Posts Tagged: Family Photography
Newborn Photos Magdelyn Gwynn
How do I love being behind the camera capturing shots of newborns? Let me count the ways, people!! This precious nugget is the daughter of a couple whose wedding we shot 6 years ago. Meghann and Josh had a gorgeous mountain top event that was outside, colorful and filled with so much joy. I remember it like it was yesterday. After their honeymoon, they continued to be pet parents, and proceeded into their new life with vigor and no real thoughts of parenting actual humans on the horizon.
Enter Magdelyn Gwynn. I imagine a movie director’s jump cut to today, where we all find ourselves besotted with Maggie. There were several moments during this newborn photography session that brought each of us to tears. She is absolutely precious in every way that newborns are, and these two are amazing parents.
Meghann shared that she had a theme in mind for the portraits when she contacted me, and together we worked to create it for the nursery and for these portraits. The palette was inspired by the couple’s trip to Hawaii, and along with the flowers and other accessories – including a purple heirloom blanket that was woven on an actual loom by a family member – made for some images that will become heirlooms themselves.
One of our favorite shots from their 2016 wedding (above) was inspiration for several images I took of Maggie. Wrapped up in her mom’s gown, she looks like a little angel floating in a bedding of clouds. We even used Meghann’s garter as a headband for Maggie. I love the effect. She looks crowned like a princess weighting to grow up to reign – and enjoy cheddar goldfish.
Maggie’s parents are App State alums and boosters, so we included Mountaineers paraphernalia, as well as a helmet of Josh’s from high school. It doesn’t ALL have to be frilly. Josh is already so incredibly in love with his daughter, but when we’d arranged her into the helmet and gear, he got a little emotional. I love how these images turned out too. Her little golden tutu and crossed legs are the cutest.
There will be more images of little Maggie to come in the months ahead, and I for one cannot wait to see her again. Welcome to the wide world, little dumpling.
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 License All photos are ©2022 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Hello Heidi – Newborn baby photos
Jamie and Daniel, Henry, Hannah and Heidi Harrison… THAT is a mouthful. They are now a party of 5. This family is one we have known for a while and loved watching grow. Mom Jamie wanted baby Heidi to have her newborn shoot coordinated with sister Hannah’s portraits, so we did just that with palette and our set up at Pixels’ indoor studio.
Older brother Henry is a natural love bug and, just as he did with his sister Hannah, he could not take his eyes off Heidi. I love seeing this in little kids, especially older brothers. They seem to be preternaturally protective, nurturing and engaged with their younger siblings. Henry is proof.
Watching the children interact just reminded me how quickly families are formed. We photographed Jamie and Daniel’s wedding, their eldest daughter Hannah’s newborn session and the family’s 2019 Christmas portraits. Jamie even provided wedding guidance in one of our Wedding Redux blogs.
Heidi was a perfect angel during the shoot and let each family member snuggle her and pass her around. I never tire of greeting new little humans. I look forward to watching you grow up, Miss Heidi.
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 License All photos are ©2022 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Giving Trees
I suspect when Shel Silverstein wrote The Giving Tree, he felt about trees the way I do, the way I always have. His was a story of a little boy so loved by a tree that it provided for him from childhood through old age. I am a 40-something little girl who is living her version of this story. For me, trees are friends. I’ve been mesmerized by them my whole life, love how their stories are told along side ours. I love to plant them, climb them, smell them and rest underneath them. When Ryan and I bought this house 13 years ago, the trees were as big a selling point as the house for me. I could see stories in and around all of them. They have become like family and over the last few years, we’ve lost some members.
This property was blessed with ash trees, not a tree usually found in this area. We knew many of them were old and some were dying, but as we worked on the house, even before moving in, we had favorites. We also had limbs falling around us. I can still hear that cracking sound and mobilize like a ninja to get out of the way. So after damage to our roof, our kitchen and because of general safety, we brought in an arborist to help us make decisions.
In January of 2020, we had three trees removed and I cried. I did. I knew they wouldn’t live forever, but having them go on my tenure in this house was upsetting. We’d made memories with them and they were markers of both difficult and beautiful times in our family’s life. In January of 2021, we had two more cut down. This time, we lined up someone to salvage the lumber to be milled for us. Six ginormous logs were taken to the sawmill, while we made a list of wants from the reclaimed wood.
Both of our families have history with lumber. Ryan’s grandfather bought lumber for furniture makers. Like him, Ryan has become skilled not just with carpentry, but design as well. My dad and granddad worked in logging and my great-grandfather established one of the first hydraulic sawmill businesses in the area. My first job was working in the equipment office as a teen. I’m so accustomed to the sound of planers and saws and the smell of wood. My favorite type of lumber (for those of you who want to buy me a birthday present) is walnut and I am always looking for character grade walnut for projects. When it was time to redo the hardwoods upstairs in our house (the previous update was during the 1920s), instead of oak like the downstairs, we chose walnut that was filled with character.
Our giving trees have truly given. From the salvaged wood, we’re making live edge tables from the 9′ slabs and several round live edge tables and mantles for Finley that he can one day place in a house of his own. Ryan hopes to create a desk and bedroom furniture for Finley as well, so he can remember that the trees he played on, in and around are now in his room. Heirlooms.
Finley was involved in the whole process and I explained my sadness and tears as trees fell and were hauled off. But he also got to go to the sawmill to see the next steps and he’s in on our plans for the wood, now resting and air drying for the next year. Their story is not yet over and that makes me so happy. New trees are already being planted with Finley and his shovel digging the holes by our sides. Maple, red buds, cherry, river birch, and sassafras trees all have a new home on our property. Fellow tree-huggers: enjoy this season. Hike among them, sit under them, climb them, eat their fruit and if you are able to use the wood once the tree has fallen, I hope you will.
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 License All photos are ©2021 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Spring Orchard Portraits
Don’t believe in fairytales? I highly recommend a portrait session at our favorite orchard. Ryan and I have been exclusive photographers in this amazing spot for more than a decade and just being there will change your mood.
It’s time for scheduling spring portraits at the orchards (generally mid-March to early April but it FLIES BY) and I can smell spring from here. Easter portraits, updated children’s portraits, family sessions, engagements, senior photos, celebrating friendships, all of these are legitimate reasons to book one of our orchard sessions.
Props? Sure. With your best friends? Absolutely. These sessions are perfect for families, but they are really just perfect for anyone. Planning on getting engaged or maybe you didn’t get portraits during lock-down 2020? Let us photograph some images for you … of any kind.
Families LOVE these orchards. They are so dressed up, you don’t have to put on a show yourself.
If you’re itching to get outside where it’s safe to shoot photos, or just because it’s time to celebrate spring with new portraits of your family, now is the time to contact us if you want to get on our schedule. We will be keeping a close watch on the blooms. Can’t wait to see!
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 License All photos are ©2021 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Styers Family Portraits
We could call this blog “When the Ends Meet and Something Beautiful Happens.” For years, Pixels has been participating in a local fundraiser for a child named Drake. Drake has cystic fibrosis and for the last decade or so we’ve been providing a photo session to the silent auction that raises money for Drake and for cystic fibrosis. There is also a golf tourney to raise money and I encourage any of you who are interested to learn more at Drives Fore Drake. We love to give and are happy to help raise money for a good cause.
Being a part of Drives fore Drake is one side of the story. The other side is that our child Finley has developed a real affection and friendship (we all have actually) with a lady named MarySallie Steyers. She SHOWERS him with attention, humor, and snuggles and was until recently one of the teachers at his Play2Learn. MarySallie just happens to be Drake’s grandmother. So after years of supporting his cause, we were actually able to meet the Drake behind the cause. MarySallie said she wanted a photo session with the entire clan and that’s just what we did!
At the end of 2020, MarySallie, her husband Rick, their children Sallie and Sammy along with their spouses and children all gathered for portraits. We’ve photographed members of this family before, when we met up with Emily VanMeter Styers and part of her clan at the VanMeter family farm. Emily married into the Steyers family and well – let’s just say, it’s a small world.
MarySallie has been so generous with her hugs to Finley (see beginning of blog) that we wanted an image of her with all of her grandkids heaping hugs and love on her. Mission accomplished.
This mom and grandmother knew it was going to be difficult getting everyone together so she and I have been planning a portrait gallery for her home not only with these images, but with others we’ve taken of their family in groupings. I cannot wait to see it completed.
Not only did Finley have his photo taken with MarySallie, he took a few of his own with his camera.
Easter and Mother’s Day are coming up, gang. What mom wants more than anything besides time with you are photographs. So let’s talk!
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 newborn and baby portraits, engagements 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 License
All photos are ©2021 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.