Posts in Category: Families
Martinez family portraits
Have you ever been given a gift that made you dissolve into tears? I’m not talking about the newlywed whose husband gives her a microwave for Christmas. I’m talking about something of true, intrinsic value that makes you so happy that you cry tears of joy. When we take portraits of families and tears of joy appear during the viewing, it is the highest compliment. And that happened recently when we photographed the Martinez family.
Mike and Janet Martinez are current clients on the corporate side (their headshots for 2019) for their real estate business, and they asked us to capture some new family portraits that would include their children and grand children.
We chose the greenway in North Wilkesboro specifically because of its many backdrops and ease of moving from location to location along the greenway itself and the river. As photographers, we also love the bridge and steel textures but also views of leaves and river. Janet wanted to have more relaxed and less traditional “posey shots” and wanted several family groupings too.
As part of the session, Janet wanted to get some individual senior portraits of their son and some fun portraits of their daughter who will be celebrating her quinceanera. She chose to wear a family heirloom dress that has been passed down in the Martinez family for generations, but she traded in the traditional hoop skirt for Chuck Taylor shoes.
After the tears dried, we worked with Janet to create family holiday cards that they sent out this year as well as wall art for their home.
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’s fall portraits
This family. What to say about this family. The Arnold’s story feels so close to us, because we’ve been taking their photos – images of the biggest milestones of their lives so far – since the couple became engaged. We photographed them in Chapel Hill and then for their absolutely gorgeous wedding.
Then came child number one – Berklee – who consistently scores a 200 out of 50 on the cute scale. She looks like a little Irish fairy and we just adore photographing her. But then three became four with the birth of new baby, Wyatt. And as far as cuteness goes, he’s going to give his big sister a serious run for her money. Check out the surprise maternity shoot that husband Jeremy coordinated with us on the sly.
Ryan shot these most recent images during the fall of 2018 so that mom Meghan could have the goods for holidays gifts. We know that they anticipate Wyatt being a baseball fan like his dad (can you say RED SOX!?) and we look forward to watching this family in 2019. We love you guys!
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.
the love of parents – portraits of grace in the 21st century
How’s that for a grand title? Parenting has been on my mind for a minute: certainly years ago when I realized the sacrifices of my own parents, and absolutely again when becoming a parent myself with Ryan, my partner in all things.
Parenting is a full library. It contains every journal about how to do it, parenting magazines showing it in all its shades, every map of potential adventures with a child, every poem or bit of wisdom from the Kahlil Gibrans, and every scrapbook showcasing the memories of parenting. I imagine rows of volumes about life with a child – in good times and bad, on bikes, on camping trips, in boredom, during downtime, at holidays, recitals, studying, first days of school, and all the random but well-captured calamity that “just happens.” The layers of thought, work, imagination, terror and self-analysis that go into the concept of genetically forming a child and then physically raising that child, while trying to impart and protect them are frankly endless and would fill shelves – and do.
But honestly, especially these days of division and acrimony on cable news 24/7, what is most valuable to me as a new mom of a nearly one year old are the examples and illustrations of parenting with LOVE. I read and seek counsel, believe me – from the doctors and psychologists and from the Bible, but when I have nothing left to metabolize mentally, I return to simply providing love for Finley and looking to my friends, and clients, for proof of it. It’s not over-intellectualized or over-wrought, it’s easy and natural and primal and perfect.
Seeing that love through my lens is restoring me, ya’ll. Thought I’d share.
Listening. Spending time. Including them in preparing for the new baby. Picnics and time together. We’re photographing memories, but we’re also watching our friends and clients be “show up” parents. We’re watching them be present.
Parenting through showing others how to care for the least among us, including adoption dogs.
Parenting through some friendly competition.
And being the protective parents during some much needed downtime.
Our time with these families gave us some insight into what we might expect with Finley, and looking back at some of the photos I’m reminded about what matters most: sticking together and showing love and grace. Starting at home.
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.
family outdoor portraits – at play & rest
The Minicks are family. Literally. We’ve been shooting photos of them since before Pixels was Pixels. This latest shoot was extremely fun, because the family grew by one when Matthew – Matt Matt – arrived and we all met up at a park to celebrate older sister Amelia’s first day of school. She has been the cutest little bug since birth and is now getting some competition from her little brother.
“Siblings: Children of the same parents, each of whom is perfectly normal until they get together.” – Sam Levenson
Even though we shot after a first day of school – and sweet Matt Matt is trying to overcome his desire to ride on the school bus with his big sissy, he was not forgotten. The Minicks brought along a quilt featuring characters from children’s author Eric Carle and Matthew’s current favorite book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? The family took a break to rest in the shade and read it together.
I love seeing the long legs on these kids, the complete passion for playtime and a family that hangs together. We adore this 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.
our foundations part 6 – families of size
They aren’t better necessarily, they’re just bigger. Families.
As the wrap-up to our series on the types of portraits we specialize in and love, this blog is about celebrating a gathering of family.
These days families spread out in ways they didn’t 50 years ago when most families lived in close proximity. When summer break and holidays roll around, we’re often asked to get portraits of the whole tribe. These families want to be captured while they are all together. Whether it’s a family reunion, a christening, a special occasion like a wedding or an elders milestone birthday, sometimes that is the necessary “excuse” to kick off a gathering. It’s always worth it and getting a portrait is always a good idea.
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.