Posts Tagged: Outdoor family portraits in NC
Winter Outdoor Family Portraits ~ the Graybeals
It didn’t feel like 7 years had passed since we got to hang with Crystal and Adam. The fun, laughs and teasing seemed to pick back up right where we left off. This time we were able to make friends with the new “little Graybeals.” Colton was a little shy upon first meeting us. After a few clicks of the shutter though, Ryan took him on a little exploration adventure through the nature trails, and that kid was shy no more. We were now a part of his entourage. As for wee one Landon, he won us over with his drooling grins and very expressive eye brows.
We love a winter photo shoot and seeing the strength of good couple and their growing family out in it. Much love to burgeoning family units out there and forget the seven year itch! Love that works never gets old.
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.
Family Photos from the Porch | Welcome to the Community
The intersection of the Barnes family with the story of another young boy, Drake, who is battling cystic fibrosis can only happen when there is community. Ryan and I care very much about ours and we put our money where are mouths are as often as possible. For the 3rd consecutive year, we’ve donated a family portrait session to a silent auction for Drake, more specifically the Drives for Drake Charity. In 2014, the VanMeter family were the recipients and we shot photos of 3 generations on their horse farm. The Barnes were the winners from last fall’s auction and we took their photos in May of this year. Their young sons, coincidentally, are around the same age as Drake.
Trisa and Brandon, along with their sons Tristan and Tucker, just recently moved to Wilkesboro so both the area and their home were new to them. Trisa told us that her most memorable family portraits were taken on or around the family front porch over the years and their lovely new home had a perfect front porch where we could continue the tradition. The flag colored bunting helps, but between the house, the landscape and the boys’ scrubbed faces, it made for a fairly Rockwellian type of Americana. If you close your eyes, you can almost hear July 4th fireworks.
We wrapped up the session with a view of the sunset on the putting green at Oakwoods Country Club where “Drives Fore Drake” takes place, bringing the day and that sense of community full circle. While the Barneses are still new to Wilkes, we hope that inaugurating this chapter with photos, especially ones earned through charity, will make this place feel more like home for them. Welcome, you guys! We hope to see you around and take photos of your family as the boys grow and you all become more a part of the community.
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.
Family reunion outdoor portraits in Roaring Gap, NC
What is a LARGE family?
What’s the threshold between, “is this IT?” and “if I don’t get 30 minutes alone, I’m going to ugly cry?”
Muse amongst yourselves, but while at it, meet the Hobens. Every year, they vacation in Roaring Gap, NC at a home that has been in one of the son-in-law’s families for many generations. 2 parents + their 3 children + their spouses and then their children. 16 total traveled from Atlanta GA, Charlotte NC, and Winchester, VA for the July 4th holiday weekend. And we were invited! Spoiler alert: there were no tears. Loads of laughs, but no crying.
This group is, as Goldilocks would say, Just Right in number and sense of fun. They were all a bit nervous and excited to have us since their last family portrait was taken nearly 8 years ago when the youngest grandchild was still an infant. Fortunately, this is not our first rodeo and we blended in and put them at ease, having fun, making jokes and of course picking on the teenagers. 
Before long everyone was laughing, relaxed and picking out more ideal backdrops around the home-place for the many group photos. Out and about the day after we photographed this family we ran into them again and they complimented us on how comfortable they were and how much fun was had. The husbands in particular noted how they despise having their photo taken but were relaxed with us and looking forward to seeing the pictures. That’s a great feeling and one of the best compliments!
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 babies and kids, 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.
dapper young lad hits the orchard for his close-up(s)
We love the orchards and spring means orchard photography sessions. On their own, the trees and land are gorgeous with blossoms and again later when the trees are overcome with fruit. But they’re even better when populated with a ridiculously perfect kiddo like Conner Tevepaugh. He’s fresh and delicious all year, but we love him in this setting for sure.
How handsome and suave is he in that hat, say nothing of those eyes!? Heaven help him, these are some of the photos his folks are going to show his fiancée when the time comes. And heaven help his own kids in topping that level of yumminess in their portraits some day.
This is the first time we were actually able to photograph Conner in the orchard blooms and we’re so happy it could finally happen. Last year, at only four months, he was a very sleepy baby who basically just wanted to be held. PRIORITIES! And this year, at 16 months, he seemed in a similar mood. “WHY IN THE WORLD would I wake up for a camera?” He may be part Marlon Brando (The Later Years), but before we knew it he was playing with sticks and running through the trees and knocking us out with cuteness. As with almost all other boys, capturing photos while they’re in action yields way more than a posed portrait. He didn’t want to be still once he got going and since we’re able-bodied, we were ready to dart, pivot, coax and dive.
And there it is (just above)… the one that is going to slay his first girlfriend, enrapture his college sweetheart, capture his wife for good and ensure that his mom keeps the hugs and adoring glances coming his way for a lifetime.
We love family portraits whether they are set in the studio, the great outdoors, a specific location like the NC mountains or high country, or on our property in our outdoor portrait garden. Pixels on Paper photographs babies and kids, 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.
an orchard photo session with a young sister & brother
“Everything great that ever happened in this world happened first in somebody’s imagination.”
– Astrid Lindgren (author of Pippi Longstocking)
True. So, we ask you: What on earth was happening in her imagination when we took this photo?
Usually, we’d give our kingdom to know, but in this case, it’s counter to the mystery and fun of life.
And anyway, she’s clearly cracked the code. You can see it in her eyes and mouth.
Natalie Overby is one of our favorite subjects to shoot, because she is polite, poised, and incredibly photogenic. We hope she always has the tender passion and beauty in her that is so apparent in her photos. She has a poetic face and sensibility you pray is never interrupted by tragedy, but only enhanced by life’s nuances and adventures.
We also photographed her little brother Eli that day in our favorite orchard. His mom specifically asked that we capture his gorgeous blue eyes. Eli is a typical boy and would rather be playing in the dirt than sitting still for photos. He is charming, but restless and we couldn’t blame him. Spring… outside… sister’s there to hang with. It’s a recipe for play and soaking up sun.
“There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy’s life when he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure.” -Mark Twain (author of Tom Sawyer) …. And Eli is thinking about when to make a break for it…
Natalie takes great care to watch out for her little brother, but she was also incredibly present in each moment. It’s an interesting combo in such a young kid and heartening to watch. There’s a lot going on in that girl’s imagination and brain and Eli is the same.
There’s a quote that goes something like, “having a sister is like having a best friend you can’t get rid of… you know whatever you do, she’ll still be there.”
And there’s another great quote about siblings that says, “sisters and brothers just happen; we don’t get to choose them, but they become one of our most cherished relationships.” -Wes Adamson. We love our siblings, both those by blood and those found through this life and we hope that Natalie and Eli will have the same solidarity and trust, laughter and adventure, mayhem and memories that we have with ours.
Keep it up you two.
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 babies and kids, 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.