Dillen: Smyrna, TN Children's Photographer

Meet Dillen, cute, full of energy, and super smart! I had the best time with this sweet family while taking pictures of their adorable two year old little girl! I love working with kids; it's very different than working with adults when it comes to portraits. I have a heavy preference for natural images, if you've worked with me - you know there is very little 'sit still and...smile.' Grown ups take some work before they loosen up in front of a camera. For me, it's almost easier with kiddos - everything you capture is natural, in the moment, honest expressions - because that's all they have. They don't know or care how they are 'supposed' to act in front of a camera...they just want to play. So I say to parents with young children, if you hire me to photograph them - don't worry if they are not looking at the camera, don't worry if they are playing in the dirt, if it makes them happy - let them do it. (This is by no means meant to apply to raising children...just photographing them) Because happy kids are the easiest ones to work with and they make the best pictures. As you can see below, Dillen played - she had fun the whole time and was so taken with an abandoned road and a puddle at the end that she didn't want to leave!

Brooke and Joe: Nashville, TN Engagement Photography

Brooke and I went to high school together but of course lost touch like everyone from high school does until facebook reunited us all in recent years. Of course I was thrilled when she contacted me interested in wedding photography. We got together two weeks ago to shoot their engagement pictures. We had a long but super fun day exploring the city and finding little nooks to snap some pictures in. Brooke hasn't changed since high school...I don't know how THAT'S fair! And Joe was so fun, and he LOVED to make her laugh. If you look closely Brooke is nearly on the verge of hysteria in almost every image. You'll notice our session was set in beautiful downtown Nashville.










I have to admit looking at these now tugs at my heart a bit...not only because the couple is adorable and so clearly crazy about each other but because many of the places in these photos are now underwater. The floods that devastated middle Tennessee last weekend has left our city in shambles, of course we'll recover, but it will take time and hard work to get our city back to the way it was. It's so odd to look at these pictures and think that we were just walking there, laughing, talking, snapping pictures...and now it's just a muddy submerged mess. I can only imagine what those who lost everything are going through - no. No actually, I can't imagine it. My heart goes out to them, my prayers, my thoughts - everything.

Heather and George: Nashville, TN Wedding Photographer

So, I finally did it. My first wedding as a professional photographer! Not an assistant, not a second shooter, not a 'friend' that takes good pictures...THE actual WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER. If you know me or have been following my work you know that this is not something I take lightly. Since I started this little endeavor I have always had aspirations of moving into wedding photography. Surprisingly this did not appear to be a difficult task...at first. I say this because almost as soon as I invested in photoshop and started booking portrait sessions, people started coming out of the woodwork asking if I could photograph their wedding. I was most certainly NOT ready and the thought of being responsible for capturing a couple's special day literally terrified me. So, politely - I declined several inquiries and continued working solely on improving my skills in both capturing and editing. After lots of work, several shadow and assist experiences, I made the decision that in 2010 - if anyone were to ask, I would say yes.

I cannot begin to explain how thrilled I was when Heather contacted me on facebook. She is the cousin of one of my closest friends and in getting to know her over the last two years; I count her as a friend as well. After several disclaimers - "Heather, you know I have never done a wedding before, are you sure you want me to do this???" She was on a budget and my lack of experience provided a cheap solution - and after some encouragement from her and some other family and friends. I agreed. Heather and George were married at the Carriage Lane Inn in downtown Murfreesboro. The ceremony was so touching and it went off without a hitch. I just can't get enough of these two...really. I just love them both to death and I am so thankful and thrilled that they allowed me to be part of their beautiful day! This was my first but definitely won't be my last. I already have 4 more booked for the year and am excited about this new road! Thanks again Heather and George, I hope you love them!!!