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.
Baby’s First Year Portrait Packages
I’m not sure if it’s my love of photographing babies or my strong head for business, but Pixels offers a one year baby package for those who want to chronicle the first year of their child’s life.
Are you in?
I am ALWAYS.
Truth be told, the advantages are both business and personal…
There are two reasons I offer this package:
First, new moms know that they will be busy with adjusting and sleep deprivation, joy and memory-making, and allllllll the rest of it during the first year. Having scheduled professional portraits on the calendar is a gift for a new mom.
Second, it allows me to capture better and better images as the year goes on. Some of the greatest friendships, and the portraits sessions that I’m most proud of, have come from families we met when the couple was just a couple, we got to know them and then BAM!, they were expecting a baby.
Our package covers newborn portraits, a 6-month portrait session and then One Year Birthday session. Once you’re in, we can start planning. Maternity portraits can be added if you desire.
The newborns are first and they are just, … perfect.
The six-month sessions are too much fun, because these little shavers are no longer so fragile and yet malleable that we just fold them into fun gooey shapes between feedings and set changes. At 6-months, they aren’t walking, but they are sitting up and pliable and you can pull out all sorts of attractions and props and have a blast. Indoors and outdoors, forests and fields, milk baths and orchard crates, a 6 month old shines everywhere.
One full trip around the sun is worth celebrating with outdoor parties, cake smashes, props, and with bigger and more adventurous themes. This session completes the package if that is the family’s goal. At the end of the year we create a custom designed photo album that includes all the favorite photos from each session.
The one year package can be upgraded to include a maternity portrait session and often, when ladies find out they’re pregnant, they want to include this special time. I don’t know about the rest of you, but pregnant women take my breath away. Is there anything more lovely than an expectant mom? We encourage newly married couples to keep this package in mind … just in case.
If you would like to learn more about our Baby’s First Year Portrait package, please contact us. We can manage portraits of all stripes, even with social distancing and in this weird time. The first year of a baby’s life is an amazing time. Don’t miss an opportunity to capture it with professional portraits.
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.
Bride Jackie showered with love
The beautiful girl in the pic below is a hyphenate to us.
No she’s not a singer-producer-actress.
She’s a chef-photographer-niece. And she’s FAB.
Jackie was our niece first, of course, and we’ve loved her forever. During her college days, she acted as our assistant for extra large weddings when we needed another pair of great eyes, swift feet and brilliant can-do attitude. Now, this girl-lady-woman is a talented chef in Savannah, Georgia … a town that knows its food.
Just last month, I photographed her small bridal shower in Asheville. We’re all still hip-deep in Covid World, but this event mattered so much to us. The couple expertly created a delicious spread for the party, in-part because food and catering sources are limited/strained, and because these two are so great at what they do. Cookies and cupcakes were custom created by Love & Butter Baking Co to accompany the small bites, luscious sliders, chicken and waffles and more.
Hosted by Jackie’s sister Krystin and a dear friend, the theme was bohemian in both atmosphere and goodie bags. Family members and friends gathered from VA, FL, NC, GA, and while others joined through Facetime from CA and South Africa to shower the bride with love and gifts.
The pair planned to be married in September, but since the country isn’t quite ready to reopen just yet, they have rescheduled their ceremony to May of 2021 and Pixels is definitely looking forward to photographing the occasion at Crest Center & Pavilion in Asheville.
In the meantime, we love you, Jackie. Stay safe and know how loved you are!
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.
Tinleigh’s One Year Cake Smash
There is cute and there’s cute and then there’s Tinleigh. If you’re having a wretched day, get a load of this little nugget.
While we haven’t had our usual number of summer sessions this year, we have been able to meet the needs of families who want to celebrate milestones, most particularly those of their children. It’s funny, but some of these taken in June of this year feel like my best. I think it’s due in part to a combination of things including having more rest, desperately needing an outlet for my creativity, the children are more attentive in part to not being out socially as often, and all involved being more focused. The latest three sessions have all been photographed in our portrait garden under our favorite chestnut tree. Yet I’ve striven to make each unique and individual.
Mom Lindsey wanted to incorporate strawberries into Tinleigh’s one year cake smash. The only definite plan she had was a dress, and the cake. We attempted to locate a field of strawberries for our location but due to Covid those fields weren’t available.
No problem! I had a miniature produce stand and coordinating props that I used to create our own little strawberry farm stand. I do this stuff for a living, people!! I was ready! All we had to do was insert an adorable girl who was full of toothy grins and the results were one of my favorite one year cake smash sessions.
She’s adorable, and it feels like an age ago since we shot her newborn portraits and 6 month photos. She arrived cute and nothing has changed.
Our family and the York family have become great friends. Our son Finley loves playing with the older two, Turner and Tate. One of the cutest behind-the-scenes moments was when Finley, Turner, Tate and Tinleigh were all digging into her cake with their hands and eating icing together.
Older brother Tate had a little milestone of his own to celebrate: kindergarten graduation! Mom Lindsey was disappointed that she would have no photos when schools were closed in early Spring. We couldn’t dare let this moment go unphotographed.
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.