Posts Tagged: wedding photographers
It Pays to Refer
Did you know that showing gratitude causes a release of dopamine – a trigger of the neural circuitry in our brain stems – and makes us feel good? It does. So let me just send myself a shot by saying THANK YOU to all of our clients these nearly 20 years. WE LOVE YOU. One of the ways we show our gratitude year round is our Referral Program. So if you are, or have you ever been, a Pixels on Paper photography client, listen up!
Any existing client of Pixels (you’ve hired us for a wedding or portrait session of one type or another) who refers us to someone who then books us for a wedding, will receive their own FREE portrait session PLUS $250 in print credits from us.
Any existing client of Pixels who refers us to someone who then books us for a portrait session, will receive their own FREE portrait session that year PLUS $50 in print credits from us. For every additional referral they send us, they will receive yet another $50 print credit. The more you send others who book with us, the more rewards we’re happy to lavish on you.
We want our existing clients to make sure to tell the folks they are referring to us to mention them, so MENTION THE REFERRING CLIENT’S NAME, so that they get the rewards they deserve. If someone books a wedding or portrait and doesn’t mention that they heard about us from you, how will we be able to shower you with some love? Don’t you want everyone to experience the dopamine rush of happiness?
*This program offer EXCLUDES limited edition and promo session referrals. Contact us if you have questions!
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.
15 Years of Pixels On Paper – Pt. 2 – The Big Move
As much as we enjoyed our chapter as a busy couple in Charlotte, running from wedding to wedding and meeting new clients, Ryan and I always wanted to live in a more rural community, be closer to family, and have a place where we could have a slower-paced life (I’ll let that sink in…. as those of you who follow us know, things have only gotten busier until recently). Our vision was of a small “Main Street” store front with a studio below and our home above it.
God had other plans and, as always, they were better than what we wanted for ourselves. We didn’t get a downtown business footprint, we found our forever home. We started looking in earnest in 2010 and by 2012 we were settled into our beautiful 160+ year old home.
And then the work began.
By this time, we were 7 years in and our once casual “hobby” was a fully formed entity. We had a brand, infrastructure, more and better equipment, schedules … we were legit ya’ll.
We transformed the house into a studio and showroom space and everywhere I turned, I found advantages, opportunities and ideas to make our business and our lives better. This took years, but it has all been worth it: the blood, sweat, tears, exhaustion and time.
I cannot say enough about how this place has enhanced our lives and made us even better at what we do. I could finally manage newborn portrait sessions the way I wanted: providing comfort, privacy, controlling the thermostat and of course the lighting and props. No more substitutions and “must” improvisation. We still improvise, but boy can I work better with all my resources around me and I love that we have spaces for clients to change outfits, relax, feed a newborn, experiment with theme, etc. We also added a vegetable garden (well, that is for us) and an Outdoor Portrait Garden – a favorite of families and perfect for first birthday cake smash portraits.
The more newborn and first year photos I took, the more I appreciated having a place like this. And we no longer relied solely on sending links to clients to preview their portraits. Brides and grooms, new parents and our growing list of commercial and business clients could come to our showroom, flop down on the sofa and see the images, discuss their options, if they needed wall treatments and frames and place their orders. It elevated us to full-fledged pros, not just amateurs schlepping our gear at the beginning of the process and laptops at the end.
This business, this home is so much more than a roof over our heads. It’s so much more than a studio space. We make memories and do life here, but it’s also a place of real creative magic. And it continues to be. I’ll share more in our third blog celebrating our 15th Anniversary in business. Keep your eyes peeled for the last installment.
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.
Heirloom Photography
A while back, we blogged about engagement portraits as heirlooms. While 21st century portraits are no longer as severe and in grainy sepia tones, they do still serve a purpose as historical artifacts. I look at these young sisters below and think of the photos we’ve taken of children that their mothers cherish.
When we look at images today and see the amazing things we can do with filters and timing, it’s no wonder that everyone wants to be their own archivist, storyteller, photographer and keeper of the family history. Consider finding those moments where it will mean the most to have professional shots and remember that they will one day be heirlooms. And consider getting a professional to take them. You won’t regret it.
Two young brides above and below. They are a mere 150 or so years apart.
One family portrait – posed above.
A family portrait – posed below.
Sometimes the heirlooms are not heirlooms because they are posed. Images become heirlooms because they capture something specific – like the bride reading her favorite book for her bridal portrait. It was important to incorporate it for her. Sometimes, it’s the place – like the mountain home that a family rented so they could converge from all over the country for a reunion. Or it’s the mountains that became a back drop for an engagement photo shoot. And sometimes it is the unexpected moment, like the one above we caught of the bride and groom sharing a happy, sorta private hug.
Maternity portraits and new family portraits are heirlooms as well for generation and these shots, especially in informal outdoor settings tell a beautiful story of time, place and love.
Consider the photo albums and images in frames that you love seeing from those relatives you’ll never meet and schedule a photo shoot that will some day be relished by your future 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 LicenseAll photos are ©2019 Pixels On Paper. Do not copy, crop, or remove watermark.
Outdoor Rock-A-Billy Wedding Photos in Wilkesboro NC
When you decide to get married and important members of your family cannot travel, what do you do? You bring your wedding to wherever they are. That is exactly what New Yorkers Elisabeth DeMaio and David Gross did when they married at the Doc and Merle Watson Stage at Wilkes Community College on July 13th. Elisabeth lost her own parents not long ago and David’s folks moved to Wilkesboro, NC a few years ago. Since the elderly Gross’s are not able to travel, Elisabeth and David made the decision to come south for their ceremony and share the day with their family. We were honored to be their photographers.
David, a tattoo artist, and Elisabeth have been together for more than a decade. With their son and daughter by their sides, they planned and pulled off a completely cool and off-beat wedding: a Jewish ceremony with a Rock-a-Billy theme. While the weather was some of the worst we’ve ever shot through for a wedding ceremony – sheets of rain and lots of severe lightning – it still managed to be joyous and fun. The Rabbi who performed the ceremony shared that lighting during vows was a sign of good luck and that this couple was being blessed with more luck than they would know what to do with.
The groom’s mother surprised the bride by having a family friend bring their classic Mercury for photos. It was one of many times Elisabeth shed tears of joy since it went perfectly with their Rock a Billy theme.
This event was all hands on deck. The venue and food were provided by Wilkes Community College. The decorations, wedding planning and desserts for the reception were handled by family and friends. These newlyweds are loved! Some of the sweetest moments included the bride and groom’s first dance, followed by dancing with their children. Most touching was a dance between David and his Mom who only a few weeks prior had suffered a heart attack. When she wasn’t able to dance on her feet any longer, she sat and David laid his head on her lap for the duration of the song. There wasn’t a dry eye anywhere, including ours.
We sometimes forget that weddings aren’t just about the couple who are joining their lives; they really are about bonding closer to our own families while broadening our family to include new members. The Gross’s are perfect examples of the love and how it’s manifested. Good luck David and Elisabeth. Come back to Wilkesboro soon!
Chris and Jessica’s Wedding | Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter | Charlotte NC
This couple hosted one of the most fun and exciting Charlotte weddings we’ve ever been a part of. Chris and Jessica along with all their friends and family’s celebratory excitement combined with the picturesque Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter ceremony, Charlotte skyline backdrop, and Charlotte Marriott City Center reception venue made for incredible candid and formal wedding photos.
Even after a long 12-15 hour day the photos that took place at the end of the night on the dance floor say it all. An absolute blast was had by all!
These images are pages of the couple’s wedding album. Images they selected that were then custom designed, printed, and leather bound into an heirloom that will be treasured for generations.
Special thanks to the vendors we worked along side: Florist: The Bloom Room, DJ: AAA Entertainment, Photo Booth: Photo Express, Transportation: Rose Charters, Planner: Lindsay DeFaber, Bride’s Gown by Maggie Sottero, Groom’s Attire: Vera Wang at Men’s Warehouse