Posts Tagged: charlotte nc wedding photographer
Madi and Preston’s West Jefferson NC Engagement Photos ~ engaged, excited and eager to tie the knot
“We’re pretty much obsessed with each other,” they told us and I personally consider that a good sign if you’re going to marry someone.
These two lovebirds are a couple we adore. We’ve known them for a while due to the fact that we photographed groom-to-be Preston Roberts’ sister Meghann for her bridal portraits and stunning wedding. The family adopted us and WE LET THEM! We love, love, love this family and feel like we belong. So when Madison Ball and Preston became engaged, Madi booked us before she even knew the date of their wedding. 
Both teachers, Madi and Preston are recent college grads – she from UNC-Charlotte and he from Appalachian – and they fell in love beginning with a funny Instagram message that led to a series of texted videos of Preston playing the guitar and singing for her. That was 2 years ago. Since then, they’ve been living 2 hours apart, so when they’re together, they love to float on the river, duck hunt in Arkansas, go to App football games or to the beach and just crack each other up. These two are fun and funny, so we don’t have any trouble believing they enjoy time together and are going to have a successful marriage filled with lots of laughter.
Photographing Madi and Preston in various beauty spots around West Jefferson NC in the mountains of the High Country was a breeze because it was so completely relaxed and gave us a chance between set-ups to catch up on life and family. The couple will be married in July on the family farm, the same place we photographed Preston’s sister’s bridal portraits. They have no plans for establishing any new traditions at their ceremony they say, but they are excited about first seeing each other when Madi walks down the proverbial aisle at their intimate wedding.
We look forward to their mid-summer wedding and to seeing the family again and watching these two call it legal. Let the countdown begin and congrats on the journey ahead, 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.
Exposed Photography Retreat | Part 2
Last time, I blogged I wrote about a photography workshop and retreat I attended in late March and the pay-off was not only that I learned about natural light and how to manipulate it for photography shoots, but about how – through exercises, conversation and the community and sharing of other photographers – I had some light shined on aspects of myself that needed my attention. Elly’s Photography – and specifically Elly – hosted this retreat, aptly called “Exposed” and in 4 days I learned so much. It was the shot in the arm I needed.
The photos in this blog showcase artificial lighting techniques, including the use of off-camera flashes, gels, and fairly unrealistic kelvin settings.
In case you missed part 1 of this blog post, catch up on it here.
I mentioned in that last blog that I love using artificial light at photo sessions and that Ryan teases me. You know, if two lights are good then 12 will “really get me what I want.” LOL. For these shots, I practiced with different angles of light and exposure settings, as well as perspective. Some of these techniques I had knowledge of, but suddenly I was able to manipulate them in a way that I never had before. Others were completely new and opened an exciting new world of possibilities for my photos and our clients. My mind was focused, but part of it was note-taking for sessions to come.
The setting and the subjects were perfect and while it was a working and experimental time, it felt fun and relaxed. I would wager that I learned as much if not more personally about me and my craft than I did about photography itself. I realized that I needed to be out of my comfort zone to experience all that was in store. I learned that allowing myself to be exposed and vulnerable gives me a different perspective in life and through my camera lens.
I learned that I can only go so far alone. And I learned that I was ridiculously supported during this adventure.
the girl is the thing……
At weddings, the couple is the star, …. but that’s kind of “the party line.” Honestly, the bride – the girl/woman/goddess/angel really does soak up a whole lotta limelight and that’s a good thing. As we gear up for months of bridal portraits and weddings, we wanna celebrate brides. Happy faces, gorgeous gowns, smiles, tears, tiaras, veils, friends, sisters, moms and details. It’s all good, but the girl is the thing.
We love veils and breezes. Stairs and light. And freedom to capture those great little moments that would be gone, girl, if we weren’t there.
We’re booking bridal portraits, engagement sessions – at our studio or on location – and weddings for 2017 and 2018. We’d love to meet with you and chat about your day. Feel free to contact us.
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.
Wedding & Bridal Shows coming up | See you there!
We’ve met more wonderful clients at bridal shows and expos than we can count. We’ve set up our area and then spent the day chatting with brides-to-be, their moms and friends and future mothers-in-law and booking weddings, bridal portraits and Quinceañeras. But honestly, we’ve booked all sorts of other events and portrait sessions, so if you’re planning an event in 2017, either of these shows would be worth your time as you build on ideas and search for excellent vendors.
Some serious lifelong friendships were born in little wedding expo booths, so we’re proud to announce two that are coming up in a few weeks. The Ashe Bridal and Special Event Fair is Sunday March 5th from 12-4 at Ashe County High School – less than a month away.
The Wilkes Wedding Expo is another special event we’ve loved to participate in and we’ll be there again this year. Join us on March 12 from 1-4 at The John A Walker Center in Wilkesboro. Click here for tickets to the Wilkes Wedding Expo.
Our pals from Bridal Traditions wedding & prom attire, 2015
Fun at the photo booth, Wilkes Wedding Expo
Later in April, you can visit us at The High South Wedding Expo held on Sunday April 23rd, 2017 at the Boone Mall in partnership with Savor Blowing Rock from 1:00pm – 4:00pm.
Even if you’re just beginning to plan, it’s never too early to start making connections with all the different types of vendors you’ll need for your wedding day and all of us are eager to hear your story and work with you to make sure that everything happens just the way you want it. We look forward to seeing you at one or both of these expos, but we’d also love to chat with you more personally, so feel free to contact us any time.
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.
Happy Anniversary | February’s One Couple
Lauren & Joshua – Five years on February 11th
I’m going to let my fellow North Carolinian, the late and oh-so-amazing Nina Simone take this one. Enjoy it here.
And Happy Anniversary to Lauren & Joshua Holley – our only February anniversary.
A certain kind of light
I want my whole life to be
To live it with you
Live it with you
Everybody says
Do each and every little thing
What good does it bring
If I ain’t got you, if I ain’t got you
I ain’t got you, I ain’t got you
What it’s like
Baby you don’t
What it’s like
To love somebody
To love somebody
The way I love you
Ryan and I say: Amen to that.
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.