing us to photograph these memories, we are truly inspired by you and your family and love you guys so much! We are happy to call you friend.

Jenna has a special place in Misty’s heart, and as we were packing up, Misty saw a shot that she had to capture. She pulled Jenna aside and photographed some stunning shots that we will treasure as much as the Bennetts will.

88x31 amy + rex {outer banks destination wedding} wedding pictures

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frank | model headshot | pixels on paper

We’ve been photographing Frank at different times this year capturing model headshots for his modeling portfolio.  He is a great guy with big ambitions and talents ranging from fashion model to motor cross super star. The shocker… he is only 15! He is going to go far and we are looking forward to watching it happen.

In case you missed it, be sure to check out Frank’s portrait session earlier this year here.  And if you or someone you know has a gig for Frank let us know and we’ll put you in touch.

View other portrait sessions by Pixels On Paper on our website.

88x31 ashley + kevin {uptown charlotte wedding pictures} | pixels on paper

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