Posts Tagged: nc outdoor wedding photographers
Courtney + Cody’s wedding photography | Family, Nature + Love
According to the couple, their favorite moment was just after the ceremony, when they realized “we really are married – the dream is real” and could bask in it. A close second and third were being with their families before the ceremony and the reception where everyone could chat, mix, mingle and eat afterwards.
What we loved was how they incorporated so much heritage. Courtney did this for her bridal portraits as well. Generations of family china patterns from both sides were used as the place settings during the reception and the decor used featured orchard and farm elements including homestead doors, ladders, and apple crates.
Both Courtney and Cody were relaxed and excited throughout the entire day and Cody in his normal comedic fashion caused a roar of laughter when he wore a head lamp to remove Courtney’s garter.
Courtney told us how quickly they felt it all went by, but that – if given the chance for a do-over – they wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Here’s a little more about their vendors:
Wedding Gown: Bridal Traditions
Wedding coordinator /planner: Cathy Snipes
Wedding and reception venue: Gambill Estate
Videographer: Our Story Video Creations
DJ or band: Block Party Productions
Caterer: Michelle and Mike Mizelle
Flowers, Cake and Desserts: Family
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.
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.
Vendors We Love – Part 2
Part Two of our vendor love-ups – what we call a round-up of favorites and links back to blogs that really showcase their talents starts with another pretty epic location.
On the Windfall is a place close to our hearts, because we’ve been the official photographers there for the weddings of many couples we adore. Plus – we’re crazy about the Windfall’s amazing team.
Another favorite vendor we adore is Edenhouse Floral & Events. The work is gorgeous and their creations elevate the look of brides and weddings. Trust me. They are amazing.
Finally, Winding Creek Barn is another fantastic venue for weddings, events, photos shoots and we’ve done all three.
Check out their site for ideas and, as always, if you’d like our thoughts on vendors for weddings, we’d love to put in our 2 cents.
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.
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.
Perfect Outdoor Wedding, even with some rain
After our first meeting or two, we photographed their engagement portraits at Cone Manor and we could already see their sense of style and certainly their affection for each other. The wedding was absolutely amazing, though. This was the first time that we’ve shot a wedding at the Gambill Estate and it is a gorgeous venue for weddings.
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.
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.
Lighting, Weddings and Musts to Know
We thought – with so many in the depths of planning weddings – that we would share some of our expert advice about timing. This is not timing as in “did he propose in the middle of your grandfather’s funeral?” (Guys: don’t do that, mkay?)
We’re talking about timing so that your photographer can get the shots you really want on the day of your wedding. Brides and grooms have gone to the trouble of thinking through what moments and people they would like captured, where they are having their weddings and choosing the season. But one of the things that needs to be considered most during planning is timing. It’s important in comedy and it’s important on your wedding day.
- What time does sunset occur?
- What time should your ceremony start and how long will the ceremony portion last?
- Do you want lots of shots taken outdoors?
- Where will your reception be and do we need to allow for drive time while the sun shines?
Much of our pricing depends on the amount of photo coverage hours needed, so planning ahead is key.
Ryan and I begin photographing approximately two hours before the ceremony for those couples who do not plan to see each other beforehand, which is customary. I work with the bride, bridesmaids and the bride’s family for an hour and can capture shots of her getting ready and transforming herself and spending quality time with specific people. This allows us to get all the fun of the preparation while still giving the bride time to freshen her make-up and ready herself for walking down the aisle. If a bride wants photos of her hair and makeup being done, we’ll need even more time, but we can help you get that sorted out when we speak.
Ryan photographs the groom, groomsmen and groom’s family during the second hour. This allows us to complete all photos that do not include the bride and groom together before the ceremony gets underway. You’re up, you’re fresh and ready and excited and it just makes sense. It makes the process more efficient following the ceremony and allows the couple to get to their reception sooner.
Following the ceremony we need 30-45 minutes (depending on wedding party and family size) to photograph the bride and groom together with their families and wedding party. We prefer to begin with family first, then the wedding party, and then with just the bride and groom for the most amount of time. We know that you want to join the party that is YOUR celebration, so having a plan and knowing where the sun will be if you want outdoor photos is something we can anticipate and create for you.
If you’re interested in seeing more of our weddings, visit that page of our blog where you can see the anticipatory beginnings, tender middles and lovely ends to ceremonies across seasons. Here is also a blog of ours for those interested in seeing how lighting can affect the details of a wedding and make them truly shine.
During the reception, we photograph candid moments of all kinds and do not interrupt the bride and groom for posed photos. We want you to mingle and celebrate, dance, eat and enjoy your day. Those moments make amazing photos anyway. The only exception we make is if the couple requests sunset photos at which point we will watch for the perfect moment before stealing the couple away from the reception for a minimal amount of time.
Most receptions last 3-4 hours, so if a couple plans a formal exit complete with sparklers, bubbles, and a getaway car, they will likely want us to photograph that exit and stay until the end. However, if a couple does not plan a formal exit and anticipates staying until the last guest leaves, then they can plan on less photography coverage hours and we will slip out (after hugs, a last check-in and goodbyes) and let you keep partying.
For us, lighting your day is important and we know how to handle it. You have other things to think about, so once you’ve chosen place, season, type of wedding and time of day, we’ll know how to counsel you and make things work.
While your wedding is photographed to memorialize it and is a big production, it is also one of the biggest milestones in a person’s life. We want you to feel the joy of the day and not just like you’re modeling or being posed. So consider the season, the time of day, time changes for daylight savings if those apply, how much of the behind the scenes you want captured, as well as the outdoor and natural light and we’ll do our best. To help, here is a favorite website we use to determine sunset time.
After all the planning, it’s an adventure! Let the magic happen!
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.
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.
Engagement to Wedding – some portraits of a few of the couples we love
Most couples we photograph for their engagement portraits also book us for their wedding day. Naturally, we LOVE that and we LOVE them. It really gives us extended time to get to know them and to determine fun ways to illustrate and showcase their personalities, their affinities for each other and why they chose each location. We’ve found over the last decade and a half that people want to be in and a part of their environments during these big occasions. They want their surroundings to say something about who they are as a couple. For us, it’s a blast, because you can walk any mountain ridge or urban greenway, but if you put people in the shots for whom that place has meaning – it’s a whole new narrative.
Christine and Adam (below) wanted their engagement portraits taken at a mill that has been a part of the groom’s family history for generations. Their wedding? Surrounded by family, outside, in a traditional (club) format. Her veil was the very definition of making a nod to generations before.
These two women have become true friends. We shot Bonnie Hostetler and Amanda Walling’s engagement photos in Charleston, SC, where the water, salt and history were a perfect backdrop for their lives and love. We then photographed their amazing wedding at On the Windfall – a mountain venue where they could begin their lives surrounded by vistas and friends. With both oceans and mountains, we saw their love of the vastness of place and their love for each other. Also – they are just really cool, fun chicks.
Timothy Mahon and Katie Speight met us for their engagement portraits at the Bilmore House in the mountains of Asheville, NC with their dog in the fall and then celebrated their wedding at Twickenham House. Mountain lovers are mountain lovers.
Kyle and Elizabeth brought their favorite fiction – both on television and in print – to bear for their engagement and bridal portraits. These two love Dr. Who and they both love to read and both were a part of their photos. Her wedding bouquets, and those of her maids, as well as the men’s boutonnieres, we made of pages from favorite books. Unbelievable.
Sherae and David are Charlotteans and we shot their engagement in a more urban setting and their AMAZING wedding in downtown Charlotte at the Holiday Inn. They were so comfortable with each other and the surroundings sort of faded away during both the engagement shoot and their wedding day.
These are only a few, but they show just how much personality and detail is revealed in front of the lens when two people decide to bond themselves for life. We look forward to many more in the coming months.
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.
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.