Franklin, Brentwood, and Nashville TN newborn, child, and family photographer

Graceyn: 6 months | Brentwood TN Baby Photographer

August 5, 2012

I got to meet a new little friend, Graceyn, yesterday. She was a smiley little girl, though that may have been in large part due to her grandparents who happily sang and entertained her while I shot away. Hmm… maybe I need to encourage grandparents to be around at sessions more often!

It was humid outside since it had been sprinkling earlier, and these sweet little curls began to appear! Mom and Dad swore they have no idea where they come from. Regardless, I think they are precious. Who doesn’t love baby curls?

Lexi’s 1st birthday | Nashville Birthday Photographer

August 5, 2012

I’ve known Lexi since she was a newborn (and her mom for a few years prior), so it was so fun to join the celebration yesterday for Lexi’s 1st birthday! Her mom, Andrea, planned for a lovely lunch at the Pineapple Room at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. After eating, the group enjoyed some cake before heading outside to walk the grounds and see the current Treehouse exhibit.

Every new 1 year old reacts to their cake differently. Let me tell you– Lexi was all in! The instant it was put in front of her, she was ready to dig in! We all got a good laugh out of it.

I’m pretty sure this sweet girl just doesn’t stop smiling. It probably doesn’t hurt that she was surrounded by those who love her the most on her special day. 🙂

Check out this good looking family. 🙂

Wedding flashback + the digital age | Franklin TN Family Photographer

July 31, 2012

You know, it’s funny to think about how photography has changed in the past several years. Yesterday was my 7th wedding anniversary (woohoo!), and it has me reflecting. I’m not a wedding photographer, but I follow quite a few online and have noticed how many of them package their products.

Dallas and I don’t have a disc of full size images from our wedding. Instead, we have a beautiful album and then a disc with tiny image thumbnails. Files that are so small that they probably couldn’t even be printed into a quality 4×6. Sure, Facebook existed seven years ago, but it wasn’t being used as a mega photo-sharing site like it is today. It never even crossed my mind that I might want digital files, and I don’t think it was ever part of the discussion with our wedding photographer. Fast forward to 2012. I bet the vast majority of wedding photographers include a disc of images with a custom album in their price lists/packages. I’d be willing to bet that pretty much every bride nowadays wants that, too.

Because life today is digital– people constantly on email, Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc.– clients desire and expect digital images. Portrait photographers actually often disagree over whether or not clients should have access to digital files, so many of them price those files extraordinarily high to try to avoid some of that. Wanting digital access makes sense to me and is one of the main reasons I give discs of edited images to my clients. When I take my family to get photographed these days, I want digital files so I have flexibility to use and print them however I’d like.

Herein lies the problem: we then have to take the extra step to have prints made if we are only walking away with a disc. Sometimes, I wonder if client photos get shared online and then are never actually printed and put in frames. I’ll be honest– I have done this myself. <<Head hanging>> One way that I do try to help this is by passing along discounts when I see them on Mpix.com or other quality printing companies. All of this is to say– please PLEASE take the time to print out your favorite images, whether they are from a shoot with me or a snapshot from your family vacation. Digital files are wonderful, but they don’t do a whole lot of good if you don’t display prints of them where you can enjoy them. One of my favorite things in our house is this frame in our kitchen that displays family photos. Seeing those smiles each time I walk through the kitchen or as I eat a meal is priceless.

(Total side note for my local clients– the Ritz/Wolf Camera store [one of the printing locations I recommend] in Cool Springs Mall closed several weeks ago. The Brentwood location on Franklin Road is still open, however, and they assured me that they are sticking around. I believe there is also a Nashville location, so you could check their website for more information.)

Ok, and because I mentioned my anniversary, here’s a page out of our album:

(And yes, he wore his dress blues! LOVE.)

What to wear: Summertime | Franklin TN Family Photographer

July 16, 2012

This latest installment of “What to Wear” features a slightly more casual collection of looks. I generally recommend wearing clothes that are comfortable and represent your everyday style… maybe the “polished” version of it. 🙂 You will be FAR more at ease. If you schedule a full session, we often have time for an outfit change. That would give you a chance to do a few photos in your Easter best (if that’s what you want) and then we can additionally do more lifestyle-type photos.

Sloane: 6 months | Nashville Baby Photographer

June 24, 2012

This baby girl should look familiar, though she has grown so much in the few months since I last saw her! (Here are her newborn session and her 3 month old session.) She is now the spitting image of her daddy! It is so fun to see how babies change so much over the first several months. Sloane has such a sweet personality, and I loved getting to snuggle with her a little at the end of our session.

I often recommend that the 6 month session be pushed back either to the end of the month or be done when the child is actually 7 months old because one of the big milestones you want to photograph at this point is sitting up! Waiting a couple extra weeks can make all the difference. Even if your child sits up early, that extra time can ensure that he/she is more stable, which is key for safety. Either way, I always have a parent right out of the camera frame (within arm’s reach of the child) in case it looks like a little one might tumble.

I’ve mentioned before how special it is for a client to bring personal items to a session. This time, Sloane’s parents brought her red wagon, a favorite stuffed animal, and a gorgeous quilt made by a family member. (I actually suggested to Sloane’s mom that she tell the quilt-maker to quit her current job and begin sewing full time because she would have photographers and mothers alike knocking down her door!)