Jenna & Christian Anniversary Session

I'm catching up on some blog posts!  Lately Anniversary sessions have found a special place in my heart.  Engagement sessions are fun because everything is new and exciting.  But anniversary sessions have such a deeper tone to them.  There's something about celebrating the fact that you've made it through it all that brings everything alive.  Nothing beats saying, "I choose you every damn day and I'm going to keep choosing you."  

Holiday Mini Sessions

It's hard to believe it's that time of year again!  It's time to gear up for the busy holiday season and this means marking your calendar to get some holiday photos done.  I'm so excited to be offering mini sessions this year at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens!  Holiday Mini sessions are SO much fun.  For me it's the beginning of the festive holiday season watching everyone dress up, enjoy some holiday goodies, and get into the spirit of the season.  Sessions are limited so please contact me today to reserve your time slot!

Lily and the Dog Days of Summer

Lemonade stands, bubbles, and sprinklers--what could remind you more of those dog days of summer?  As many of you know I had been dying all summer to do a "sprinkler" session with some willing little person.  Miss Lily volunteered!  I fell so in love with this session.  Everything from the bubbles in the air to Lily's wet hair to her sweet smile just warm my heart.  I hope it will yours too.

 

Free Engagement Session Finalists

I had so many amazing Brides at the Pink Bridal show that I just could not choose a winner for the Free Engagement/Bridal Session contest!  So this year I decided to leave that up to you, my readers, and the couples families and friends.  I have narrowed it down to three amazing couples and now its up to you to vote!  Vote for your favorite couple to win!  Voting will be open all week and on Friday I will announce the winner!  Don't forget to share this post on Facebook to get more votes.  Good luck! [polldaddy poll=9038850]

How to Communicate with Your Photographer

Like all good relationships, communication is key.  This rule applies with your Photographer whether it is a wedding or portrait session.  The more I communicate with a client, the more at ease we both are and the more we both have a clear vision of the session.  Plus, it's really fun!  I mean what's the point of having all these pinterest boards if you can't share them with someone?

If communication is key, then how do we go about it?  Welcome to the wild world of technology!  It can be overwhelming but we also have amazing options to communicate even if you are planning a wedding from Zanzibar.  P.S. If you are planning a wedding from Zanzibar just have it THERE.  I'll come to you!

1. Meet and Greet If at all possible, go to your consultation with your photographer.  I know this is occasionally not an option due to distance but then set up a Skype consultation.  There are so many options!  I like to have both Bride and Groom at the consultation.  It is going to be awkward otherwise when I show up to capture the Groom getting ready and we're meeting for the first time.  It's his big day too ladies so lets get him in on this important aspect!  At your consultation, whether its your first or second, take time to get to know your photographer and see if you click.  They are going to do the same for you.
2. Dream So you met your photographer.  Awesome.  Now what?  The wedding is a year (possibly  more possibly less) away!  We don't have to talk on the phone everyday but keep your photographer in the loop by sharing your dream with them.  Weddings change a lot from the initial "I Will" to the "I Do."  One of my favorite ways to do this is to share pinterest boards.  It's an awesome visual tool and also helps me to see what my clients are drawn to.  The key here is to keep it up to date though!
3. Keep Us in the Loop I try to check in with my Brides regularly but it's also nice when they reach out with questions via phone, email, or text.  After all I'm here for you!  Don't be afraid to reach out to your photographer.
4. Take Your Time With Your Answers Many photographers have Brides and Grooms fill out Questionnaires, Shot List, and/or Timelines as the wedding date approaches.  We know it's crunch time!  However, take your time to answer the questions, fill everything out, and give us any last minute details that maybe you haven't thought of before.  Having a surprise Daddy Daughter Dance?  Let us know so we can be on our toes!  Changing the location of the exit?  Definitely mark that down.  We can roll with the punches but the more we know the better.
5. We're Here for You After All I really love to get to know my clients and several of them have become close friends.  When you are working with someone closely on a big event like this you naturally become close.  I guarantee every photographer I know has talked to a crying Bride, worked through a crisis, or just sympathized on the stress of planning.  As a Professional, I have seen the ins and outs of many weddings and it's okay to let your photographer know what's stressing you out.  They might have some helpful hints or tips that can help.

What to Wear for Your Engagement Session

You've found a photographer and signed up for an engagement session!  Hooray!  Now what?  Where to go?  And most importantly...what do you wear?  Gone are the days of overly matchy outfits and in are subtle color palettes.  Here are a few tips on what to wear to get you inspired.

Many of these tips can be applied not only for engagement sessions but any type of portrait session.

1. Color Choice Go for colors in a similar palette with pops of different colors.  I love Blake and Jodi's colors from their fall engagement session.  They choose from colors from that time of year with browns, oranges, cream, and navy.  Later they had reds, cream, and more blue with Jodi wearing a plaid shirt dress.  Keep your colors seasonal!
2. Keep the Colors Subtle Gone are the days where everyone wore matching blue shirts and jeans for family or engagement portraits.  I love a variety of colors and textures that are pulled together by one theme.  See the example below from the Smith's family portraits (it's easier to see the subtlety in a bigger group).
3. Flowers Aren't Just For Your Wedding Day Your engagement session is a great opportunity to test run some of  your potential vendors including your florist!  I love a beautiful bouquet, a dreamy flower crown, or small flower hair piece to take a session to the next level.  This is also a great opportunity to try out your make up artist and hair stylist.
4. Don't be Afraid to Get Flirty or Formal One of the great aspects of an engagement session is you can have a couple different moods just by bringing a change in attire.  I love for my clients to have a casual and a formal look.  I think it adds a little romance for the girls to have a skirt or dress.  Make a date night out of it!  Have your last outfit be a beautiful dress and the Groom to Be in a casual suit.  Finish up your session and then go out on the town! Most of all communicate with your photographer!  I am here to help my clients dream up their perfect engagement sessions.  I love working on details with clients.  I often share pinterest boards, talk about locations that are special to them, and even pick out outfits over the phone.  I want you to look and feel your best on the first step to celebrating the two of you!

Mother's Day Mini Sessions

It's not too late!  If you are still searching for a Mother's Day gift I am still booking Mother's Day Mini Sessions for Saturday, May 16th.  This would make a great gift for that special Mom in your life.  Email me today to hold your time slot!

Focus on the Details

What makes a great visual story?  Portraits? Emotion? Location?  Context?  Details?  The truth is all of these scrambled together are what make a story ring true.  All of these aspects help us to encompass the full story of a moment or a day.

Lately I have been really been moved with how authentic my fellow photographers are with their struggles and where they are on their creative journey.  So with all transparency, where do I struggle?  Details.  Details are not my thing.  Speed Racer will be the first to tell you that I am a big picture person.  I love people and emotions so that is where I am most comfortable and the photos that I am drawn to.  However, when you really go back and look through photos its those tiny details that drive the story home.  It's the photos of a grandmother's jewelry on a wedding day; or tiny toes at a newborn shoot; or the disaster of a kitchen after pancake making during a day in the life session.  I CHERISH these little details and yet they are the photos that I struggle with most in capturing.  Maybe because I know they are so important?  Or maybe because I am so enthusiastic its sometimes difficult to slow down?  Whatever the reason I am determined to work on these in my own work.  THUS!  The Focus on the Details series.  This series is a challenge to myself to work on capturing details not only in my professional work but in my personal work as well.  Stay tuned to see how these evolve!

P.S.  Photographer or creative professional?   What do you struggle with in your work?  Comment below!

Jaimie

Candoro Marble is a beautiful venue that originally was the showroom and office for Candoro Marble Company.  When Jaimie said she was looking for a vintage backdrop for some soft and classic boudoir photos, I knew that this was the place.  The beautiful show room, wrought iron gates, and slightly decaying rooms spoke of Greecian statues...it was perfect.

Enduring and beautiful boudoir (especially outdoor) has always been a passion of mine.  I love helping women to be confident and feel beautiful.  Boudoir takes a lot of trust, and when a client opens up and is vunerable with me in that way I am just in awe.  I always strive to convey that moment with beautiful images, and it is an area of my work I am looking to expand.

Jaimie's session was so much fun!  Her timeless features combined with her simple and sweet styling are absolutely stunning.  Candoro has so much to offer as a backdrop that during our planning sessions we agreed we wanted to keep her look simple yet elegant, and let the venue do the rest.  Here are a few of my favorites and proves that some of the most beautiful and sexiest images are not about baring it all.

Oh Baby Baby

In case, I forgot to mention it...Speed Racer and I are pregnant!  We are having a baby and quite soon too I might add!  Our little one is set to make its debut February 3rd, 2015.  So between holidays and preparing for baby, the posts and updates may be few and far between.  I appreciate your patience during this time, especially all of my clients who have already shown me so much patience and love!  I cannot wait to share the next stage in our life with you as well as my photography career.  Here's to the next adventure!

A special thinks also to Kayla with Kayla F Photography!  I cannot get over my amazing maternity session with her and adore each and every beautiful image she took!