Posts Tagged: Pixels On Paper
Late Summer | Photos of an Outdoor Southern Wedding
Engaged couples everywhere: If you’re planning a wedding for summer of 2018 (or spring or fall, for that matter), take note. This couple did it well, or as we say in the south – did it right! Alex Sohl and Dan Goldman brought family from all over North Carolina and Kentucky to their outdoor wedding at River Run Farm in Banner Elk, NC for barbecue, dancing and vows in a gorgeous setting. The day, the ceremony and the details were outstanding. If you’re looking for ideas and inspiration or just a smile for the day, check out Alex and Dan’s July 29th wedding.
Alex’s entrance was beautiful. Everyone was assembled in a stand of trees and it felt like country weddings from another time… when two families would come together on a farm, gather to watch the exchange and then sit down to dine together. It was casual and incredibly sweet.
The key ingredient for Alex and Dan was for everyone to feel comfortable and to enjoy the day. There was no fuss, no pomp, just a lot of people playing games, chatting, dancing and enjoying the late summer eve.
Fun and games was their theme – brilliant idea – and everyone had a blast gabbing and competing and getting to know each other. The bride changed her dress and after walking up from the river, everyone enjoyed the barbecue and danced. Their send-off with bubbles and applause was a perfect ending. Many happy returns you two!
The vendors for this wedding were superb and to help those of you planning, here you go!
Wedding Planning and Coordination: Kelsey Fidis of The Whole Shebang
Venue: River Run Farm, Banner Elk NC
Hair & Makeup: Christy & Co Hair Design, Boone NC
Caterers: Woodlands BBQ, Blowing Rock NC
Rentals: A&J Rentals, Wilkesboro NC
Cupcakes: Ugga Mugga Bakery, Blowing Rock NC
Trolley: Air Haven Limousine, Boone NC
Music: Spinboxx, Boone NC
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.
Don’t Waste Time & miss the little stuff
We have a dear friend who recently suffered a blow to his health: swelling of the brain. He’s been touch and go and he’s rallying with the right care and attention and prayer. We pray. Our pals pray – and it has been a reminder of how much love is shared in our various circles of friends, coworkers and family. While he is on the mend, it got me thinking about lost moments, little hugs or tender exchanges, laughs, cuddles and the peace that is sometimes in a micro-moment. Don’t waste time waiting on the big moments. When they happen, great. Celebrate the little stuff too, though. Make time for it. That’s our goal as a couple, as photogs and as parent-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, 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.
Madison’s NC Mountain Outdoor Bridal Photos
This was a fun shoot for a number of reasons. Madi was excited on this day. She was dressed as a bride for the first time completely and the trial run was sort of her first opportunity to feel all bride-y. She was practically jumping out of her skin.
Secondly, this young woman is an only child, which I “get” entirely. I am one too and watching her mom get chocked up during the session took me back. Her mom shed tears multiple times and made me think about my own mom – how critical that relationship is and how much we’ve shared and will share in the years ahead. I loved watching them relate as bride and mother of the bride – that mix of unbridled excitement and nostalgia.
Madi chose well in Preston. He’s a great guy and their engagement portraits and the questionnaire they completed for us showed how in sync they are – and how funny. Here’s to many, many great years ahead and to gorgeous summer brides.
Madi’s dress: New York Bride & Groom, Charlotte NC
Hair & Makeup: Shear Shakti, Boone NC
Kendra & Nathan Wed at Elkin’s Barn at Blueberry Hill
On May 20th, we photographed the wedding of Kendra and Nathan as they tied the knot at The Barn at Blueberry Hill in Elkin NC. It was the first time we’ve ever shot a wedding at this venue and we LOVED it. It’s a real barn with a real barn feeling, but with air conditioning (!!) and the owner, event coordinator, setting – everything – was perfect.
What was also perfect was the couple. Even the groom’s goof made the occasion memorable.
Kendra is a lot like me: a Type A personality who wants every single detail to be perfect. She looked gorgeous and so did her bridesmaids in this setting. The weather turned out to be perfect (it rained for 5 days straight after the couple left for their honeymoon) and the guests were so much fun. There were no dull moments!
Groom Nathan teared up watching Kendra walk down the aisle. Kendra: “Most people might have needed a tissue after seeing Nathan become a little emotional as I walked in. I luckily, did not. I had the biggest smile on my face that nothing could wipe away. Why? Because I knew I was moments away from marrying the man of my dreams. Sounds cliché; I know, but it’s true. I had waited on that day for many years and that day, the day I had dreamed about for a long time, had finally arrived.” 
A highlight for the couple (and a laugh moment for the guests) was when the little groomsman just wandered across the aisle while vows were being said. Super cute!!
These two told us that Nathan’s performance really hit the high point when he kept messing up repeating his wedding vows. The pastor finally had to turn the page with the written vows so Nathan could just read them instead of trying to repeat them. 
Other memorable moments, according to the bride, groom and family include: when Nathan’s young cousin Ava walked up to the bridesmaid who’d caught the bouquet and snatched it out of her hands; when the groomsmen took over the photo booth to get shots of them wearing only their underwear and suspenders and when, coming back from their honeymoon, the TSA officer at the airport opened Kendra’s bag and those same underwear shots of the groomsmen were on display. They confiscated her belongings.
Kidding!
The barn vibe was so much fun, along with their photo booth, DJ, barbecue and amazing desserts. There was a LOT of laughter and silliness, dancing, chatter and sheer joy. Between Kendra & Nathan’s family members, there are 303 years of marriage experience surrounding them. This bit of info was shared at the ceremony and we thought it was so lovely. We hope that Kendra and Nathan add a minimum of 50 years to that total and enjoy every moment of it. 
Kendra & Nathan’s wedding vendors:
Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal
Wedding & Reception Venue: The Barn at Blueberry Hill
Flowers: Richard Hincher
Photographers: Pixels On Paper
DJ: Kevin Carter of Dirt Road Entertainment
Caterer: Brushy Mountain Smokehouse
Exposed Photography Retreat | Part 2
Last time, I blogged I wrote about a photography workshop and retreat I attended in late March and the pay-off was not only that I learned about natural light and how to manipulate it for photography shoots, but about how – through exercises, conversation and the community and sharing of other photographers – I had some light shined on aspects of myself that needed my attention. Elly’s Photography – and specifically Elly – hosted this retreat, aptly called “Exposed” and in 4 days I learned so much. It was the shot in the arm I needed.
The photos in this blog showcase artificial lighting techniques, including the use of off-camera flashes, gels, and fairly unrealistic kelvin settings.
In case you missed part 1 of this blog post, catch up on it here.
I mentioned in that last blog that I love using artificial light at photo sessions and that Ryan teases me. You know, if two lights are good then 12 will “really get me what I want.” LOL. For these shots, I practiced with different angles of light and exposure settings, as well as perspective. Some of these techniques I had knowledge of, but suddenly I was able to manipulate them in a way that I never had before. Others were completely new and opened an exciting new world of possibilities for my photos and our clients. My mind was focused, but part of it was note-taking for sessions to come.
The setting and the subjects were perfect and while it was a working and experimental time, it felt fun and relaxed. I would wager that I learned as much if not more personally about me and my craft than I did about photography itself. I realized that I needed to be out of my comfort zone to experience all that was in store. I learned that allowing myself to be exposed and vulnerable gives me a different perspective in life and through my camera lens.
I learned that I can only go so far alone. And I learned that I was ridiculously supported during this adventure.