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Newborn Baby Gracelynn
Gracelynn is a new citizen of Planet Earth. First time parents Caitlin and Matthew Triplett brought her to our studio, along with first time grandparents – all socially distancing and crying. It’s part of the gig… taking pictures and watching happy tears. Tears are welcome, you guys, I mean it. If there was ever something to celebrate in a time of uncertainty, it’s new life.
This perfect little girl barely slept during the session, and while that can sometimes be an issue with babies who cannot get comfy easily, Gracelynn was just as eager to be cozy and camera-ready as any newborn I’ve ever seen. It didn’t matter what position I put her in, she was “thumbs up” and ready to pose.
A few months ago, I photographed the Triplett’s maternity portrait session. Grandmother Tabitha is a friend of mine and reached out to make that session happen after the family experienced several losses in a short amount of time. Gracelynn is the antidote for that pain and loss, bringing with her hope, light and joy.
These photos are going to hang in both Caitlin and Matthew’s house and Tabitha’s as well. Before we even started the shoot, we discussed wall arrangements, so I was already familiar with the rooms themselves in both houses, what they wanted, their wishes, color palettes and themes.
For Caitlyn, the gallery/collection will be made up of maternity and newborn portraits with 6 month and 1 year portraits to come.
For Grandma Tabitha’s home, we are creating an entire wall made up of images of Gracelynn, Caitlynn and Matthew, and Tabitha’s other child Zach. When we are able, we will take family portraits of everyone together. I am so looking forward to that.
I felt a calling once again during this shoot to do this type of photography. New moms need whispered prayers, encouragement and a reminder that what they are doing is right. I think we forget how anxiety-producing it is to bring home a teeny human who needs absolutely everything. Being a loving and stable presence, even during a few hours for a portrait session, or for a year of sessions, gives me the opportunity to share a little love and support. I’m grateful for this.
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.
Absher Family’s Fall Outdoor Portraits
Three generations of Abshers gathered to have family portraits taken and this was another of those outdoor shoots planned that could have gone sideways if not for location and will. But we did it and the results are just what matriarch Mrs. Absher wanted.
October 10th was a day when Pixels scheduled multiple fall family portrait sessions, but massive rain and wind storms meant we had to postpone and reschedule several. A little rain between friends is one thing, but we were in a deluge. Like so many multigenerational families, the Abshers are spread out all over the state of NC and we knew it would be next to impossible to reconvene, so after chatting with the Mom-in-charge, we went for it.
And we pulled it off! There were several key factors, beyond willpower. One was location, but this was easily solved. Instead of meeting off-site somewhere, we took all of the photos in the matriarch and patriarch’s yard. They live near us, and after a drive by, we knew it was going to work. She bought mums and straw bells and we made it work.
Grandparents, parents and kids on hay bales in front of their home place: what could be sweeter?
I love the colors chosen for the youngest members of the clan. They loved being around their grandparents and the images will be heirlooms for generations to come.
If you are thinking of outdoor family portraits, regardless of season, please contact us. We would love to be your portraitists and documentarians.
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.
The Waters Family Fall Photos
Reunited and it feels so good… although it was a rainy day and we had to zig and zag logistically. We LOVE this family. The Waters are Scott, Susan, Maddie and Emma and we go way back. Scott was the pastor who married Ryan and me, so our bond is pretty special.
As the Youth Pastor at Forest Hill Church in Charlotte, Scott got to know Ryan and me when we volunteered with him to help with youth activities on Sundays and on retreats. After we moved to Wilkesboro, we stayed in touch, but the call from Susan to set up a shoot was awesome.
Long before Finley was born and we were active in the church, we remember these girls as infants and we have watched them grow up.
I specifically remember an instance when we were working with Scott and Emma was just a baby. Susan was pushing through those tough chapters of letting her cry it out at bedtime while sitting outside the door, crying herself. When Scott and the girls would come our way for Merlefest each year, he would stay and volunteer with us. We’ve cherished their friendship and their example as parents and people.
During this complicated time, they reached out for an outdoor family photo shoot at Appalachian State University, where Maddie is a student. Unfortunately, this was during the long and rainy days of early October. Their name may be Waters, but … it complicated things. Leave it to Ryan to find a great backup location near the Blue Ridge Parkway. I love that they had App State umbrellas that could be incorporated too.
The images are glorious. They are a beautiful family, made up of beautiful souls and I’m thrilled that we were able to make it happen.
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.
Fall portraits of Finley
I’ve said this before and there is a reason for that: the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. The Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote that in a poem, and as a descendent of Scots (McGuire), believe me – I get it, Robbie B!! I hear you, brother!
We’ve been capturing Finley in his Carhartt overalls as a kind of theme, for a while now. Whether I am behind the camera, or we’ve hired a pro, I love these images. With apple picking season upon us we set a course for Apple Hill Orchard in Morganton. As parents do, we hyped it up, packed the cute clothes, got our little guy ready and arrived to find they were closed. There was so much traffic over the weekend that our Monday plan was not to be. No apple picking. The good news is that we had a blast on a nearby trail and the day was glorious.
As memories go, what I will tell Finley when he’s older is that he spent 90% of his time that day, storing acorns in every pocket he had. If they had been pants, they would have fallen down. Like a little squirrel prepping for winter, he put handful and handful in those overalls. The snacks I had, including Cheerios and cashews just mixed right in. Hilarious!
Yes, I will probably try to get some apple picking portraits again before it’s too late, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t pleased with how these images turned out: happy boy, fun day and when we reached the farm shop to buy some apples, his acorns spilled out all over the place to the delight of other customers. It was a good day. Don’t give up Moms. Joy is out there, even if it isn’t what you envisioned.
My advice is that you do the best with what you’re given.
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.
Season of Giving Starts Now
Yes, it’s Prime ordering season, pardon the pun, and I’ll never shame any of us for making our lives easier by saving money ordering from a mammoth company because there’s free shipping. No shade throwing here.
But (you knew it was coming), this has been a year like no other that most of us have seen, and small businesses need us now more than ever. Shop local when you can. Buy from people you see at church, went to school with, are your neighbors (masks and all) because we appreciate your business more than you could possible know.
Before you decide on purchasing things that will get smashed, lost, ignored or summarily tossed aside by February 1st, I hope you’ll think about a gift of memory, history and love: give portraits, keepsake boxes, canvases and memory books!
If you have been a client of Pixels on Paper for any type of portrait session, then any of your photos can be designed for Christmas cards. You do not have to be wearing a reindeer sweater.
Another very popular gift item is our proof collection box. It’s a keepsake box with a 4 x 6 print of every image from their portrait session included in the box (see the first image at the opening of this blog).
Photo books as well as framed prints or canvases make AMAZING, memorable presents for parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. People tend to focus on wedding and newborn portraits, but we have photographed so many families, high school and college friendships, couples before, during and after the arrival of a baby, and siblings through various phases of life that we hope you’ll think outside of a simple framed image and provide a real packaged heirloom for someone you love.
Every year, I make a photo album as a Christmas gift for each set of grandparents. They get all the portraits of Finley packaged nicely and frankly, it’s what they want the most. Consider that before you buy a bunch of socks, subscriptions and non-recyclable, soul-sucking “things.”
And finally, we have gift cards and these make wonderful gifts as well. Pregnant daughter or daughter in laws all need a maternity, newborn, 6 month and one year portrait session.
Food for thought, dear ones! Be in touch.
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.