Posts Tagged: Outdoor family portraits in NC
Our family farm gets a fence
Any painter, writer, graphic designer will tell you that starting with a blank canvas is exhilarating and daunting. This space below was our project canvas. Mission: build a fence around my parents cattle farm and make it a family project. So… Mission 2 – make family memories.
We all took part in this project and our two year old learned even more about heavy machinery, sweat equity and when to take time out to play in the fields and by the water.
Here are stats:
They have 33 acres of farm land for cattle raising, which meant that we needed 4,500 feet of fence perimeter. We bought and used 13,500 feet of wire, 96 5’x8′ wood posts (you heard me!), 185 metal t-posts, two 12′ gates, 2.5 cases of water, 24 bottles of Gatorade, 2 cans sunscreen and a bottle of bug spray. It took 4 adults and 1 toddler working 5 full days, but we did it. Everyone was whoppin tired except for Finley.
When Finley wasn’t moving earth or handling tools, he took up other projects, plus a little fun time riding around on his ATV.
My parents just told us (and Finley) that they were naming the farm after Finley James and he was delighted – as an almost 3 year old would be. Legacy is important to my folks and our work together, memory making and the results make me so proud that we’re all together, healthy and had the time (and energy) to finish such a massive project.
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 LicenseAll photos are ©2020 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Expecting baby Angelina
This couple is so cool that it’s both blinding and fun to consider writing about them…. I’m not sure if I can even handle this blog. They are scheduled to deliver what will probably be an equally cool baby girl in October of this year and they deserve celebrating, especially during this bizarre year we’re having. Meet Jessica and Bobby Bennett. We’ve known them for a decade and they just keep getting cooler.
We held their portrait session at Stowe Manor in Belmont, NC on July 24th. This was the same location where we photographed Jessica’s bridal portraits, where her bridal shower was held, and their engagement party. It made sense. We recreated several similar images Jessica requested showing them then to now. Neither the location nor this lovable couple have changed one bit. It was fun to hang out together, reminisce and recreate memories while making new ones.
Bobby and Jessica are huge sports fans and football rivals. Bobby is all about the Baltimore Ravens and Jessica is a Carolina Panthers girl. Their demonstration of the rivalry and love of the game still continues 10 years later.
They plan to name this baby Angelina James and call her Lina James, a combination of two other family names. They’ve also chosen her nickname – “Juicy,” because they want Lina James to have juicy thighs that they can squeeze. Hence the nameplate on her first football attire. How cute is that?
Jessica & Bobby’s Wedding 2010 
Jessica’s Bridal Portrait 2010 
Jessica & Bobby’s Wedding 2010 
Jessica’s Bridal Portrait 2010 
I love these old images next to their new counterparts. It was such a good idea and a fun way to be back with them in the same spot where other milestones have occurred.
Little Juicy Lina James: we CANNOT WAIT to meet you, girl!
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 LicenseAll photos are ©2020 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Outdoor & Day in the Life Portraits
We love outdoor photo sessions during the warm months and summer provides plenty of opportunities for these. Yes! We can and will socially distance for the session, but that is not a hindrance when you decide you’d like some day in the life documentary photographs or portraits. Below are some favorite shots from summertime in the outdoors with some documentary sessions thrown in for good measure.
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 LicenseAll photos are ©2020 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
celebrating spring and togetherness
Easter isn’t just a holiday, it’s a feeling of hope that, if we choose, we carry with us year-round. Death was overcome and a new hope is born. Whether you are a religious, spiritual or a secular lover of spring time, this is a season of hope, renewal and reflection.
While unable to photograph others due to everyone’s need to shelter in place, our little family took advantage during the limited time that the wild mustard blooms to photograph ourselves on the land surrounding our studio. I love these images of Finley with his dad and me.
We spent time taking photographs of course, but we also chattered, played, made up stories and flung our arms around each other.
Whatever you are able to do to get some fresh air this new week, we hope you’ll make room for it. Sometimes we have to make our own light and time to smell the spring, look at the ways hope and renewal surround us and show gratitude for the time we have with each other in it.
It wasn’t until we returned the studio and I began processing these images that I realized that it was exactly one year from the day that we took family portraits in the orchards. I guess it was meant to be.
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 LicenseAll photos are ©2020 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Roman Turns One. Airplanes and Cake Smash
We cannot stop it. Time is going to do what it’s going to do….. keep passing. Suddenly Roman, below, is a year old.
The third child of Andy and Traci Pierce just celebrated his first birthday and this family does not “phone it in.” They come to PLAY with themes and props and outfits and the big dessert – cake.
Father Andy is a commercial pilot and we have used themes before in photo shoots with his two older brothers. Holden was Pierce baby number one and the aviation them was chosen for him. Then Sawyer came along as a little surfer and pharmacist like his Mom. He even had (and still has) the curls of a man who lives by the sea and in hammocks during his downtime. Roman is the last and third child for Andy and Traci, so they decided to go for it one more time. Traci got the idea from Pinterest of shooting on location, and tasked Andy with finding a plane.
He did. From WWII. Decked out in flack jackets and aviator shades, we all met up in Concord on a gorgeous mid-March dad, with perfect blue skies and lots of wind.
The weather always plays a role, if only to bless you or challenge you. Thank goodness that it was merely a challenge instead of a curse. Traci is detail-oriented, admittedly type A – something she and I share, so she wants all of our time and effort to be worth it. With the wind blowing us all around, Roman was freezing, but Holden and Sawyer were loving it! They fit the roles of pilot and copilot already. We had a couple of “is this going to work?” moments, but we couldn’t be happier with the results.
I feel confident that the family will be having caption contests with the image above for many years to come. Holden with his tongue sort of sticking out conspiring the plan, Sawyer with his curls and “about to pounce lets get do it” posture and little Roman looking like “LETS TAKE A MINUTE TO THINK ABOUT THIS BOYS.”
We ended up back inside, playing around the hangar and avoiding the wind and Roman’s mood shifted from “I’m freezing” to “this ROCKS!” Everything turned out beautifully and I loved capturing the colors of the plane, the natural light and the boys. We adored the plane’s owner who was so accommodating and cool too. He helped make the day a success.
The cake smash went off well too. First birthdays have to have cake and like his older brothers, Roman was able to get the anticipated – and much deserved – sugar rush. Cake theme: why yes, planes!
Roman: we’ve said this about your older brothers, but we are serious when we say it to you: we cannot wait to watch you grow up in front of our lenses and in our midst. Congratulations on your first year on earth. Here’s to so very many more.
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 LicenseAll photos are ©2020 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.