Posts Tagged: creative photography
A Bride by any other name | pixels on paper bridal portraits
… is still as sweet and will always be the focus of her wedding day, at least for part of it. People will remember the dancing, the toasts, the goof-ups and sweet moments, but her entry happens one time and all eyes are on her. Maybe this is why bridal portraits are so important. You get more than one look at her in her dress and in a meaningful setting that will last forever in prints and on film. We photograph weddings pretty much all year, but wedding season is really summer. As this summer rolls along, I looked back at some bridal photos that we’ve taken over the last decade. I realized how it’s true that every bride – like every baby – is beautiful. The gown, the setting, the glow are all offshoots of the glorious woman about to start a new chapter. Brides – we celebrate you!
Gowns and settings are as signature as the brides we photograph. They are classical, modern, some want to be princesses, some want to look like photographs of their grandmother, one incorporated book pages into her bouquet, others repurposed brooches or lace or another memento, some seem like complete originals and others timeless. Capturing that is the fun part.
Consider a bridal portrait along with your wedding photography package as a way to experience a “trial run” before your wedding day. It’s a perfect way to try a new hair style and see how your makeup will look. It’s also a fun girl’s day with Mom, your best friend or maid of honor. The setting and season can be totally different from that of the wedding and the environment and timeline is typically much more relaxed giving us extra time to capture those magazine style covers you’ve dreamed of. Sometimes the session is for Mom to have the large portrait of you that she wants to display on the wedding day and then for years to come in her home to share with loved ones and friends. We are happy to help you plan and create the vision of beauty that defines you as a bride.
SUMMMMMMMER!!!
Summer 1963. Artwork by Roy McKie.
Some days, this is all I want to feel like. And I find that I’m grateful every time I do. It’s crazy-happy, fireflies, unbridled silliness, rocking in a rocking chair at twilight, watching the sun burn off the dew over morning coffee, wandering barefooted to check the garden for new veggies …… summer. This is the last summer Ryan and I will have as a family of 2. It’s precious in that it’s our last and it’s beautiful in the anticipation of our son joining us.
I’ve been thinking of the photos we take each summer of families, weddings, babies, etc and how they are unmistakable. It’s as if every person has that feeling that Roy McKie drew in the early sixties. We have another month or 2 of summer to celebrate, so whatever your plans, breathe it in. Let yourself go sock and shoeless, take a beat to feel the sun’s heat and the relief of A/C, as we southerners do. Here’s to summer!
I mean, seriously. Look at little man Brock. You know that he knows summer is awesome. He’s practically applauding it.
And so are we! Last year, on my birthday, we were having a summer celebration. We did again yesterday to celebrate Ryan’s 40th. We had no idea then that we’d be preggers at this point. Summer is special, you guys. We love you and hope yours is perfection!
Chetola Sporting Reserve Shooting Club at Blue Ridge Mountain Club Blowing Rock NC architectural photography
The collaboration between Chetola Recreation Sporting Reserve and the Blue Ridge Mountain Club is a smart and fairly seamless one. “On 67 acres of rural rolling terrain, among towering pines, red maples, and mighty oaks, and surrounded by the incredible Blue Ridge vistas in the heart of the gated Blue Ridge Mountain Club, lies Chetola Sporting Reserve. The private club, open exclusively to those with annual memberships or lodging guests at Chetola Resort, features an array of outdoor sportsman activities including gun, rifle and pistol ranges, sporting clay course, 5-stand clay station, archery range, and fly fishing. All activities are led by NRA-certified instructors specialized in a particular discipline, with customized Churchill-style instruction based on each guest’s proficiencies and needs.”
What Ryan and I saw was the usual amazing work from the minds at MBI Builders. It is an absolutely gorgeous timber frame lodge for the members and guests of the Resort and Club to enjoy and perfectly situated with beautiful views and area to practice your marksmanship.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License
All photos are ©2017 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop or remove watermark.
Madison’s NC Mountain Outdoor Bridal Photos
This was a fun shoot for a number of reasons. Madi was excited on this day. She was dressed as a bride for the first time completely and the trial run was sort of her first opportunity to feel all bride-y. She was practically jumping out of her skin.
Secondly, this young woman is an only child, which I “get” entirely. I am one too and watching her mom get chocked up during the session took me back. Her mom shed tears multiple times and made me think about my own mom – how critical that relationship is and how much we’ve shared and will share in the years ahead. I loved watching them relate as bride and mother of the bride – that mix of unbridled excitement and nostalgia.
Madi chose well in Preston. He’s a great guy and their engagement portraits and the questionnaire they completed for us showed how in sync they are – and how funny. Here’s to many, many great years ahead and to gorgeous summer brides.
Madi’s dress: New York Bride & Groom, Charlotte NC
Hair & Makeup: Shear Shakti, Boone NC
A Leatherwood Mountain Resort Outdoor Wedding for a Princess and Her Engineer
Katie Vance loves Disney Princesses and Patrick Carlson is a computer engineer and self proclaimed geek. Together they are absolutely perfect for each other and their wedding was perfect too. Perfect location, perfect weather, lots of sentiment and love, laughter and tears. It’s what you hope for when you decide not to elope.
From the tiaras and sparkling purple sneakers to the roses under glass centerpieces, Disney – and specifically The Beauty and the Beast – was on display when these two said their vows at Leatherwood Mountain Resort (and a BIG shout out to our friends there). We loved getting outdoor shots of all the flowers and purple sashes, the smiling friends and family and the many details, including Patrick’s boutonniere which contained a circuit board and wire. He really is a computer geek and we’re allowed to say that because he said it first!
The couple told us that their favorite moments were the toasts from the maid of honor and best man, watching Katie’s dad try to keep it together while dancing with her and Patrick dancing with his mom. 
Family and friends from all over and from various cultural backgrounds came to Leatherwood to celebrate with these two and boy did they ever. The dance floor was jumping. The DJ and vendors they chose are listed at the end of this blog and everyone worked well together to keep the stress to a minimum — something Katie shared with us that she was so grateful for. 
Katie arrived to walk down the aisle and the couple departed in Katie’s Dad’s classic muscle car, a Supersport Nova. Not bad, huh?
Key Vendors at Katie & Patrick’s Wedding
Location: Leatherwood Mountain Resort
Wedding Gown: David’s Bridal, Charlotte
Wedding Planner: Abbie Hanchey
DJ: Soundstorm DJs – Boston Bobby Cavanaugh
Catering: Woodlands BBQ
Cake and Desserts: Lowes Foods
Another big shout out to our close friends Anna & Devin Ulery of Boone Photobooth.
CONGRATS to the newlyweds! We wish you nothing but happily ever after!