Halloween Mini-Sessions Survey

I am taking a bit of a survey to see if there is any interest in Halloween Mini-sessions this year. Halloween is a pretty big deal at our house, and we always have a Halloween photo shoot.   

I know as the kids get older, I will cherish these photos.  

I even decorate with them at Halloween.  I love having them in frames on the table in the foyer.

 

 

So please email me if you are interested in scheduling a Halloween mini-session.  I would love to do these this year as long as there is enough interest.  Thanks!

Photography Tip - Back to School

Today was the first day of school for my kiddos.  We of course had to take the first-day-of-school photo before they left this morning.  

While these are not works of art, they are some of the photos I treasure the most. It was funny because when we went outside to the porch the kids didn’t even have to ask where to go.  They all just went to the far column and turned around. This is our designated first-day-of-school photo spot.  Do you have one?  I started this on Elizabeth's first day of Kindergarten, and I am so glad I did.  This way it is easy to see year after year just how much she has grown.  It's enough to bring a tear to a mom's eye.

This is Kindergarten through 3rd grade for Elizabeth.  

A couple other things to note.  I always have the kids wear their backpacks.  So much thought goes into the perfect backpack, so you want to remember those!  Plus, it will be fun to look back and see what they were into when they were in 1st or 2nd grade. I always take a head shot or something waist up, but I make sure that I take that full length shot. You've got to get a shot of the new shoes.  Heaven knows that is the only day they will look like that!

I think you get the picture. It only takes about 5 minutes, but with a little forethought you can have back-to-school photos that you will treasure long after they have outgrown Barbie and Spiderman.

Andrea and John Engaged | Southern Tennessee Wedding Photographer

I was so excited when Andrea contacted me about photographing her upcoming wedding.  Her sisters and I have become friends since I started photographing their families in the past couple years.  I just love them, and I knew Andrea had to be just as sweet. I was correct, and her fiance John is also a sweetheart.  

We decided to meet at Andrea's parents' home for a mini-engagement shoot. I had used this location for her sister, Amanda's family a couple summers ago, and I knew it would be perfect.

They are just so sweet together. 

Andrea is a pediatrician and John is an auctioneer. Two very neat professions!

It is easy to see that John is very much smitten by his bride to be.  It's easy to see why.  She is pretty much adorable.

They were so sweet and so much fun that I cannot wait to shoot their wedding next month.

I know it is going to be wonderful!  And I believe they will have a long and wonderful life together.

They call him Secret Agent | Southern Tennessee Child Photographer

After I finished up a session yesterday morning, I had a mini-session with my favorite 6-year-old secret agent. 

We had gone shopping the day before and he picked out this t-shirt.  When I started getting his outfit together for his portraits, he said he really wanted to wear it.  I told him that we would change into the t-shirt after I had taken his photo in the outfit I chosen.  The ones in my choice are adorable of course, but these are Stewart at age six.  No doubt about it. I guess that is why I like them more than the ones I had envisioned.

This is my absolute favorite. The poses.  The glasses.  All Stewart.

I'm so glad I let him wear what he wanted. Sometimes they have the best ideas!

Triple Threat | Southern Tennessee Child Tween Photographer

I took a little time off this summer.  My kids had swim team four nights a week, and I just felt we needed a little more family time.  Swim team ended this past weekend, so I guess that means it is time to get back into the game.  The photography game.  This morning was a great kickoff.

I met three of my favorites clients for a summer shoot.  We've done a lot of different settings, and this time I wanted to mix it up.  These are three awesome athletes, and I told their mom to bring along their sports stuff. Let me just tell you, those few props made this a shoot the kids enjoyed rather than one they dreaded. 

We started out with some casual shots.

Ben will be a sophomore this year and will be playing center for the high school football team.  Go Falcons!

Holt is such an awesome athlete.  I've seen him hit many 3-pointers.  I've never seen him play football, but I am sure he is going to be great at it, too!

Miss Amelia Kate. This is an early favorite of her. She is a little lady, but she is still the toughest bow-wearing soccer player you have ever seen! She and my Molly played together last year, and her dad and Molly's dad coached their team.  This year Amelia Kate has decided to play club soccer, and we are going to miss her!

 

It was hot.  So very hot, and I don't think I would have been any hotter if we had been at football or soccer practice.  But they didn't seem to mind.  I think they knew it was going to be worth it, and I could tell they liked the ones we did in their uniforms.  They called this one their Nike ad pose.

 

They look pretty intimidating to me!  Thanks for a great time this morning, guys.  Hope you like the sneak peek.  There are a whole lot more cool ones where these came from!