April + Michael - Jackson, TN

I was so excited when April asked me if I was available for a photo shoot with her and Michael. I took their engagement and wedding photos, and had so much fun working with them. We decided to meet in downtown Jackson for this shoot, only steps away from where we took some of their engagement photos. I'd never done a shoot like this before and I was SO NERVOUS that I would say or do something to spill the beans. This wasn't just your average family/anniversary/couple shoot. This was April's way of telling Michael that he was going to be a dad. :) 

April suggested to Michael that they take photos of a board listing reasons why they loved each other, and take photos presenting the boards to each other. Michael's list of why he loves April made me smile so big, and the whole time I was just thinking dude, this is about to get crazy, you have no idea. 

Worth it.

I cried. I have no problem admitting that.

Michael was COMPLETELY surprised, and SO happy. You never really know how people will react to these things, and it was wonderful to watch Michael react in such a beautiful way. He kept saying "this is the best day!"

:)

Sarah + Leo - Jackson, TN Wedding

I thought it was so cool that Sarah got ready for her wedding in her childhood bedroom. Usually brides are getting ready in some random hotel room, or bridal suite at a wedding venue. It was really special to see Sarah prepare for her wedding in her room with an adorable ballerina wallpaper border.  

This is Leo. I thought his tie was really awesome.

A few weeks before this wedding Kyle and I were in downtown Jackson. He mentioned how pretty the building for the First United Methodist Church was, and how it would be really cool if we could shoot there some time. We speculated about what the inside looked like and talked about using the porch for photos. In preparation for this wedding I double checked the locations and announced happily to Kyle that we would get to shoot at the church! It really is a lovely building. 

I love seeing the bride and groom looking at each other while the bride walks down the aisle. :) So sweet.

Sarah and Leo are from very different backgrounds, and I thought it was so beautiful how they blended their religious practices for the ceremony. The were married in a Methodist church, under a chuppah. They exchanged vows, and also signed a ketubah. They recited The Lord's Prayer, and also listened to a recitation of the Seven Blessings. I love attending wedding ceremonies that include religious traditions other than my own. I always leave wanting to know more, and I always learn something valuable from the way other people do things. 

Sarah and Leo's wedding was definitely the rainiest I've shot yet. Naturally, the second we were scheduled to be taking photos outside, the sky opened up and it started storming. These two just went right along with it. Luckily, I remembered to bring along my clear dome umbrellas. I never wanted to do an entire wedding portrait session using these umbrellas, but when the day came that I needed to do just that, I was very glad I had them. If Sarah and Leo were freaked out that it was pouring rain at their wedding, they didn't let it show. 

Green Frog Farms is beautiful, so even with less than desirable weather I think we got some keepers. 

Look how happy they are! They don't care that it's raining.

Jam is officially my favorite wedding favor idea of all time. Jam is one of my five major food groups. Giving it away at weddings is an excellent idea. All people should do it. 

Jewish weddings are awesome because at the end of the day they throw people up in the air. The horah is awesome to watch. I can't think of a better/more exciting/more terrifying way to celebrate getting married. I can't decide if I'd be willing to try this or not. It's definitely a trust exercise. No one was harmed in the making of this photograph.

These two had to put up with a ton of rain on their wedding day, but not everyone get's to celebrate their marriage with a double rainbow. 

Anna Catherine + Justin

I'm so excited to share this engagement shoot! I decided to go to some places I'd never shot before, and I was really happy with the results. First, the three of us hit up a local nursery and took some photos among the plants. It was the best smelling engagement session I've ever shot.

Turns out these cool looking dome things are for watering the plants. I found that out when the sprinklers suddenly came on while we were shooting and the three of us screamed and ran out as fast as we could. Unfortunately, I have no photos of that moment. I was truly so confused. 

These two laugh a lot, which I like. :)

Marigold Autumn - Henderson, TN Birth Story

Another birth story! You guys know how I love birth stories. This process is so amazing to watch and every time I see a birth I get more obsessed with how cool it is. The last time Rebecca was pregnant she was interested in birth story photos, but was living in Texas. We tried, but there didn't seem any way we could make that work. Luckily, this awesome family moved right down the street just a few months ago, and right in time for baby number three!

Last Tuesday I got a text from Rebecca that she thought the baby was coming! I went over to the house around 10:30. The other kids had been cleared out and it was just Richard, Rebecca, and the midwife.

The very first thing I noticed was the calendar. I loved that this day had been marked Baby Maybe!

Just laboring and boiling some water for the birth tub.

I've worked with Sheryl at a couple of other home births that I'd photographed. I really love her midwife style. She stays almost entirely out of the way and just let's the mom do everything herself. She administered antibiotics, checked the fetal heart rate, took Rebecca's blood pressure, but other than that she hung back and let Rebecca do what she wanted. 

Around 1:00 am the contractions started getting serious and we knew a baby was coming!

THIS IS WHY I LOVE BIRTH STORIES! I love this moment when a mom gets to hold her baby, after all of the pain. The relief and the joy on her face make me so happy. Around 1:30 baby Simpson was born, and she was tiny and precious.

So happy to be holding her baby girl!

Dad holding his daughter for the first time.

I left the house around 2:30 and came back in the morning to be there for the big kids to meet brand new baby Marigold. She was very interested in the clicking sound my camera makes.

And here come the excited siblings!

The new Simpson Family!

Lacey + Bailey - Savannah, TN Wedding

Saturday's wedding was INCREDIBLE. Not only did I get the chance to work with an amazing couple, but I had so much fun at their wedding. Lacey and Bailey are beautiful together and I'm so glad I got the chance to share their special day with them. Here's a preview of their wedding photos!