Posts By admin
The Matthews Family Outdoor Fall Family Portraits
You know “Those Friends”? They are the ones who you meet and feel like you’ve known them forever. The bond gets deeper each year as you grow together, relate more, talk more, share more and do life together. Well, these are “Those Friends.” Tammy has a sixth sense about knowing when to call to check on me. When there is a hurricane or a big house repair, Matt shows up to help, to check on us, to talk logistics, play with Finley or scour the bushes looking for our sanity for us.
The Matthews family are hubs and wife Matt and Tammy, and kids Emerson (eldest girl), Beckett (son) and Hampton (youngest daughter). They recently bought a new home with stunning acreage and when they asked us to photograph them this fall, I all but broke my neck getting to my calendar.
We had gorgeous weather and there were lots of places to play and run, so our crew, which included their dog Piper, had a blast. We got out their ATV and rode around, goofed off, explored their property and the property next door. Even when we were asking them to pose for us, it was around chattering voices and general (much needed) silliness.
The following two photos were taken by Finley!
We may never get the genie back in the bottle with Finley and this camera. Or he may pick up chess and forget about the lens. Regardless, he has a fan in Miss Hampton.
The Matthews are an absolute blessing – one of the gifts of life that was every present during this crazy year. Hold tight to Those Friends, you guys. They bring the stability and magic to life.
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 Arnold Family
Timing. It’s in the stars, I think sometimes. Once again, we made plans for a photo shoot with LONG TIME clients and pals Meghan and Jeremy Arnold and ended up changing them due to access and Covid-19. But who can complain when the results are so beautiful? We found ourselves perfectly happy on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne.
Big baseball fan and player Jeremy grew up in Hickory and has great memories of playing games on their campus. What a gorgeous day we had and with their two children, and our Finley in tow, it could not have been a better spot.
We’ve photographed this family since the very beginning before Meghan and Jeremy were married. From their engagement, wedding, the birth of daughter Berklee and then son Wyatt, we’ve watched them all grow as a family.
At nearly every shoot, we grab an image of Jeremy tossing daughter Berklee in the air, and I’m so pleased that this tradition has held.
Ryan took these images, while I assisted with lens, styling, finding the next spot and wrangling the little ones.
I love both the dynamic images and the posed as well. With families who have young ones, it is less important to pose than it is to get a sense of their connection as a family and their individual personalities.
When I think back to the engagement portraits for Jeremy and Meghan, I cannot believe the passage of time. But I see them all together, looking every bit like they waltzed out of a J. Crew catalog, and think: they are exactly where and who they should be.
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 newborns and families, 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 LicenseAll photos are ©2020 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
A Fall Day with the Senter Family
Ryan, Finley and I got a break from world-weariness and responsibilities to hang out with our dear friends and clients, the Senters. Mom Judy, Dad Travis and little Ava who is two met up with us at an orchard in Morganton we’d recently visited.
Even though this orchard was no longer yielding apples and picking was over, we loved the trials so much from our last visit that we returned to let the kids play and wander, while we enjoyed the sunshine. It was a gorgeous fall day.
Seeing how big Ava has gotten was a joy and she and Finley had fun together climbing and playing. We’ve been photographing this little monkey since before she was born. Judy’s maternity portraits are favorites, Ava’s newborn, 6 month and one year photos were taken by us and our friendship with them has just continued to grow.
After our time in the orchard, we shifted to a more adult theme and headed to a vineyard, also in Morganton.
We spent a good part of the day with the Senters, which means that along with wardrobe changes for the shoot, there was a real sense of relaxation and chill. We don’t have to ask these guys to “hold your daughter and smile” for photos. These three are such a playful unit and it was just our job to have fingers on shutters.
I don’t know what I love most about the photo just above: the fairytale princess gown paired with mussed hair, the wistful stare into the mid-horizon or that all three of these sweethearts are in the frame.
Here’s to friendship. Here’s to family and here’s to getting away for a day of play, rambling, conversation and escape to the great outdoors.
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 newborns and families, 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 LicenseAll photos are ©2020 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Sofia Turns One
Wrapping up a full year baby package meant that we got to see little Miss Sofia again just a few weeks ago. I cannot believe these newborns I welcome to our studio are now no longer new earthlings. I understand the concept of time and who DOESN’T want this year to be over but still…… you cannot stop a baby from just doing its thing and growing!
We photographed Sofia’s newborn sessions with her siblings and 6 month “Milk Bath” portraits in our studio and this one was in our portrait garden. This may be a first – hosting the family and baby each time in our Pixels space vs. meeting the family at another location.
Mom Jessica is a nurse and did not want a cake smash but definitely wanted to be outside, and that worked for us, because that’s how we roll during Covid-19. Sofia got new outfits for this day due to unseasonably warm weather. She was absolutely adorable and even mom got into a few of the shots.
I had already been hoarding fall and Halloween props, so I set up the portrait garden with pumpkins we grew in our pumpkin patch, mums and other little props, and off we went.
We will be creating a one year photo album for this family and I am really looking forward to it. Sofia: take your time with the growing up bit, please.
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 newborns and families, 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 LicenseAll photos are ©2020 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Thanksgiving Message from Pixels
Maya Angelou said, “Be present in all things, and grateful for all things.” I’m not always able to square that circle. How can you be grateful when it’s entirely possible to wake up every morning to bad news, worrisome statistics, and personal fear of the unknown future?
I had a friend share a quote from a monk with me the other day. It went something like, “see your anxiety and fear and sit with them, welcome them and smile at them.” Being present with anxiety? CHECK. Smile at it? Hmmmm. I think the monk meant that our goal is to familiarize ourselves with the concept that we have very little control in this life and we must do our best to adjust our outlook.
This year does not need another commentator, so I’ll skip the phrases we’ve all heard about 2020 since March. Endless complaints, like platitudes, don’t help, so let me just say this:
I am present when I am with my son at the breakfast table each morning. We’re just here, eating and jabbering, and plotting what the day may bring. Recently, watching him do something as simple as stuff acorns into his overalls was a moment I soaked up.
I’m present when I’m in prayer, reading scripture or from my daily devotions. Yes, my mind wanders, but with focus and discipline, I find the message meant for me, or at least I try.
I’m present when I chat with my family. There are still decisions that need to be made, stories to tell and retell, and – when possible – memories to make. I’m present when Ryan and I have time after Finley goes to bed. Sometimes it’s a struggle, but we need that connection for sure.
All of these – and more – make me grateful. It as if being present is the parent of gratitude. Slow down and tune in and you’ll see reasons to give thanks.
Ryan and I know that this year is like no other many of us have seen in our lifetimes, but it’s important to count our blessings. We are certainly grateful for each of you. You fill us up creatively and with your friendship, laughter, encouragement, prayers and collaboration. Thank you for that. We hope that we always give it back to your in spades.
Happy Thanksgiving. Whatever that looks like for you and your family, I hope you feel both present for the little moments and grateful for what you have.
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 newborns and families, 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 LicenseAll photos are ©2020 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.