Posts in Category: Babies

the McAdoo family album ~ part deux

Meet The Smalls, a.k.a the McAdoo kids – Emma (left) and Sophia. These two are siblings who would have never been sisters if their parents had not fallen in love via eHarmony. (This photo is from March of 2014!)
Pixels on Paper photographing siblings and wedding photos of McAdoo family, Byron's Southend, Center City Charlotte Wedding PhotoWe had the honor of documenting Rachel and Jeremy’s wedding in November of 2012. Theirs is a wonderful love story and was featured along with our photos in Carolina Bride magazine. We’ve known the McAdoo’s for years. Rachel is a wedding planner and when she chose us to photograph their day – the ceremony at Holiday Inn in Center City Charlotte and reception at Byron’s Southend (so cool – great venue) – it meant the world to us.
Pixels on Paper wedding photos of McAdoo family, Byron's Southend, Center City Charlotte Wedding PhotoPixels on Paper wedding photos of McAdoo family, Byron's Southend, Center City Charlotte Wedding PhotoYou can see how Sophia has grown! And now she’s a big sister who loves the little lamb who showed up to grace all of their lives. We love this family so much and look forward to capturing more moments in their journey as the girls turn into little ladies. We know kids, well ALL OF US, change every day, but any excuse to see all 4 of their faces and hear the latest and greatest from the world of McAdoo would be fun.
Pixels on Paper photographing siblings and wedding photos of McAdoo family photoPixels on Paper photographing siblings and wedding photos of McAdoo family photoPixels on Paper photographing siblings and wedding photos of McAdoo family photoPixels on Paper photographing siblings and wedding photos of McAdoo family photo

Pixels on Paper photographs weddings, maternity shots, new borns, kids, family portraits, head shots and anything personal and creative. We have both indoor and outdoor studios, but also travel to favorite locations we know and love discovering new ones with clients. We’d love to hear from you!

~ Amanda, Rich & Madelyn Terpstra ~ love, marriage, baby, love, life, us, yes!

Pixels On Paper wedding photographers Charlotte NC holiday inn center city wedding photoWe know we took this photo, but is it copacetic for us to say that we love it? Not so much our part, but because it’s one of those that speaks volumes about a couple. He’s so happy that he got THE Girl. And he’s probably relieved that the ceremony is behind him (who’re we kidding…. relief is part of getting married….. that moment of “phew!! DONE. HONEYMOON!”). And SHE is drop dead gorgeous. Not only was she a bride that day, she became a wife.
Amanda and Rich made great photo subjects, but now, after 6 years of knowing them and seeing changes in their lives — they are a great family.
Because along came Madelyn.
Pixels On Paper outdoor maternity portrait photographers photoPixels On Paper Photography newborn baby portrait photographers photoThe maternity shots were taken in our outdoor portrait garden and sweet Madelyn’s photos were taken at their home in Rock Hill, SC. We have to say – having families travel to work with us is such an honor and pleasure, but we also love capturing families in their homes, among the things they love. The Terpstra’s come to us twice a year for shoots and we love seeing them roll up in the driveway. Here are some faves.
Pixels On Paper Photography NC outdoor family portrait photographers photoPixels On Paper Photography NC outdoor family portrait photographers photoPixels On Paper Photography NC outdoor family portrait photographers photoLook at that little bright light – foot kicked out – styling in her jeans, gesturing and talking (she had a lot on her mind that day…) and ready for the world.

At Pixels, our greatest joy is being a part of your lives. And we mean that. Whether it’s newborn or baby portraits, engagement, bridal and wedding photos, your kids or family story, we’re in. Can’t wait to meet you!

catching dreams with Holden

“I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. If they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it’s crazy, but that’s the only thing I’d really like to be.”
– Holden Caulfield, The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)

The catcher. The saver. There are heroes in fiction and Holden Caulfield is one of the greatest. Care-taking, tender, filled with contradictions, incredibly quirky and loving while questioning life. The Holden (below) who belongs to Traci and Andy Pierce is surely made of all of those things; they’re just brewing under that sweet exterior. We defy you to look at this face and tell us he’s not conspiring to do something and be someone special – even in his sleep.
The best among us usually sleep soundly and well.

Holden Pierce Newborn Photography Photo, Pixels on Paper

We were asked to create the Pierce’s baby announcement to alert friends and family that this little person was going to join the world. We created a Christmas card to drop the baby bomb and Traci’s sister wrote a poem to accompany it.
baby announcement portrait photographer photoHolden’s father Andy is a pilot, so Traci set up Holden’s nursery in the colors, icons and theme that would allow Holden to dream of travels and get a sense of his dad.

Holden Gray Newborn Photography Photo

Holden Gray Newborn Photography PhotoWe also took Holden’s 6 month photos and loved watching him with Traci, as they snuggled. Traci chose the all white theme and it turned out to be so pure and sweet. The Pierce’s bought our full-year baby plan, and we love being able to watch the growth over these shoots, not just in the babies, but in the families … how they orbit around each other, how they show their love for one other, what makes them light up. Capturing all of that makes our job the absolute best.
Pixels On Paper Photography Holden Gray Child and Family Portrait PhotoPixels On Paper Photography Holden Gray Child and Family Portrait Photo

And coming full circle, we loved taking the Christmas photo for them following Holden’s birth in our outdoor studio.

Pixels On Paper Photography Holden Gray Child and Family Christmas Portrait Photo

Holden Caulfield said, “Certain things, they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone.” We know that Traci and Andy feel this way about their boy.
Stay young, Holden. Take your time. But as you grow…. grow up into a man who makes a difference. In the meantime, messing with your toes is a fine idea. There’s time for that now.
Pixels On Paper Photography Holden Gray Child and Family Portrait Photo

the huffmans ~ when you actually get what you pray for

pixels on paper maternity photography photopixels on paper baby announcement with dog photoWhen we met with Nikki Huffman for the first time, she asked that we capture as many moments as possible of her pregnancy because she wasn’t certain that she and Chris would be parents more than this one time. They struggled to conceive, as so many couples do, but with the help of smart medicine, they found themselves pregnant, elated and eager to conspire with us. We knew the Huffman’s were expecting before many of their friends and family. They wanted Pixels to create photographs for an announcement card (both above), so we happily plotted with them.

pixels on paper outdoor maternity photography photoAfter following and documenting Nikki and Chris through the various stages of anticipation, there she was.
It’s always amazing when a new creature joins us on this little marble, but suddenly there was Harper … the longed-for baby and new member of planet earth.
pixels on paper newborn portrait photography photopixels on paper newborn portrait photography photopixels on paper studio child portrait photography photoThe Huffman’s participated in our full year baby package, so we got to photograph, marvel, crack up and capture them all as Harper started to grow and move beyond mushy cute to curious cute to “she’s mobile!! look OUT!” cute.
pixels on paper wilkesboro nc outdoor family portrait photography photopixels on paper wilkesboro nc outdoor family portrait photography photopixels on paper wilkesboro nc outdoor family portrait photography photopixels on paper wilkesboro nc studio child portrait cake smash photoA note: It’s rare that Dad’s speak up with a request. Chris shared with me that he had seen a huge close up image of a baby’s face during one of their many doctor’s visits. He wanted an image like that of Harper to hang in their house. Because of this, we created a beautiful 24×36 canvas portrait in sepia tones that was a close up of Harper’s face when she was sleeping in Nikki’s arms. We also created a keepsake photo album that included images from all of Harpers first year sessions.
We’d be lying if we didn’t say how awesome an experience it is to photograph a peaceful sleeping newborn and then watch her grow in front of our camera lens to a one year old who’d rather run through the yard than sit still for photos.

The Nikki, Chris and Harper Story has a happy ending. It also has a new beginning. Nikki is now expecting twins.

 

 

 

college football ~ waterfalls ~ baby girl and a bright future ahead

There is a moment in the life of every bride-to-be when she worries about how she’ll look in her gown posing 5 feet from a waterfall. If we had a nickel…… So we’re going to start at this point in the Minick story – the moment when Rachel navigated her way through hill and dale for bridal pictures, looking radiant in her wedding gown and Keen’s. You heard us. You gotta do what you gotta do.

pixels on paper bridal photos engagement photos baby pictures and wedding photo

She told us, it was the funniest part of all the shoots we’ve done with Pixels. “Hiking around the location where my bridal portraits were taken was a blast. Wearing Keen’s with my wedding dress and getting strange looks from people fishing at the waterfall was the best!”

pixels on paper nc mountain outdoor bride photoRachel and Ryan met at an Appalachian State football game and so began their relationship. 4 years later we are still photographing them and enjoying not only their company, but watching their family grow and their lives take the various twists and turns it does.

For us, this is not just a business of photography. We’re documenting, watching history unfold, and creating heirlooms that will link generations. The Minick’s, like many of our clients, have become our friends. We “do life” together when there are no cameras around. We feel very strongly that God has given us this gift so that we can become another supportive resource, cheerleaders and advocates for the married couples we’ve met through Pixels. We love seeing them create families and celebrate milestones and feel honored to be a part of the journey. Creating relationships has become as important to us as the photography work.

pixels on paper appalachian university ASU mountaineers football engagement photo

pixels on paper appalachian university ASU mountaineers football engagement photoBelow are just a couple of wedding pictures, but we hope you’ll view more of the Minick’s Big Day (teaser: check out Rachel and her bridesmaids’ shoes – they are not Keen’s, but they rock!)

pixels on paper wilkesboro nc outdoor wedding photographers photoNot surprisingly, people who love each other as much as these two do were destined to add to their family. So two became three with the arrival of Amelia. We’ve enjoyed capturing her with her parental units in a variety of settings. Always fun!

pixels on paper nc family portrait photographers outdoor family photo

pixels on paper nc family portrait photographers outdoor family photopixels on paper nc family portrait photographers outdoor family photopixels on paper nc photographers child studio portrait photopixels on paper family christmas portrait studio photopixels on paper wilkesboro nc mountains outdoor family christmas portrait photoPixels has an expansive and versatile photography studio for certain shoots, and we love photographing newborns, family portraits, prom pictures, weddings, engagement photos and the like. But we also absolutely embrace those moments when we can be creative in mother nature, and are experienced outdoor photographers in NC. We’ve been able to do both with the Minicks.

Rachel: “I want to remember the early days of our marriage and family and look back at the stages of Amelia’s growth. I know that I will delight in these portraits for years to come and love creating future family heirlooms with Misty and Ryan.” WE look forward to it, too. We love you guys.