Liz: Boudoir Shoot - Chattanooga Photographer

I have been an avid Victoria's Secret magazine reader since I was twelve.  Thus, it is no surprise that boudoir shoots are my FAVORITE session.  It's so gratifying to take "everyday" women and make them feel like supermodels. From the outfits to the make-up to the lights, it's so much fun! For months Liz was paying for a gym membership that she wasn't using.  She needed to find a reason and excuse for getting back into a workout routine.  Setting up a boudoir shoot was definitely the answer :) I can't get over how AMAZING Liz looks in her pictures.  When I showed her some images off my camera as I was shooting, she squealed with joy!  For the entire shoot she remained upbeat and full of laughter, which is her personality 99% of the time :) Anyhow, here are a few of my favorites that I can share:

I always tell girls to pull items from their closet to wear for these shoots.  The following outfit probably cost $15.  I let Liz borrow my "vest cape" for the shoot.  I got it at Express for $9.99.

Great abs, Liz! 

I love these next 2 shots!  I think they show Liz's fun-loving personality.

Simply beautiful.

I love the softness in this next one.

This next one just speaks to me.  It's so simple, elegant, and telling of a woman.  

A little disheveled hair is a must :)

A perfect boudoir model!

Debbie - Nashville Portrait Photographer

Last month I received the opportunity to photograph Debbie in Nashville at Centennial Park. The Friday that we were going to have our session was a total wash so we waited until Sunday.  It turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL day although we had to fight a lot of traffic within the park.  Little did we know, an "Arts and Crafts Show" was being held in the park that day.  AND little did I know, Centennial Park is huge! Debbie and I exchanged several phone calls before we actually found each other.  Being a photographer certainly can be an adventure!  I feel like I've been site-seeing all year! haha! 

Debbie was so much fun to photograph! She was up for anything! She is stylish, independent, and successful in her career . . . all the things I hope to be :) I loved getting to edit through Debbie's photos.  The light was quite amazing around sunset.  I told Debbie that I was going to try really hard to shoot into the sun because I want to master that technique.  If I see that I have a weakness, I throw a lot of my energy into changing it.  When I was younger, I was told to stick with English because I wasn't so great at math and could not read graphs.  So what did I do in college? I majored in Finance and Economics :) LOL!  I don't think anyone should accept having a weak side of the brain.  ANYWAY, I got so tickled retouching the following pictures! I think Debbie could be a Talbots model or something.  I hope when she sees these pictures she says, "Mmm! I look GOOD. I just can't stop staring at myself . . . uh huh!" haha!

Very colorful!

At the Parthenon

I LOVE this picture! So Cool!

Debbie is glowing . . . literally :)

She could be a model! See!

This is another one of my favorites! I loved her purple shirt for these next shots! It really popped in her photos.  GORGEOUS!

I love the colors in these pictures! What a great fall picture!

Sneak Peek: October Weddings

Get excited because I have some great things coming up on the blog! Here's a sneak peek from my October weddings :)

Walt and Desiree: Love that I caught the moon :)

TJ and Ginny: Love those clouds! Thank goodness it didn't rain!

Ginny: Bridal - Knoxville Wedding Photographer

Before I embark upon another wedding weekend, I wanted to post a few of my favorite images from Ginny's bridal portraits.  Although some storm clouds loomed during our session, the scariest part of the day was the neighbor's dog! haha! Just as I was getting Ginny posed for her next shot, this playful puppy from next door came running over the hill.  And you can only guess who he wanted to play with!  Quickly, Ginny gathered her dress around her waist and stuck her heel out and yelled, "No! Stay!" Being that this dog was young, he didn't respond to commands very well. Thinking that the dog would soon get tired, I tried playing with him for a while. Unfortunately, I tuckered out before the dog. Thankfully Ginny's mom was there to distract the puppy from pawing all over Ginny and me.  For the next ten minutes Ginny and I were able to get some photos unbothered.  Just as I was squatting down to get another shot, I suddenly felt two furry arms wrap around my neck from behind and a tongue in my ear!  This puppy was not going to give up on us! Although his persistence was slightly endearing, I found myself pouring sweat running in between Ginny's dress and the dog for the next 30 minutes. Finally, the owner of the dog called for him.  In a flash the dog was gone.  Needless to say, I was exhausted after the photo shoot! It's not every day that I have to save a wedding dress from muddy little paws :) 

I think this might be my favorite :) 

 

I love this candid as well!

Party for 21, please!

Today is October 21st. Bethany and I celebrated our birthdays together September 12th. My real birthday was August 13th. As you can see, I get around to having a personal life on occasion. LOL! For my birthday I asked for a party as my gift and to have help taking pictures so I could remember the day. Now, I do enjoy getting "stuff." However, I've learned that memories can come with me anywhere and I can enjoy them while listening to a boring lecture, driving my car, or blow drying my hair in the morning. When Nathan and I went to Europe for 2 months, he would often find me with a small smile across my face as I would stare outside the train window. Annoyed he would ask, "Are you thinking about Sophie again?" hahaha! Although I would lie and say no, he would insist that there are only three things that can make me smile like that. He would say, "I don't believe you. You're either thinking of Sophie, chocolate, or something shiny."

See! Memories are the perfect gift! I took mine half way across the world and didn't have to pay extra for the baggage :) Anyway, the birthday brunch turned out great! We had 18 attend (21 if you count the dogs . . . which we always do). My sister Kristen even came in from Alabama and brought her little yorkie Mia! Here are a few of my favorite images from the party:

The invite from Personally Yours in Knoxville

Front door and backyard

All chairs, tables, and tablecloths from Bradley Rentals in Cleveland

Part of the centerpiece

Bethany and her yorkie Sasha

My sister Kristen and I . . . oh and Mia!

My mom being a wonderful hostess

Grilled apple salad

Apple Crumb Cake from The Bread Basket in Cleveland. It was VERY good and moist. Highly recommend :)

Quiche and cheese straws from The Fresh Market

Bethany and Sarah

I love this candid of Paige! She loves to stalk my blog so I decided to stalk her at the party. haha!

Me, my lil' snaggle-toof, and Paige

My sister Kristen and her baby Mia. I made that hat for Mia. Cute, huh?

Look at my mom in the background! She gets so tickled over Mia. Mia is mom's first "gan-baby." hehe!

P.S: If you think you might be interested in buying this house, please click here. My parents are selling!

The Hackworths - Knoxville Family Photographer

Me: "Nathan! I think I'm in Clinton, TN . . . somewhere.  It's pouring the rain and my car has been hydro-planing.  I don't know what I'm going to do for this shoot! It's at some house . . . that I've never seen before.  I won't be able to shoot outside, which was my plan! Ugh! This rain!

Nathan: "Why don't you cancel?"

Me: "I can't! They're only in town for this weekend!"

Nathan: "I don't know what to tell you honey.  You'll be fine."

Me: "Oh this day! I guess I'll go with the non-plan plan! . . . . I'll see you when I get home."

Click

Yes, this was the start to a dreary Sunday morning a few weeks ago as I was driving to photograph the Hackworths.  Although I despise not having a plan for shooting, I actually think the "flying by the seat of my pants" plan worked out quite well and pushed me to think outside the box, trying new techniques.  The Hackworths were such a joy to work with and Stuart (the dad) was cracking me up as he assisted me with getting the girls camera ready.  He would say, "Hand on hip. AND SMILE! . . . Say, "CHEESE PICKLES!" LOL! All the while his wife's mom would walk by, pause, and with lifted eye-brow say, "Stuart, you aren't right." haha!  Stuart made a great assistant and kept everyone in good spirits despite the rain.  And, although I had a great time photographing this family, the highlight of my day was walking into a room that contained a GOLDEN DOODLE!  What is a golden doodle you might ask? Well, it's a golden retriever poodle mix! It was like seeing my little Sophie but bigger.  I was so excited to be seeing a golden doodle for the very first time that I forgot to take a picture! Ah! But I did give it a hug . . . which will last in my memory forever :) Anyway, here are some of my favorite images from the day:

I love these first 2 pictures! They look so heavenly with the light! I used a white sheet and a studio light from my car.

All the rest had to be taken outside on the front porch.  It was still pouring the rain.

I snapped this next pic as Stuart was getting Emme ready for the next shot.  Love the eskimo kiss :)

Look at this tummy!

Miss Ellary! Don't you just love the girls' outfits? And trust me, they didn't just do this for the shoot.  They have a whole plethora of matching outfits.

Miss Eliza! The eldest of the 3 sisters :)

I couldn't believe that Shana had a matching outfit for the newborn as well!  Emme was exhausted! hehe! Cute!

Such good sisters :)

Grandpa and Emme!

My attempt to get the whole family on the porch.  Can you see the rain in the background? Still pouring . . .