Celebrating Today | Nashville Family Photographer

I was so excited to have the opportunity to shoot this amazingly beautiful couple.  Her reason in doing this shoot was right on - " i want to capture this time in our life before kids, etc - a time that could be easy to look right past."  Amen.  We seem to celebrate so many occasions - births, graduations, etc.  But we seem to forget about the "in between."  And we tend to forget that every stage of our life is beautiful.  Why wait until you have babies to have custom portraits made of your family?  You are a family.  With or without kids.  Celebrate where you are today, for you can never go back. Thanks, Julie & Mark, for trekking up hills and through tall grass for me.  I think it was well worth it!  :)  On another note, Julie, is an amazing designer based here in Nashville.  Check out her site and be amazed.

Chattanooga Wedding | Nashville Photographer

For anyone that keeps up with this blog, (anyone?) then you know that I photograph children and families.  Well I stepped out of my bubble a few weeks ago and helped my sister shoot a wedding in the beautiful city of Chattanooga on top of Lookout Mountain.  I really am not sure if the location and the evening could have been more perfect.  The mountains of Chattanooga are just magical to me and hold so many wonderful memories.  So to shoot a wedding there was really a dream come true.  And to do it with my sister was even better!   I do not consider myself a wedding photographer but I'm hoping to shoot a little more in the future.  Until then, enjoy a few of my favorite images.

Three | Destin Family Photographer

There is something about a family of three that just makes me so happy.  Especially if a little girl is involved.  It makes me remember our little family when it was just the three of us.  Such great memories of those three years.  And this family is just so sweet and happy!  I loved getting to know them during our time together in Destin. As you will notice, there are two locations during their shoot.  The first location I found in the woods at Sandestin.  There were beautiful willow trees and the light was just perfect shining through.  Then we moved on to the beach for the last light of the day- which is my favorite light.

Here are a few of my favorites of Reagan with her beautiful parents...

Some Things Never Change | Destin Beach Photographer

I met up with one of my friends from high school for a beach session with her and her husbands entire family.  Since I have left Arkansas, I rarely get to see old friends so it was so much fun for me to see her and meet her beautiful children.  First, she looks exactly the same.  My sister (who helped me) and I were marveling at the fact that Shannon has not changed one bit.  Still as beautiful as ever!  Second, her children are just strikingly beautiful and photogenic.  If I could have a muse, Nyla just might be it.  Her face radiates in front of the camera.  And sweet Nash just loves his sister and has such a tender heart.  What a fun afternoon for me! Here are a few of my favorites from our time together... I am blogging the families separately because there are just so many great photos!  Thanks Shannon and family for asking me to spend time with you all.  You all are so fun!

My First Beach Session | Watercolor Beach Photographer

When I was leaving for this session, I had butterflies in my stomach just as I did when I first started this journey.  It just seemed so foreign to me.  New and exciting all in one!  And, let me tell you - it did not disappoint!  I feel so inspired when I am photographing families at the beach.  There is something magical about the air.  The way it smells.  The way it feels.  But even more magical is the way that those in front of my camera light up when they are away from the everyday.  There was an extra sense of wonder and pleasure in their eyes.  And I really believe that you can see that through these photographs.  I am so excited to see what the future holds with this! Thank you to the sweet Stouffer family who trusted me with their photographs - especially a girl from Tennessee!  So thankful I was given the chance to meet you all.  I cannot wait to see the wedding photographs from Cat!  I know they will be absolutely beautiful.   Enjoy...

Happy Mother's Day | Nashville Family Photographer

Spring Mini Sessions | Nashville Photographer

Spring is here and I am so excited to get out and take pictures!  So I thought I would try something new this year.  I am offering a day of mini sessions on Saturday, April 16th.  I will have 8 30 minute sessions available on this Saturday only!  Once they fill up, then this offer will not be valid for any other day of the year.  So, if you are wanting great gifts for Mom's or Grandmothers on Mother's Day (May 8th!) then this is the perfect opportunity.  You will have the rights to all 10 images and can print or make creative gifts in any way you would like.  You could also give this as a gift to a friend, sister, mother- whatever.  I will work on the location as time gets closer depending on blooming of flowers, etc.  Don't worry- it will be perfect!!

So, here are the open times (as of right now!):

7:30am, 8:00am, 8:30am, 9:00am  | 4:30pm, 5:00pm, 5:30pm, 6:00pm

First come, first serve!

Can't wait to see some of you....

Growing Old | Nashville Family Photographer

My body is starting to hurt in places that I didn't even know existed.  When you are young, you can move your body any way you please.  Lately, I have taken up an aerobics class called, "Zumba."  Basically, it is a bunch of 30-50 year olds who are pretending like they are back on the high school dance team.  But, unfortunately my body is not the same as it was in high school.  That stupid class did something to my back.  It hurts and bad.  Usual tasks like getting up and down hurt like the dickens.  So, it looks like Zumba is out for me.  Now I need to go to "chair yoga" with all the down and outers. Thankfully, these sweet friends were very patient with me and my back.  Usually, I am going up & down non-stop during a session.  It just took me a little longer this time around.  We met up at O'More College of Design in Franklin, TN.  Beautiful little campus!  Ben & Polly are just beautiful people- on the inside and obviously on the outside!  And, they have one cute-o little boy, Graham!  He seriously melts the lens off my camera.  Thanks for the great time together... enjoy some of my favorites..

Give Thanks | Nashville Family Photographer

So, I was walking around the house this beautiful fall morning singing "Give Thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ His Son..."  Many of you know exactly the tune and are probably singing it to yourself right now.  Sorry if I got it stuck because it won't get out of my head either!  But, I must admit- those words are nice to hear ringing between your ears throughout the day.  A great reminder to give thanks instead of always complaining, always needing and never resting in the pleasure of the good things that surround me.  I am sitting here at one of my favorite coffee spots in Nashville and keep thinking how thankful I am.  Thankful for the ability to do what I love and then go home to what I love even more.  This life is full of richness if we just take the time to look for it and be thankful. As I was editing these photos, I found myself being thankful for the little things.  For smiles.  For leaves that are golden.  For the sun shining through the gaps.  For families that are in love.  All of these things (and more!) kept speaking to me as I enjoyed editing some of my favorites.  Thanks to Luke & his parents for a great afternoon together.  The weather could not have been more perfect!  Hope you enjoy this little sneak peek...

Celebration of Life | Nashville Maternity Photographer

I met up with Jennifer & Kevin this past weekend to photograph the beauty of pregnancy.  As I have said before, I really believe that maternity photos are so important to capture because it is such a miraculous, short-lived experience.  You will never, ever have that sweet baby in your womb again.  You will miss the kicks and the way it would hiccup at 2:00am in the morning.  You will want to remember the way your stomach stretched so much further than you thought possible.  You will want to remember the longing and anticipation to actually see & feel the tiny fingers wrapping around your own.   When I look back at the photos of when I was pregnant with BG, I can see a different person.  One that really didn't understand the fulness of a mother's love but was right on the brink of finding out.  I see a woman who was radiating because a precious life was growing inside her.  But, most of all I am amazed at the miracle of it all.  She was there and now she is almost 5.  You can't go back...ever.  But, I always look at those photographs to remember. So, I hope these photographs will allow Jennifer & Kevin to remember as well... I hope you enjoy this sneak peek into your session!  You guys seriously were so great to work with and I can't wait to meet your little one!

I Just Can't Stop Myself | Nashville Family Photographer

Ok, so my honest husband James likes to critique my work every now & then.  And, I actually enjoy it too because I know he will really be honest with me.  So, in one of the last photos I posted, he told me that it was a little too dark/bland.  So, I used a few of my new tools in photoshop and tried to make it pop a little more.  So, I thought I would post it to show the correction.  But, then I started looking through the photos again and just could not help myself.  Here are a "few" more of my favorites from the session... The Corrected Image:

Love Affair Workshop | Dallas, TX

I had the honor of being able to attend the last Love Affair workshop after 4 years of great success!  It was truly more than I could have even imagined or hoped for.  Not only did I learn so much, I also met some amazing women that I know will be friends for a lifetime.  There was so much creative energy in one room, I could hardly contain myself.  My brain and heart felt like it could burst at any minute!  The four women who taught are not only amazing photographers but just darn, good people too.  They inspired. loved. cheered. told the truth. gave. danced. hee-hawed.  critiqued with love.  and threw one amazing party. One day they gave us models (or some of us families- yay!) and we could go out and shoot for a little over an hour.  I had the best-looking family in Dallas.  And, let me tell you these three boys were champs!  I photograph kids all of the time and know how tiring it can be on little ones- especially in the Dallas heat.  They did not complain one.single.time.  I was so thankful to be able to work with such an amazing, loving family.  Below are a few of my favorite images from our time together.

Reminders of Love | Nashville Photographer

I find it so hard to balance being not only a mother but also a wife.  The latter usually gets somewhat squashed with young kids running around vying for every attention and affection that one can muster throughout the day.  All that is left at the end of the day is a worn-out soul and body.  Young Moms need reminders.  Not just memories of the past but also visible proof that the spark still exists.  Beautiful photographs, such as the ones below, can do just that.  Their son, Roman, was running around while these photographs were taken but you would never know.  That is what love looks like as  young parents.  Craziness may be all around you but don't forget about the love that created the craziness.  That is what holds it together.

Love | Nashville Engagement Photographer

I had a great time with this couple as we spent some time out at the Factory in Franklin for a few engagement shots.  It is always fun to document life at different stages and new love, whether it be a newborn or an engagement, it is always the same!  Pure joy.  Pure excitement.  Pure enchantment.  And, this cute couple was no different.  They are so in love and you can see it through their photos.  Thanks again for a great time and hope to see you two again in the future!