Posts in Category: Portraits
Ivy Myers ~ the likeness of Garbo’s girl of “the moment” becomes the daughter of a lifetime
We showed this picture of newborn Ivy Myers to a writer friend of ours and she burst out laughing. “It’s Greta Garbo!” Beautiful, bored, tired and she wants to be [said in best German accent] alone. Ivy’s eyes, at half-mast like Garbo’s, is also glamorous and seems to crave both privacy and a nap.
Ivy however is not alone. She was very much wanted and is probably right this minute being snuggled within an inch of her life. Kim and Justin Myers, her mom and dad, had been trying to have a child for years and finally decided that they were going to be the fun aunt and uncle – relishing time with nieces and nephews and their friends’ kids. After years of praying and planning though – they now have sweet Ivy, the product of an open adoption. She is a delicious answer to prayers and a dream come true.
There’s just something about her little left hand that is hilarious …. “Oh me…. I’ve been here a mere few months and I’ve already got a fan base!”
At Pixels, we prayed during the adoption process, because Kim booked us before she was “theirs” and we knew how much they were ready for her. And then suddenly, they were parents. Creating the baby announcement cards was such a joy. Kim and Justin were now Kim, Justin and Ivy.
When it was time for Ivy’s 6 month photo session, the Myers came back to our studio in Wilkesboro, NC and Ivy had changed so much. Don’t you love it when children grow at this stage? They have those super-round Charlie Brown heads with all of their features relegated to the middle of their faces? There is all of this real estate of forehead, cheeks, chin that is perfect for smooching and snacking on. That was Ivy this past December 2014. She was also more interested in listening to Beyonce than Sesame Street tunes during the shoot. Yet another diva move!! But really, she’s more love bug than anything with her rolls and irresistible grin.
Ivy is proof that sometimes you actually do get what you want, even when the odds seem against you. Timing is impossible to control, but patience can be life-changing. At Pixels, we love these stories of how faith and a true resolve can produce unexpected rewards… like a family.
the perry family ~ one spot and 3 generations
“All that history, the love & laughter, is designed for youth. It is what keeps the story of who we are alive from one generation to the next. It ensures our indelible mark in the souls of generations we will never have the pleasure of holding in a warm embrace. Life is short people.” – E.B. Loan
You can find your way back to family using one of those ancestry sites – and they are amazing. You can also get several generations together and capture a moment like we did with the Perry family in Linville, NC …. 3 Generations. Count ’em – THREE.
While all 3 families live in Durham, NC, they wanted to gather at their second family/vacation home in Linville, NC to capture the Matriarch and Patriarch and their 2 sons along with their wives and 5 children. The setting and day turned out to be gorgeous – and so did the multiple groups of Perry’s. Sundress, sandals, shades of blues among the greens of outside and family members ranging from months old to decades old.
Pixels on Paper loves family photos that put a pin in a moment of time … grandmas & grandpas, moms & dads, kiddos, cousins, nieces & nephews, even beloved pets. We’ve watched our clients over time look back and say “Oh, there’s our schnauzer Molly when you were just 3 years old!” Or, “I cannot believe we were all so YOUNG!” It’s caught in time for good. The Perry’s, in particular the little ones dressed up and being held in laps, will treasure these as heirlooms some day. As the quote above says, “life IS short people.” So gather your clan and let us capture you all for the generations you don’t even know are coming.
ready for your close-up? ~ jessica greene is …
We love clients of any age and stripe (hopefully, that’s clear), and we certainly love helping anyone who is following a dream. Jessica is interested in modeling and whether it’s in print, on a runway, or in other visual media, we loved spending time with her creating the head shots that will add to a successful portfolio.
Jessica is 15 and when her mom contacted us to take some portraits to build her modeling portfolio, we got in touch with Emily Parker. Emily is studying fashion at Appalachian State University and has an eye for details, trends and teasing out an individual’s sense of style. Emily worked to find the right clothes from Jessica’s closet, shopped a bit with her, discussed ideas and was a true partner for us at Pixels.
With help from our hair and make-up artist, we enjoyed creating a variety of looks for Jessica … casual, glamorous, chic, youthful and sophisticated.
Part of every shoot is showcasing personality and italicizing what already exists with each client – each person. Both Ryan and I worked with Jessica during the day to allow her to know what it’s like to be in different settings and working with different photographers. We are all so idiosyncratic and the combination of person and client is magic.
Whether Jessica turns out to be a Cindy Crawford (minus the famous mole) or a Mila Kunis, a spokesperson or a Senator, we support her and want her to continue to search. Like her eyes, her future is bright. Confidence is key and she’s on her way.
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.
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!”
Rachel 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.
Below 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!)
Not 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 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.
the dinner ~ the dresses ~ the hair ~ the limo …. THE PROM!!
It’s nearly prom season, people. Do you hear me?? PROM SEASON.
Do you remember yours? Most of us sweated over asking someone or being asked, finding the right dress or renting a tux, where to go before and after, borrowing the family car or renting a limo. Maybe you got ready with friends and double dated or you had a steady boy or girlfriend to plan with. Well, maybe you have teens in the throws of these Big Decisions and we’re here to help. This group of glamorous and hammy students (and certified pals) from Wilkes Early College High School decided to do it up right with a photo session at our studio.
Needless to say, with regard to feeling and tone, it was a dead heat between glamour and silliness. We loved watching them interact both in the studio and in our outdoor portrait garden. They were clearly excited and it brought back memories for us. At Pixels we talk a lot about creating memories, but honestly that is the point afterall if you do what we do. We are not overseas in a war zone or chasing stories for the media. But we are blessed to be documenting moments — moments that our clients will look back on with fondness, laughter, the “Oh my Lord – look at my hair!” facial expressions and all the while recounting the memories attached to each shot.
We hope this crew feels this way about their pics. “We love these.” “One day I’ll show these to my own kids…. maybe.”
Studio photos for prom start at only $55 per person. Grab your date or a group of pals and let us create and capture your 2015 prom. Now’s the time!
