Tag Archives: Tennessee

Denley + Sanders Wedding | King’s Chapel, Arrington, TN | Nashville, TN Wedding Photographer

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It was a GORGEOUS Fall day for a wedding! April and Brandon’s sweet southern affair took place at the beautiful, quaint Kings Chapel.  I can’t count the times I’ve driven by it on my way down HWY 96/Franklin Road…and never knew it was there…an oversight for sure as it’s simply marvelous!

The couple and their party got ready at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Cool Springs, and we then took the short drive out to Arrington Vineyard to grab a few pre-wedding images.  The challenge of getting the Bride past the Groom in the car without seeing each other was made plausible by the use of a car sun shade…which while it gathered some hilarious looks from passersby worked splendidly.  It was an absolute dream weather day for a wedding photographer…the sky was picture perfect!!

April and Brandon are a couple after my own heart…from seating of the grandparents to their first kiss as husband and wife may have taken 15 minutes! The lovely chapel ceremony was lit beautifully by golden hour light flooding through the vintage feel white paned windows, and the light they walked out side to was even more amazemerizing. I couldn’t wait to get their first images in such ridiculous Fall light.

There were a few notable Football games going on that Saturday, and this football loving crew, He’s from a large Florida Gator loving fam, meshed well with me…the groomsmen and guests were keeping me up to date on the scores ;-)

Once we wrapped Bridal Party pictures everyone headed inside to the reception hall. All I have to say is THIS.CREW.CAN.DANCE!  Best reception of 2012 right there…the bar has been raised party rockers! They brought out a little “Satruday Night Fever”, A Soul Train Line…complete with The Sprinkler, The Shopping Cart, annnnnd the Worm which was preceded by a pretty stellar Patrick Swayze “Dirty Dancing”-esque knee slide!

To cap the night they made a super fun sparkler exit with Gator flags waving proudly…they’d just won the game!! A fitting wedding day victory for such a wonderful couple!

Here’s to April+Brandon…the new Sanders family!  I wish you a lifetime of wedded bliss, and thank you for allowing me to join in on your sweet day!

Fabulous Wedding Vendors who made this day possible:

Venue: Kings Chapel

Wedding Planner: A Magical Affair

DJ/Sound: Disc Jockeys Now

Cakes: Danna Thomas

Catering: Barbara’s Home Cooking

Flowers: Bride’s Mother

2012′s Best of My Best Image | Maternity: “Thoughts Aloft…” The Redux | Buck Bald, Tennessee

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Ever see a sky so absolutely beautiful it makes you cry? I have…
Ever had an idea that turned out better than you expected…and then later you re-do it, and it’s even more amazing than the first? I have…
Ever captured an image than you didn’t know how powerful it would be until you saw it, finished, on your screen? I have…

May 2010 I shot a maternity image for some dear clients and friends after a brainstorm idea I had after rediscovering some very ooolllld fabric…but for a little girl, and thus pink that was used in the original.

A few months ago I was introduced to Buck Bald, and I knew then I’d have to re-create my masterpiece up there. Little did I know what God had in store.

We journeyed the almost hour drive on a gloomy day, and along the way we were seeing the most insane, amazing, breathtaking clouds….waves, dips, peaks, valleys, all in seamless and endless ripples and rows. (If you know me AT ALL you know how much I LOOOVE Clouds, so this had me almost as giddy as Snow!)

It started to sprinkle when we were almost there, but I urged them on….knowing somehow deep within that it’d be even better “up top”.

It started to pour as we crested the hill, then quickly slacked off. I hopped out to grab some pictures in the then lighter rain, and left the momma to be and my mother in the vehicle to keep warm…and dry!

After the rain picked up again my awe turned into the realization that my camera isn’t waterproof! Thus I headed back to the van to dry off and warm my red, freezing hands, and check the radar…it was rain all around. :/ And I prayed…again…for just even 10 minutes to get this view AND these clouds WITH my brainchild.

He heard my prayers….the rain soon left, the wicked cool clouds were still throwing down some ridiculousness, and the wind was just about right.

We literally hopped out of the van, climbed the stairs, and positioned just right with the wind. I didn’t get many “keepers” as one tail would fly and the other wouldn’t, or they’d both immediately flop, but this one…well…it was more than I could’ve hoped for!

So, here’s to the brave Gerri Le who went along with me on a COLD, windy, rainy, dreary day to let me re-create my own brand of “magic”, my mother, of course, who I couldn’t have done this without her help, but mostly to God…for the beautiful miracle of life…and for the insane beauty He gave that day to make THIS image possible….

And YES...the sky really did look this AMAZING!

And YES…the sky really did look this AMAZING!

Rock the Shot

www.rocktheshotforum.com

Walking in Memphis | Natalie+Chris Engagement | Memphis, TN Photographer

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Here’s to friends and the internet!

Two years ago I shot my friend Stephanie and her hubs in Memphis (My FIRST trip there…EVER…was to shoot their engagement session) for their wedding. This fall I made only my 3rd trip to Memphis ever to capture the engagement images for Natalie & Chris.

I’ll make the trek at least two more times for her Bridal and then their Oct. 5th Wedding next Fall…and I’m STOKED! (Yes people still say that…well…at least I do! HA!)

It really is a cool town. I’m ever so thankful that Stephanie’s mom (a.k.a. “momma Rivalto”) dropped my name in the hat for their wedding photography pool, and even more that they chose me! This gal from a small town in Southeast Tennessee has a big love of travel, discovering new places, and meeting new people…especially ones who are as cool as cucumbers like Natalie and Chris.

Months of phone, text, and email correspondence culminated when I pulled in to for real one of the coolest parks on the planet! Shelby Farms Park is a GIANT old farm that they’ve preserved in to a park with just about anything you could want in a park. No really!

We met up at the horses, and just had a lot of fun feeding them (well…I shot, they fed).  I think the horses had a good time too, and might be just a little used to the camera. Haha!  It’s so fantastic when I meet people for the first time, and maybe it’s me, but it doesn’t feel awkward. Granted the talking we’d done via the internet and text probably helped, but I felt like I already knew Natalie, and Chris didn’t take any time all to warm up…or warm up to!

We shot around a small section of the park for a little while capturing images in the beauty that is Fall, and then headed downtown.  The ease of which these two love-birds adjusted in front of the camera was quick…and beautiful! I literally can.not.wait until their Wedding at Heartwood Hall next year! (We met up there the next day which is where I grabbed the ring shot, and I fell head over heels IN LOVE with that place!)

The Peabody Hotel at sunset is a MUST SEE…I learned that a couple of years ago when Stephanie and Matt took me up there! And it didn’t disappoint! We missed the duck walk (AGAIN!), and I was sad until we stepped out on the roof.

Being the old pro tour guide that I am (HA!) I took them to the back of the Duck Palace to show them where the ducks stay when they’re not performing. (For their privacy though I didn’t take their pictures….ok so I might’ve been so enthused at the sunset unfolding before me that I forgot…don’t judge me! Lol)

The weather was PERFECT, and as the sun had sank down behind the horizon the display of pinks, blues, orange, and yellows that emerged were nothing short of breathtaking. A picture perfect “Cotton Candy” sky! What better spot to soak it up!

We got to shooting…and it was pure magic! When we finally finished with the final images it was completely dark.  Being a believer that natural light is always best I only fired the flash for a couple of shots…the rest was all thanks to the roof top lights of The Peabody!

So, here’s to the internet, Memphis, Chris and Natalie…and Shelby Farms…and The Peabody! Who’s ready for the next round? *Raises hand*

Enjoy…

Fall Lifestyle Session | The Patty Family | Murfreesboro, TN

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You know these folks…they’ve been on here once…maybe twice ;0) It’s the PATTY FAMILY!

I’ll spare you the story of how Ang and I met….something to do with Kindergarten and such. ;-) I of course met Chris through her, and they brought forth model baby #1, a.k.a. Rowan, and model baby #2, a.k.a. Emory.

These gals undoubtedly know me. I am “Miss Braska” and I usually have a camera in hand when they’re around me sooo they’re conditioned to know what to do…and they do it WELL!

Last Year’s Christmas shoot with these two landed me my FIRST spot on a corporate website when Emory could only be comforted by a Spangler Candy Cane….check it out here! AWESOME!

This year there were no tears, I’m kind of sad about that as she is THE cutest cryer in the WORLD, but I suppose she’s just grown accustomed to the “torture” of picture time ;0)

But I’ll take the HILARIOUS poses she’s started dropping on me.  I think big sis Rowan has rubbed off on her…and I LIKE it!

We of course tossed mom and dad in for a few shots, and Chris’ mom came along so we threw her in front of my lens too with her grandgirls!  They love her too I do believe ;-)

So here’s the increasingly popular Patty family. Stay tuned for the next installment of the “Row n Em Show” to see what new antics they come up with! I’m sure it will not disappoint!

Fall Lifestyle Session | The Petty Family | Murfreesboro, TN

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This day was a 3 in a row fest of some of my former VZW co-workers! It wasn’t until the last group arrived right before Alyson’s family was wrapping up that that occured to me!

Destiny and Aiden before them, and Angleia and her family after them…I miss the co-workers, but not the place! That’s fo.sho!

Alyson had moved to Wilmington when I was still with VZDub, but she’s since then she’s moved back and is back in the call center where we met and were team mates in Employee Accounts. I have to say that was one tight crew/family.

I’d never met the baby Lila Belle, but I’d seen pictures and she was actually cuter in person if that’s possible! And she’s a spit.fire who will take you down like a freight train should you get in her way! She’s a BOSS for real! :)

I had so much fun running around trying to track her down for “just a couple” of “good” ones, and I got a lot more than I thought…which is ALWAYS a great thing.

Big Sis Aida is just too sweet and such a pretty gal! The way she just sat down and posed with little sis on the swing was simply PRECIOUS!  Lila kissing her though was a scene stealer. Just. PRICELESS!  I think they love each other :)

So here’s to the Petty’s! Thank you all for allowing me the honor of capturing you and your babies. You all are just too wonderful :)