2 Year Old Gavin’s Day of Photos

We have been photographing this little shaver since the beginning and now he’s two. TWO! And he’s all boy. Gavin Mendieta loves playing outside, tramping around in the woods, getting his hands dirty in nature and getting massive love-ups from his puppy. For photo session number three with this kid, Ryan shot images in – naturally – the great outdoors.

That dog smooch made me laugh out loud when going through the files Ryan brought home. I feel like their heads are exactly the same size. Gavin is NOT afraid of kisses from the right friend.

pixels on paper photographers two year old boy outdoor portrait photo

We love providing clients with a mixture of portraits that are more staged and posed with real Day in the Life sessions, and with this family we were able to do both. These images were taken in Gavin’s very own backyard and nature habitat in Gastonia, NC and I love seeing children captured perfectly in an environment they know, showing their personalities and tendencies. It’s the third time we’ve photographed him in the great outdoors. 

pixels on paper photographers two year old boy outdoor portrait photo

Check out our first session with Gavin at 6-months and his first birthday cake smash.

pixels on paper photographers two year old boy outdoor portrait photo

Gavin: When you no longer need assistance climbing trees and fording streams, we hope we’re there. For now, enjoy your third trip around the sun knowing 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, engagements and weddingsbrides, 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.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States LicenseAll photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

Wilkesboro Town Council

Business is business and when we were hired by the Town of Wilkesboro to photograph the 2018-2019 Town Council, we said of course. We handle commercial and architectural photography and especially love meeting people in our community. Photographing local public servants was an easy “yes.”

Pixels On Paper photography Wilkesboro NC Town Council 2018-2019 photo

Ryan took these images and, like any corporate setting, there were group and headshots that can be used for advertising and other promotions. We will be printing and framing these so that they can be placed in the Wilkesboro Town Hall. We take a special pride in photographing this session for our local government.


We love graphic design and commercial photography whether logo design, brochure design, head shot photos, architectural photography or product shots. At Pixels On Paper we pride ourselves in listening to a broad range of clients and customizing our photography and graphic design services to meet each individual request. Our skills, styles, and visions come together to be a permanent record that either reflects an identity or delivers a message that speaks to thousands. We would be honored to meet with you, learn about you and your business needs. Email us at mail@pixelsonpaper.net or call 336.990.0080 to learn more, receive a quote or to let us know how we can put our skills to work for you.

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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 Boy – 18 month portraits

Finley Case 18 months orchard portrait photo

He’s dapper.
He’s thoughtful.
He’s got a lot on his mind.

He’s also our kid. And all that I can say, you guys, is that it’s getting much much harder for us to photograph our own sweet boy. He is getting faster, bored more quickly, and after hearing Mama or Daddy say the same thing over and over he completely tunes us out.  [should I stop here, so you can laugh and nod?…… ok great.]

I am a photog AND a Mama. I am a Ninja at Merlefest capturing musicians and atmosphere. And I can coax cuteness out of sleepy kids like Holden. I want to believe that like Walt Whitman said, I “contain multitudes.”

But when it was time for this shoot – with the blooms about as perfect as our Finley, I felt what every Mama feels: “what on earth am I supposed to wear?” “How do I get it all together?”

I stressed about everyone else’s outfits, lacked time to get myself ready, lathered myself up about things going according to plan and then afterwards, worried over whether we got even one good shot.

I’ve said it before but it’s worth saying again, I now have a totally different perspective and appreciation as a photographer who is also a Mom. I feel your pain.

Now that I’ve shared that … I have to say that I love these images. Ryan and I are better people because of that little ginger. We focus in a new way (no pun intended); we prioritize differently; we laugh more; listen more closely and we absolutely love more deeply. Personally, he was our game-changer. Professionally, the same is true. Perspective is everything.

Pixels On Paper Photography Finley Case 18 months orchard portrait photo

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 weddingsbrides, 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.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States LicenseAll photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

Priscilla and Bo’s prom portraits

Sharing is caring.

In this case, Priscilla and Bo are sharing their prom experience and going with each other to their prospective special nights. Pretty sweet, huh? This means two dresses, two tuxes, two dinners and two big parties for this pair. Not a bad deal at all, now that I’ve typed it out and reread it. Why did no one call me and Ryan to, …..I dunno…. chaperone or choose the best dessert at dinner?

Trivette peach orchard Prom portrait photography by Wilkesboro NC portrait Photographers Pixels On Paper photo

Priscilla is a graduating senior at North Wilkes High School and Bo is a Super Senior at Wilkes Early College. Priscilla’s Mom had the forethought to contact me prior to these prom dates in order to work out the best dates to capture photos.

Lucky for them, Bo’s prom night was first date on the calendar and during peak bloom period in the peach orchards. The plan was born from that. The couple looked stunning surrounded by blooms.

Despite how many times in my life that I’ve heard that red heads don’t look good in pink, I beg to differ. Priscilla is proof that gingers shine. Gingers in that we’ve photographed in the orchard are among the most beautiful portraits.

We’ve got loads of orchard photos to share in the coming weeks, so consider this the first taste!


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 weddingsbrides, 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.

88x31 lucy & glens valle crucis wedding photography | pixels on paper boone wedding photographers

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States LicenseAll photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.

Newborn baby portraits of Master Roman Pierce

Roman Pierce Newborn Photography by Pixels On Paper Portrait Photo

Boy number 3.

The Pierce family have welcomed their newest child, another son. No, his name is not Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor – as cute and succinct as that is. And Congrats to Meghan and Harry Windsor and so on and so forth, but this little brunette with the serious face is Roman Pierce. No offense, but he rivals any kid I’ve seen recently. Just look at him. It’s hard to interpret the expression. Maybe he knows that two older brothers await him – Holden and Sawyer. They seem sweet, but maybe Roman knows innately that wrestling and clobbering and dog piles are in his future. Lay low, dude. It will find you eventually.

Roman was born on March 7th, and after a short minute at the hospital, he visited our portrait studio for his first photographs. He was an angel, perfectly comfortable in any pose, prop and backdrop. I recalled his oldest brother Holden dressed in gear that remembered their dad’s flight gear.

Napping Holden………… the snoozing Red Baron.

Mom Traci is a pharmacist and she provided the wooden mortar and pestle we used for Roman’s session. It made a perfect spot for him to grab some zzzzzzs. I love his facial expression in the left image. “Who are you?” “And any chance you could score a Coke Zero for me? I’m having a hard time staying awake.”

We’ll be photographing sweet Roman for his first year, including 6 month portraits and his first birthday. We cannot wait to see him grow a bit and watch him with his brothers. For now……….. ssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Would you like to know more about getting ready for baby portraits? Here’s a start.


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 weddingsbrides, 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.

88x31 lucy & glens valle crucis wedding photography | pixels on paper boone wedding photographers

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States LicenseAll photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.