First birthday portraits & cake smash among the blooms
We made good use of the orchards again this spring and one such case was a session featuring newly crowned one year old Gavin Mendieta. His outdoor portraits and cake smash were a treat, especially with his big blue eyes and guileless gaze. He is so serene and sweet and has just started walking. Accompanied by his mom and gramma, we loved watching him toddling around the orchard. Fresh air is good for all of us, but it was especially nice on this day to be following him around.
Gavin’s six month session was also outdoors and he’s a natural – so to speak – in these settings.
Gavin’s grandmother was in town and came to the orchard with him and his mom and she had to help coax him into messing up the cake. When does that ever happen? Kids seem to be preternaturally determined to get their hands dirty in frosting, but he was a little gentleman until finally digging in… sorta!
First birthday – CHECK.
Walking – CHECK.
Loves the outdoors – YUP.
Watching Gavin grow up is going to be so much fun. Here’s love to ya buddy!!
Want to see more Pixels portraits of kids? Start here!
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 weddings, brides, 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.
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.
The Parker Family’s Day in the Orchard
Recently, we blogged about a newly engaged couple – Courtney and Cody. They were engaged in this very orchard and on the very same day that we shot photos of the now bride-to-be’s family. The Parkers were all part of the “engagement plan” that allowed Cody to get down on one knee while Courtney was distracted.
This family not only cheered when she said yes, they wanted us to get photos of them as well. It was a gorgeous day, the right occasion and the perfect setting. I love it when a plan comes together!
The Parkers already planned to have us photograph their family portraits in the Tevepaugh peach orchard, and Courtney believed that was why they were all present. After Cody popped the question and got a YES, we were also able to celebrate and get the groom-to-be and family portraits as well. Mom Kim especially wanted to carpe diem because all of the lives of her kids are going in different directions. [Aside: You guys know how this story goes… and it’s why family portraits – from first birthdays to reunions decades later – matter so much.] With Courtney’s engagement, they are gaining another son in Cody; they have a son who is away at college, and the youngest daughter just turned 16 and is now driving and will be the next out of the house. What better time to capture everyone together!
We will have the pleasure of being Courtney and Cody’s wedding photographers in the fall when they tie the knot and we’re already so excited. Between the planning and anticipation, we’re encouraging these two to take time to enjoy all the elements of this chapter of their lives. Courtney is going to be a beautiful bride and these photos below are the proof. 
Mom is happy to have recent portraits of her other two kids as well and we were happy to oblige. It doesn’t hurt that this is a very photogenic family.
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 weddings, brides, 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.
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.
An orchard portrait session & popping the question
On Easter weekend, we had the pleasure of spending the day – not only in a beautiful spot – but with a beautiful couple, Cody and Courtney. Cody Tevepaugh is the son of the owners of this peach orchard where we have shot many a portrait session. We’re the exclusive photographers for this place and have photographed everything from prom to senior to family and engagement sessions in the peach blossoms. We always look forward to that season when there are many blossoms and people among them.
Cody and his brother Casey have been models for us, and we shot Casey’s wedding a couple of years ago as well. The plan was for Cody to pop the question during the photo session, so he scooped us with the details weeks in advance, as we were also planning to take Courtney’s family’s photos that day. I think the only thing we love more than a surprise is one that goes off without a hitch, or in this with one.
We started out with photos of the two of them (Cody and Courtney) together, then Ryan moved onto individual photos of just Cody followed by Courtney. Misty was able to pass the ring to Cody who, with Misty’s help, moved around behind Courtney where he got down on one knee. When Courtney turned around and saw Cody he popped the question.
Both families were nearby to witness from afar, and when Cody yelled out “she said yes,” everyone cheered. It was pretty great, we have to admit. Courtney told us that she was completely surprised – something that doesn’t always happen with proposals. We are often brought in AFTER the yes has been given, so it was wonderful to be a part of the plot and to capture the results.
These two plan to be married on on September 22, 2018 and we’ll give you one guess where we will be!! We cannot wait!
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 weddings, brides, 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.
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.
Summer Weddings – We’re Ready! Are you?
Summer is a busy season and we aren’t even there yet. When there is so much green out every window of our homes and cars, I think about the brides and grooms (and their parents) who are gearing up for what they plan to be a massive milestone and celebration: a summer wedding. Look at Whitney & Preston – above. They are downright charging toward the future. And for us – the near future is about the outdoors and watching others say, “I do.”
Outdoor summer weddings are a favorite because we live in a gorgeous state and green is indeed everywhere. There are trees, barns, lakes, casual settings, arboretums, and fresh flowers everywhere as backdrops and set dressing and couples always seem to become more fresh and lively themselves.
Each of these couples decided that being outside in warm climates was the right choice for them – even at the risk of weather. And these were some of our best days as wedding photographers. If you are just starting to plan your engagement, we hope that you’ll contact us about engagement photos, wedding plans and any places or themes that excite you. We would love to be a part of your day!
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 weddings, brides, 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.
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.
Graduation is coming – Senior Portraits
Am I the only one who thinks that we jump from Thanksgiving to Easter in some wild time travel experiment every year? Some days are blinks and others are lifetimes and while the winter has dragged on in the Carolinas this year, it’s nearly May and high school seniors are feeling the euphoria of graduation. Yes, exams stand between them and the finish line, but if memory serves, those days will be blinks too and summer will soon follow.
Every year, we photograph seniors and rising seniors in high school – not for yearbook photos – but for parents who want to put a pin in this speeding time train. I’m mixing my metaphors, but you’re with me, right? Graduation is a milestone and it’s worth celebrating. My son is somehow 6 months and I know that the moms and dads who hire us for these senior portraits are thinking, “yup… just you wait, Misty!” I’m thinking of Timberli and Chris Roberts – whose 3 kids we’ve photographed over the years.
Paiton Roberts at 11, 14 and 18 years old.
We love doing these shoots for several reasons, not the least of which is that we too get to watch these kids grow up. If you want to get on our schedule, contact us and let us capture portraits of your kid before they start some serious adulting.
If you want to see more – here you go!
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 weddings, brides, 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.
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.