Posts in Category: Families
acre upon acre ~ the mathis farm welcomes a new member
“The soil is the great connector of lives, the source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by which disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life. Without proper care for it we can have no community, because without proper care for it we can have no life.” – Wendell Berry
We don’t know about you, but we look at this picture above and do not think: “Oh, sure! They’re farmers!” This picture says, “welcome to our world, sweet thing.” They might also say, “You’re going to be outside quite a bit as a kiddo, and there will be tons to learn and many places to explore, but we love you and promise to show you the way. You have no idea what grace you’re about to inherit.”
Megan and Luke Mathis however are, wait for it, farmers, and they are the real deal. But what did we expect? That couple from Grant Woods’ famous painting American Gothic?? Remember those two – you know the old, dour pair with the pitchfork and sense of despair and exhaustion? On the contrary, Megan and Luke are the full time farmers that the 21st needs and depends upon and we have no doubt that their little boy Carson will continue to nurture the land, care for what surrounds him, contribute to the family business and bless everyone he meets. We adore these 3 and want to be a part of documenting every single moment they want us to grab.
We were also honored to create a new wall for the Mathis’ of pictures from this shoot. We hope they consider it a tribute to their generation and the next and the next – “acre upon acre,” family after family.
We envy you, Carson. That’s really the bottom line. The adventures you’re going to have on that land are untold, but your story is waiting for you to write; and you will add a line or verse every time your feet go running through the woods. Get your sleep now, boy. It’s all out there.
Following is a video we put together from our shoot with the Mathis family and we love creating these as part of family photography packages or as special requests. We find that people are anxious to share the shoot in one file that can be passed to family and friends.
Have a look at the video and maternity photos of Megan and Luke, pre-Carson, on their gorgeous land.
the meade family ~ a visual narrative
A dear friend of ours tells a story about coming home to his very young sons one evening, the oldest of which was around 4 years old. The sitter left a note that was found later saying that she’d prompted the boy about how much he loved bears. She took the time to write down, “he said adamantly, ‘I don’t love bears!!! I love my daddy!”
Our pal still has the note, even though his son is now in his 20s.
What if she hadn’t taken the time to write down that little moment, that little throw away comment? It would be gone.
This life of ours is a continuum, isn’t it? At any given time, bits can be solidified or lost.
We do our part at Pixels On Paper Photography to help with this by being your journalists, and sometimes archivists, of sorts. We capture and catalog your family by establishing a set time, a studio, amazing outdoor settings, imagination, photos and a great amount of care.
The Meade family continuum has been a blessing to us. We first photographed them in 2010, in a field near a family farm in the NC Mountains.
2 years later, we took pictures of their newborn second child, Alarie – a bundle of sugar that put all of us dangerously close to becoming diabetic.
Our third session was in the fall of 2013 near the Blue Ridge Parkway and Blowing Rock, and their last session in the summer of 2014, included pictures of Carisa, Bradley, Slater (their eldest and boy-man) and Alarie. Mom, Carisa told us, “it’s a blessing to watch our two children interact, and show their love for one another. This summer session revealed a great example of sibling love, and capturing those moments was priceless!”
Slater and Alarie are a study in complete opposites. Slater is a 40 year old man stored handily in the body of a 6 year old. He is the only child that age we know who worries more about others more than he worries about himself. He’s an old soul combined with great parenting.
Alarie could not be more different. She is fearless, silly and may have Red Bull running in her veins where there should be blood. We’re waiting to hear back from her pediatrician. She will take on anything at any time. She finds trouble, gets into it and when punishment is doled out, leaves Slater often saying, “well I guess now we’re not going to be allowed to [fill in something fun here].”
They love each other though. All 4 of them and it shows. Can’t you tell?
We asked Mom, Carisa: What do you want to remember most or tell yourself when you look back at these photos in 5 years?
“To be very thankful we captured these special moments that I can’t ever go back to relive.”
The Meade’s have committed to this concept by having us create a wall in their home of some of these captured moments.
We could not be more proud to be their journalists and archivists.
We’re looking forward to seeing them this summer and for many more to come!
ashley & kevin ellis and their corporate son isaiah
Before Isaiah (3 months old in these pics) launches his financial planning consortium, he wants to get accustomed to the garb. The kid digs a tie – just look at his face.
Isaiah to the room: “does this color work with my diaper?”
We took Ashley and Kevin’s wedding photos in 2011 and then they asked us to take pictures of their newborn. Like some of our clients, the parents want us to focus on their kids (literally) and leave Mom and Dad on the sidelines. We encouraged the Ellis’ to be a part of this shoot and they complied. We’re so happy they did.
Between the smiles, nuzzling, Isaiah’s expressive eyebrows and the way he pulled faces in front of his glowing parents, it became a memorable shoot for all of us. We LOVE this family and look forward to being a documenting element for them for many years to come. Isaiah is a study in facial expressions, by the way…
Isaiah is now 6 months old and his secretary will begin taking calls at his new offices this September. We’re encouraging him to find some pants in the meantime.
Below, see an engagement and wedding day photo featuring Ashley and Kevin. They met, fell in love and have now – multiplied!
Left: Engagement Photo June 2011. Right: Wedding Photo September 2011
5 men in the making + one mom keeping mayhem at bay
“My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, ‘You’re tearing up the grass’; ‘We’re not raising grass,’ Dad would reply. ‘We’re raising boys.’”
-Harmon Killebrew
Now imagine being a single mom raising boys. Raising them in the grass and mud, watching over their bruises, scrapes and homework, their after school activities, preparing their meals, sorting out their arguments…. teaching them what they’ll need to become good men. She’s fearless and selfless and clearly understands the day-to-day and the big picture.
Meet Stacy Eldridge and her 5 (YEP – FIVE) boys. They are as interesting, kind, smart, curious, fearless and singular as she is. She’s also a nurse, by the way, and for all we know she secretly has a 4AM paper route. I mean why not? She’s superwoman.
The Eldridges are a tribe of the best kind.
Stacy allows them to be boys – riding dirt bikes, picking on each other, rolling in the dirt, playing pranks and keeping each other grounded and humble.
We fell in love with this crew and were excited to honor Stacy’s desire to capture them in their element, so we took photos on a family farm near Hamptonville, NC, with their big bikes and even larger personalities. We also focused on each young man, capturing them for Stacy to remember this time …… or use later for bribes.
For this post, we wanted to include a photo of the boys from 4 years ago for the sake of comparison. We look forward to seeing them grow up and into the men they’ll become.
Time passes quickly. We’d love to take photos of your family and then follow up in a year or two or when you’re ready. Call for an appointment and we’ll noodle with you about the best way to capture your tribe.
a day among the blooms ~ mckenzie goff and stacie shumate ~ spring photos and milestones
Stacie under the blossoms
Last April, we got to venture into the fruit orchards near Brushy Mountains with two subjects: McKenzie Goff and Stacie Shumate (with their loving moms in tow). It was hard to decide what was more beautiful: the girls or the venue. Petals were bright and showing off, some ready to fall, but the trees were perfectly lovely and camera-ready.
And so were the girls.
At Pixels on Paper, we love outdoor settings, and when a place like this one is so replete, you seize the moment.
McKenzie was turning 13 – (Welcome to your teens!!) – and after chatting with her mom, we knew that this girlie-girl would blossom (sorry for the pun, but there it is) in this field of natural pink perfection. And of course, she did. McKenzie was not shy in front of the camera and between her smile and the setting, it was magic …. the petals in her hair, the sunset behind her, and the gaze that captured her just at that moment, but seeming to be well beyond her years.
McKenzie – young woman
McKenzie with blossoms in her hair
McKenzie Goff with a sunset
Our other amazing subject that April day was 10 year old Stacie Shumate. She is that balance of American girl – toggling between sports and “dress-up.” Her mother, like many of our clients, understands the importance of documenting milestones and moments, time and place.
The highlight was capturing a pic of her from above (it’s at the top of this post). I’d already envisioned a photo of Stacie lying on her back under the blossoms, with me in a tree photographing down through the limbs. Easy enough, right? I ended up on a ladder hanging between branches with the sun directly above. The brightness of the sun was a bit much for her. Smile: eyes closed. Eyes open: squinting. We tried several times and then her mom began cracking jokes and both Stacie and I started laughing. I laughed so hard that petals began to fall over her and that’s how we got our favorite shot of her.
As always, we loved being a part of the day, the laughter and the memories.
Stacie in repose
Stacie’s green eyes
Pink and white blooms come out the first week or two of April and only last about 5 days. Times and dates are limited, but we want to fit you in. Reservations need to be made in advance, so call to make an appointment. Sessions start at $125.
the extravagantly beautiful orchard in bloom