Derrick + Janel Matthews middle tennessee wedding photographer

You can read here all about the day. I came home from my first wedding last Saturday so happy.  And,
most would be like, really?  Weren't you tired.  Yes.  Wasn't it hard work.  Yes.  Didn't the rain get in
the way.  Yes.  Did you work it out?  Heck Yes we did.  This couple have come near and dear to my
heart.  It seems all my couples do, but isn't that the way it should be?  I wanted to capture the night
the way I knew they wanted it to be.  I wanted to be there at every moment, capture every little thing
so when Janel & Derrick look back 20 years from now they can remember just how the night went.
I want them to remember the emotions, the fun cousins, the sorority sister serenade, the toasts made by
grandparents that made us all laugh, the moments when good friends were reminiscing about the old days,
and remember how at the end of the night the crazy photographer was having everyone put on a show just
so she could capture it for all of them to laugh at later.  {and, for all you cousins, sisters & brothers...I did
get all of those moments and Yes, they are on Janel's slideshow.  if you haven't seen it yet...you just wait...
I laughed my tail off watching it}.

To Janel & Derrick -- Thank You from the bottom of my heart.  I am so glad you found me and asked me
to be a part of your Wedding Day.  I hope I exceeded your expectations and you feel you now have
moments captured that you can cherish forever.

To the family & friends of Janel & Derrick -- Thank You for making me feel like I was part of the family.
I had so much fun with every one of you and look forward to hearing from you when you see the photos.
Sure was Good Times!!

All my love to all!

sophie + jackson middle tennessee baby photographer

So, you have seen one of these little bugs before if you follow my blog!  Sweet Sophie is now 1!!
Can you believe it?  What you may not be able to believe is that SHE has a brand new baby brother!
Yes, my cousin is just as crazy as I am and now has two kiddos a little over a year apart.  It was
a little different for me to sit on the other side and see these two little angels interact.  When my Colton
was born I looked at Tyler like he was already a full blown toddler when in reality HE was still a baby.
Goodness, but as I told Rainee & Josh today I don't know where Tyler would be without Colton and the
other way around.  Jackson will feel the same way about Sophie and visa versa.

Anyway, enough about that!!

Sweet Sophie {aka Sophia} is a doll baby...still!  Being 1 she is inquisitive and always checking things out.
She was especially fond of "big daddy" {aka MY CAMERA}.  And, there was first son to Rainee & Josh,
Jackson Cash.  Love that name!  He was an easy as they come brand new baby.  Just adore the newest
addition to our family.

Love that this family IS family, but feel so grateful to be asked to capture their "life" and "family" often.
Love you guys!!

coe family middle tennessee child photographer

Oh, meet the BEAUTIFUL Coe family.  So very glad that sweet mom Ashley found me.

As each sibling sat in front of my camera I could feel my heart beat a little faster.  I knew it was going to be a
great session with the very first click of Ward.  Isn't he a doll?  Then came the sweet Emery and then
finally the big sis & beautiful Sydney.  It was so fun to watch siblings interact.  And, it was even more fun
to have them solo with just me & my camera and to watch their individual personalities come to life....

As we would walk from barn to barn Emery would grab my hand to hold and even sometimes Ward
would do it.  And, at the very end I got the biggest hug from Sydney.  All of those things touch my heart
more than they will ever really know.   And, it makes me big fluffy heart this job and it makes me want
to keep doing it for as long as I can!

I loved everything about this session and sure hope that I get to see this family over and over and over
again!!

allmon family middle tennessee maternity photographer

Meet the very sweet Allmon family.  Expecting their 2nd daughter in a few months!  Can you believe
sweet mom is 31 weeks!!  Geez....all I know is whatever my momma's to be are doing to look this good
I am going to get in on their secret.  Seriously.

We were about 45 minutes ahead of the storm that came through Nashville yesterday and it was perfect.
The wind was just right, the sky looked amazing and the sun was unbelievable.  Maybe I should plan
all my sessions right before a storm?  {totally kidding...we got lucky!}.

Anyway, I love me a trendy momma.  She had just the right style, the perfect look...it was so fun!  It didn't
take long to capture all these great shots.  I told Blakely at the end that if I could photograph every momma
to be for the rest of my career I would do it.  I love everything about a glowing momma to be.  Especially
one that doesn't mind one bit to show that tummy off.  It's such an amazing time that truly needs to be
captured.  hint hint...all you momma's to be!

Look forward to meeting baby girl when she arrives and getting to know this family so much more over
the next year as precious Princess grows!!  See you soon Allmon family!

declan 6 months middle tennessee baby photographer

Remember Declan??  Can you believe he is already 6 months old??!!   Sweet little guy was just as happy
as a bug yesterday.

The plan was to meet downtown Franklin, but with the Main Street Festival going on we didn't think it
would be such a good idea.  So, the place??  We met at my old stomping grounds, O'More College.
I hadn't been back since right after graduating in 2001, so I was so happy that it was even more
beautiful than what I remembered.

This family is just precious!  I am so lucky to see them every 3 months.  We were already planning his
1 year photos...and it involves ice cream, BUT FIRST we have to meet when this little guy is 9 months.
I can't wait!!

Declan -- See you in 3 short months cutie pie!  Keep that smile so big and those eyes so bright!!

janel + derrick say {I DO} middle tennessee wedding photographer

First wedding of the year....complete!!  Woop Woop

I arrived at the Hilton in Smyrna around 12:45....knocked on the bride's room door only to find the bride
MIA, but her sweet beautiful bridesmaids & some friends greeting me with a smile and informed me
that Janel was downstairs getting her make-up put on.  I got downstairs...saw Janel and immediately
hugged her neck.  She looked stunning.

I then decided to check on the groom and his men to see how things were going in their room.  Of course,
all 3 handsome fella's were dressed to impress and ready to get the show on the road!  I had a great time
hanging with them, using a cool light in the room as a spot light and having them cut up about high school
days.  Some jokes were even made about middle school days..now, if you go that far back then you
know there are some funny stories to share.  But, I promised what was mentioned in that room would
stay in that room.  lol

Finally made my way back up to the bride's room.  The bridesmaids were dressed in their canary yellow
J.Crew super cute dresses, the flower girl was getting her hair curled by her sweet mom and Janel was
ready to put her dress on.  Such a sweet moment as friends were helping Janel with her gown and with
the final touches with her earrings and necklace.

It was time to head over to the movie theater.  And, it was POURING.  But, it was important to J + D
to get some sweet moments captured at the theater because they are big movie buffs, so we made it
happen.  We only had a few minutes inside, but I believed we rocked it.  While we were there I decided
that we would take some shots outside by the brick wall {see photo below}.

So, now it was time to head back to the Hilton.  It was almost show time.  Ceremony started around 4:30.
To the right of me was the Matthew's family and to the left of me was the Smith family.  And, by the end
of the night there was no right or left side...it was all one big family, as one...celebrating a union that will last a
lifetime.

I can't wait to share all the special moments in preparation, during the ceremony, after the ceremony, to
when Janel + Derek jumped on the bed after it was all done, during the sorority sister serenade to Janel,
when the line sisters did their thing, first dance, cutting of the cake, silly moments when the cha-cha slide
was playing to when cousins got down on the dance floor when just the right song would come on.

It was such an amazing event filled with so much love!   Lots of "Amens" and "You know that's right"!

I feel so lucky to have been such a big part in the event.

All my love to the bride & groom!  Have a great time on your honeymoon.  Can't wait to share the
pictures with you when you return.

All my love always.

samuel 8 days young middle tennessee newborn photographer

Yes....he's precious.  Yes....he's perfect.  Yes...I am already in love with this precious boy!

Meet 8 days young Samuel Bailey.  He's the third child for this sweet family and the second son.
I won't go into details, but I am so glad he's here...he's healthy and that mom is on the mend.  She
looks stunning in these photos you wouldn't even know she just gave birth...geez.

Anyway, I don't know what it is, but all my little newborn bugs just don't want to sleep when I enter the
room.  I am saying it's because they love me and that I don't bore them enough!  LOL.  He was wide
eyed 99% of the time.  Which, honestly ...I didn't mind because his wide eyes are gorgeous.

I am so grateful to be apart of this families life for the next 12 months and I sure hope it extends further
than that.  See you in 3 short months!!  Don't grow too much sweet baby boy.  :)

madilyn 3 months middle tennessee baby photographer

Oh me oh my...sweet baby girl Madilyn Grace.  Is she not just a beauty?!  A doll for sure.

This was my first time meeting mom & dad.  Such a great couple.  Sweet Madi has 2 older brothers who
were in school this day so I didn't get the pleasure of meeting them.  I did get to check out their bedrooms
and saw that they were decorated  in Superhero stuff, so I know we are gonna get along just fine!  If
you didn't know...I have a Superman license plate on the front of my mini-van.  Yes, I know!

Anyway...back to this precious Angel.  She was just perfect.  Just smiled and made sweet sounds.
Loved the way she put as many fingers in her mouth as she could...and loved the face she made when
her tongue was sticking out.  I just adore this age.  They are learning so much.

I was happy that dad was able to swing by the house so I could get some shots of mom, dad and baby
girl.  I know Madilyn's grandma Marilyn is smiling down on her daughter Susan and so proud of her
and thankful for this new blessing in their life.

See you in 3 months Larson family!!  Can't wait to meet big brothers!