Posts Tagged: Engagement Photography

whitney & preston ~ a wedding of place, people, horses and special details

We are people people.
We love our clients and if you read these blogs, know us, hang out with us with any regularity, have hired us, then you already know this. There is NO WAY we’d be successful if we were not relational by nature.
But we also love the details and the wedding of Whitney Pegg and Preston Parsons was a perfect combination of personal details and character that reflected their personalities.

Outdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photoOutdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photoOutdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photo

Williams Farm is a beautiful spot and gave us almost too many options and gorgeous views – ALMOST. If you can consider that much perfect landscape “a detail” – then it was one of the better ones and Whitney and Preston had dozens of perfect details.

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Preston is in law enforcement and is an officer. When they asked us to integrate patrol cars and artillery into their photos, wellllllll, it was a fun challenge. We looked for and found creative ways to do this and they turned out to be some of their favorite images in addition to the classic ones we took.

Outdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photo

Brides-to-be: TAKE NOTE. If you want an outdoor wedding – country or otherwise – these two nailed it. Check out the barn (OLD barn), the horses and the set up for both the ceremony and reception. The details around each aspect of their day were amazing and so much fun to shoot.

Outdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photoOutdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photoOutdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photo

Both Whitney and Preston seemed nervous before the wedding and we always expect this. Once they laid eyes on the other however it was as if no one else was there and you could see that this was the moment they had been waiting for. You could see them completely relax. They even told us afterward that this moment was one of their favorites of the ceremony and day.

Outdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photoOutdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photoOutdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photoOutdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photoOutdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photoOutdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photo

Whitney told us that she had “a photo to go with every aspect of the wedding” that they’d asked for and said “and you even did last minute shots” that they wanted to add.

Outdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photoOutdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photo

Outdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photo

Outdoor country rustic barn wedding williams farm wilkesboro mountains wedding photographers photo

Whitney & Preston were both born and raised in Wilkes. They seem to be known by everyone in our small town! Every time we encountered someone that knew them and found out we were photographing their wedding had nothing but exceedingly kind words about this couple. (sweet, kind, loving, outgoing, outdoorsy, adventuresome, perfect for each other, etc.) We couldn’t agree more!
They’ve requested more photos of them in the future and we can’t wait!
Wanna see their engagement photos? Have a look!

Mr. & Mrs. Shumate ~ a wedding of authenticity, beauty, intimacy and family

Authenticity is a word so entirely overused, and poorly I might add, that its meaning and importance have been pretty much hijacked. As with other things of value, authenticity can become diminished and ultimately ignored. In an effort to take it back (“she said, shaking her fist in the air”), we present Amber and Andy Shumate and their August wedding photos.
Cannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photo

Rather than put down the many ways we falsely refer to things and people, causes and characteristics as authentic, here’s a quickie review: authentic means true. It means real. It’s not something that needs to be self-important or self-referential, or high end to make a statement or low end to make a statement – it just is undeniable. That’s who Amber and Andy are – they are real and they don’t pretend to be anything other than themselves… happy to be together, solid, and in love.
Cannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photo

They said their vows in Rendezvous Mountain State Park in Purlear, NC where the views are amazing and seemingly endless. The chapel in the forest is a naturally secluded backdrop with a large picnic shelter just steps away that accommodates a reception. Honestly, it is one of Wilkes County’s best-kept rustic wedding locations.
Andy is a fireman and works for the NC Forestry Service and he and Amber spend a lot of their time together in the great outdoors. Photographing them in the forest and overlooking the mountains seemed – pardon the pun – only natural.
Cannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoWe photographed their engagement in June and their wedding was quite similar because of their desire to include family and focus on the people, faith and values that ground them.

Cannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoAndy’s daughter Ashlyn is central to their lives.
While she is Amber’s step-daughter, the two are already incredibly close and because of this, Ashlyn’s role in the wedding was primary… and particularly tender. Together they were all creating a new life, a new thing, a new family.
Cannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photo Cannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoThe details at the wedding were also perfect for the day and the couple: they were hand-made, heart-felt, creative and deeply personal.
Cannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photoIs there anything more powerful than seeing families blend? Than seeing a couple come together after beating life’s odds, and then make a plan not just for themselves, but for the next generation?
Isaiah 43:19See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Congratulations and nothing but love and joy to you guys!
Cannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Wedding photography photo

pixels 10th anniversary ~ an accomplishment celebrated with gratitude, a big party, reflection & magic

Being married AND being in business together is hard work. It’s a balance of being a wife and husband and being bosses. Trying to maintain a household and a relationship while growing a business adds an enormous amount of pressure and stress. Because of this, we felt that 10 years was an even bigger accomplishment than most and we wanted to celebrate. – Misty

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Ryan & Misty Case – Owners of Pixels on Paper

Ryan was always artistic as a kid. The problem was the he was artistic on the walls and mom didn’t like that so much. He spent a lot of time in time-out.
Misty manages to dance between creative and chaotic fun and precise technical skill.  It shows up in her pictures.  Crazy, chaotic fun during a photo shoot is perfectly framed, perfectly lit, and beautifully captured. 

The secret to a magical marriage is not to merge with the other person and become one. It is about each member of the marriage learning to honor, respect, and embrace the differences of the other. There is strength in those individual differences that allows a couple to see and experience things better than either individual alone. Ryan and Misty understand that in their own marriage and it is particularly evident when they photograph an event together. Each brings a unique perspective to their photography and when their perspectives are combined, ordinary events become magical and magical events become memories that last a lifetime.
– 
Ryan’s brother Scot

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Misty and Ryan are salt of the earth kind of people. They are honest, caring, witty, and have become like family to us. Misty has inspired me to become a better version of myself through her friendship.
– friend and client, Rachel

Before the party began, our friends Stephanie & Brad Huxter prayed with us. They prayed for our marriage, for the past 10 years, for our clients and even for those clients we haven’t met yet. They prayed strength, creativity and for grace for the next 10 years as Pixels. It all happened outside on the studio property and was the BEST way to begin the evening. – Misty

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Prayers for the past 10 years, the big day ahead, our family, our clients, and the next 10.

There was such build up to the event for months before and loads of work went into the preparations. From doing house projects, fire pit stone work, sunflower garden planting, yard work, general sprucing up, to working with the vendors on all the big and little details, …. then the day of was such a good time. We have always heard brides and grooms say that they don’t remember all of the little details of the day, and that we captured things they never saw. Well Mike Anderson did that exact thing for us.
– Ryan

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Ryan and I didn’t even see the food on display much less get to eat it. The caterers brought us plates of food after they had packed everything away but after a bite or two we would be distracted by being with our guests. We still talk about the disbelief that it even happened. One day the entire property looked like a carnival and in less than 24 hours there wasn’t a trace that it was ever there.
Misty

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I loved seeing and hearing 30+ kids playing together or being entertained at the kids tent. That brought the biggest smile to my face and even now brings tears because of the tremendous blessing it is to watch them grow. Having so many families together in one place at one time was/is inspiring. I wish I could have given every guest the amount of time and attention that they fully deserved and that I could have personally told each one thank you for making my dream a reality, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life and for being a part of mine, thank you for allowing me to preserve your memories.
– Misty

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I feel that through all the weddings, portraits and designs we have been a part of over the last 10 years, that we have made more than just clients, we have made lasting friendships. We love to see them grow as well, both as families and as individuals. We have been fortunate enough to celebrate good times with them, as well as a few really hard times, and have built memories to last lifetime.
– Ryan

It was such a pleasure working Ryan and Misty on this event as the planner and as their friend.  As business owners it is inspiring to see their inspiration and innovation for their work with clients and vendors alike.  I don’t think any vendor who knows and was a part of this event did not leave inspired to do something new/different with their own business.  Their studio is like no other and is the reason they have the amount of continued business….from senior portraits to weddings to first born sessions. The repeat business speaks volumes of this husband and wife team!
– vendor, client and friend, CeCe

pixels on paper 10th anniversary party wilkesboro nc photo

What a well designed, well executed party. The love that went into ensuring every detail was perfect made the evening flawless. The entertainment was great, atmosphere was comfortable, and the dance floor was awesome. It is sometimes hard to attend a party when you only know the hosts, but that was not the case. Everyone we met was friendly and engaging and I expect nothing else from the circle that surrounds Misty and Ryan.
friend and client, Rachel

pixels on paper 10th anniversary party wilkesboro nc photo

We so appreciated having family come in from Pennsylvania, Raleigh and Charlotte to help us celebrate meant a lot. It was awesome to see them interacting with our clients and have them understand why we have been as successful as we have from someone other than us.
-Ryan

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The days after the party were almost depressing. After such a build up and such excitement, when the tents were down and gone, the dance floor was taken up and the yard was empty it was sad. It truly seemed like a dream since there was little evidence that anything happened (other than being sore from dancing and having such a good time). But the comments from those that were able to make it only makes me want to do it again at our 11 year anniversary. 
– Ryan

pixels on paper 10th anniversary party wilkesboro nc photo

Watching the magician perform …. there was disbelief, head shaking, surprise and laughter.

We are more than just a photography and design studio. We are creative and caring people, and we pour ourselves into what we do and give our all to make our clients’ memories special. – Ryan
This business is about sharing the blessings that God has given us. Opening our home and hearts and honoring the talents and opportunities that God has granted us. We hope our clients realize that they are precious and beautiful and loved. – Misty

Click here to see more photos from the day, where you may view and download.

Special thanks go to those who served our guests and us at this party. We could not love and appreciate you more! 
Event Coordination & Design: CeCe Hampton Events
Invitations: Stephanie Huxter
Floral Deisgn: Lily Bee’s Floral
DJ: Gordon Hensley, Digital DJs
Face Painting: Fun & Creative Expressions
Magician: Jay Spry, Spry Guy Magic
Deserts: Indulge Bakery
Produce, Meats, & Cheese: New Appalachia
Appetizers: Jared Yelton, Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & RestaurantBeer , Wine & Bar tending: Kirk Irish & Boondocks Brewing
Catering: Reids Catering
Rentals: A&J Rentals
Linens: Party Reflections

engagement photos for a couple heading into their second (destined) marriage

What once was lost, now is found.
Andy wasn’t lost, but finding Amber was akin to finding his other half. We know – it’s a cliché, but it’s true. People who belong together become family almost immediately and family is like that. We drag each other to the center, we raise each other’s game and we find ourselves wanting to be our best selves when we’re with the loves of our lives.
Their story is very near and dear to us, as Andy is actually a member of our family (first cousin). We photographed them in a casual mountain setting just down the road from where we cousins played growing up. Talk about a labor of pure love.

Cannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Engagement portrait photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Engagement portrait photography photoThis is a second marriage for these two. After their first marriages ended, they were introduced and found that they were perfect for each other, ready for a new chapter and wanted to head into it arm and arm….. and arm! Andy has a daughter, Ashlyn, who loves her step-mom-to-be and Amber treats her soon-to-be stepdaughter like her own child. It’s beautiful to see and important to celebrate, we think. Sometimes first marriages don’t end the way that we want, but second marriages are a rebirth and a sign that hope not only exists, it triumphs. These two are proof of that. We loved that Ashlyn wanted to be a part of the photo session and is such an important piece, and focus, of their newly joined lives. She’s already benefitting from their union.Cannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Engagement portrait photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Engagement portrait photography photoCannon/Shumate Pixels On Paper Photography Engagement portrait photography photoWe photographed Andy and Amber’s wedding on August 1st and it was beautiful. You’ll see the results soon! Meanwhile, are you getting REmarried or know someone who is? Contact us! Love prevails, people, in all of its forms!