15 Years of Pixels On Paper – Pt 1
It’s true. We’ve been at this professional photography thing for 15 years! Feels like we should celebrate, huh? It’s hard to know when some part of your childhood will help define not only your developing passions, but also your professional life. With hindsight being what it is, I can easily look back and say that Ryan and I were meant to open Pixels On Paper.
What we both experienced as kids was a parent who always had a camera in one hand. My mom loved photography and took courses, learned to develop from 35 mm film to prints and took the time to experiment with it when I was a girl. I remember her waking me before dawn to hike to a vista where she would photograph waterfalls, the sunrise and the views at first light. Those are such fond memories.
A tradition from Ryan’s childhood was a posed shot on the stairs on Christmas morning of him with his siblings. In the Case family, his dad was the documentary photographer and loved the tradition of getting an updated image each holiday.
In the early 2000s, Ryan and I lived in Charlotte and were active leaders with our church youth group, acting as chaperone’s and guides for activities and big trips. We also photographed everything, but with no agenda really. During a conversation with a good friend, Sandy, she mentioned that she loved our pictures and asked that we photograph her upcoming wedding.
We thought she was joking.
She wasn’t. We came home early from a youth group mission trip (our one little rolling camera bag pre-packed and in tow) to capture Sandy’s big day. Before long we were taking courses, going to conferences, and being asked to shoot more and more weddings. Suddenly, a few weddings became weddings in the double digits and we booked sessions for folks who wanted a milestone captured or a family portrait done.
Out of state conferences allowed us to travel and expand our understanding of light in new settings, hone our business skills, and learn from fellow and veteran photographers. I’m so grateful for both the theoretical and hands-on education we got during the those first 4-5 years.
It wasn’t long before we realized that Pixels really was a business and a passion that needed nurturing as we moved forward. Pixels might provide a way for us to move out into the country and be closer to family. More on that to come in part two! Meanwhile, I’m beyond nostalgic thinking about these beginnings and how far we’ve come…
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.
Siblings in Photography
It’s been said that a sibling is the only enemy you cannot live without. I’d like to think that I would use the case-by-case method instead of thinking that this is true across the board.
While musing recently about a possible influx of babies due to being quarantined in 2020, I reviewed so many images of children, of kids being kids, of the demure, the knuckleheads tamping down their laughter while I was shooting images, and of little cherubs (sorta) …. brothers and sisters, friends, conspirators, frenemies, … siblings.
A favorite line about siblings someone recently shared with me: They are children of the same parents, each of whom is perfectly normal until they get together. I love this and it prompted me to find other summaries and observations about siblings.
”The advantage of growing up with siblings is that you become very good at fractions.” – Robert Brault
“Half the time when brothers wrestle, it’s just an excuse to hug each other.” – James Patterson
“They say that no matter how old you become, when you are with your siblings, you revert back to childhood.” – Karen White
“A sibling is the lens through which you see your childhood.” – Ann Hood
“To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were, we know each other’s hearts, we share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.” – Clara Ortega
I would like to add (as an only child) that cousins deserve to be included in this mix too. Those relationships that build and shape us are just the best.
Take the opportunity to have those relationships photographed.
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.
Maternity Portraits to Come
If there was ever a time when an enormous dose of hope would come in handy, it would be about now. I see hope in the natural world which just cannot help itself. Spring follows Winter and the poets get busy. We suddenly remember that renewal, rebirth, letting go of the past and embracing what is next is good for us – body and soul, good for the individual and for the community.
Motherhood
I hesitate to project my silver linings on other people during a pandemic. There has been loss and struggle and heartache enough in every direction, but I TRY to deploy gratitude at least in equal measure to anxiety. We’ve been joking in our circles that there may be a spike in the curve when it comes to new faces on the planet. Quarantine has made time to – ahem – get reacquainted. If in 2021, we see babies born of a pandemic (please, let’s all agree not to call them “Covid Babies”), that would be just fine with me. Babies mean motherhood and parenthood, and I know what a gift that is.
Maternity sessions are perfect opportunities for using props, adding a theme or exploring a character. I have seen more than one mom-to-be dress up, don flowers, wade into springs, etc. They never disappoint.
Growing Families
One of the best parts of the gig: watching families add to their sweet ranks. Getting siblings involved before the new baby and after is a blast for this mom/photographer. I love it.
… and then babies
They arrive and nothing is ever the same.
And that, my friends, is a good thing.
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.
Our family farm gets a fence
Any painter, writer, graphic designer will tell you that starting with a blank canvas is exhilarating and daunting. This space below was our project canvas. Mission: build a fence around my parents cattle farm and make it a family project. So… Mission 2 – make family memories.
We all took part in this project and our two year old learned even more about heavy machinery, sweat equity and when to take time out to play in the fields and by the water.
Here are stats:
They have 33 acres of farm land for cattle raising, which meant that we needed 4,500 feet of fence perimeter. We bought and used 13,500 feet of wire, 96 5’x8′ wood posts (you heard me!), 185 metal t-posts, two 12′ gates, 2.5 cases of water, 24 bottles of Gatorade, 2 cans sunscreen and a bottle of bug spray. It took 4 adults and 1 toddler working 5 full days, but we did it. Everyone was whoppin tired except for Finley.
When Finley wasn’t moving earth or handling tools, he took up other projects, plus a little fun time riding around on his ATV.
My parents just told us (and Finley) that they were naming the farm after Finley James and he was delighted – as an almost 3 year old would be. Legacy is important to my folks and our work together, memory making and the results make me so proud that we’re all together, healthy and had the time (and energy) to finish such a massive project.
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.
Expecting baby Angelina
This couple is so cool that it’s both blinding and fun to consider writing about them…. I’m not sure if I can even handle this blog. They are scheduled to deliver what will probably be an equally cool baby girl in October of this year and they deserve celebrating, especially during this bizarre year we’re having. Meet Jessica and Bobby Bennett. We’ve known them for a decade and they just keep getting cooler.
We held their portrait session at Stowe Manor in Belmont, NC on July 24th. This was the same location where we photographed Jessica’s bridal portraits, where her bridal shower was held, and their engagement party. It made sense. We recreated several similar images Jessica requested showing them then to now. Neither the location nor this lovable couple have changed one bit. It was fun to hang out together, reminisce and recreate memories while making new ones.
Bobby and Jessica are huge sports fans and football rivals. Bobby is all about the Baltimore Ravens and Jessica is a Carolina Panthers girl. Their demonstration of the rivalry and love of the game still continues 10 years later.
They plan to name this baby Angelina James and call her Lina James, a combination of two other family names. They’ve also chosen her nickname – “Juicy,” because they want Lina James to have juicy thighs that they can squeeze. Hence the nameplate on her first football attire. How cute is that?
Jessica & Bobby’s Wedding 2010 
Jessica’s Bridal Portrait 2010 
Jessica & Bobby’s Wedding 2010 
Jessica’s Bridal Portrait 2010 
I love these old images next to their new counterparts. It was such a good idea and a fun way to be back with them in the same spot where other milestones have occurred.
Little Juicy Lina James: we CANNOT WAIT to meet you, girl!
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.