Taylor + Andrew - Nashville, TN Wedding

Taylor and Andrew's wedding was so lovely. It reminded me of a fairy tale all day. Taylor is beautiful to start with, but then put her in a Cinderella ball gown dress and wow! 

Taylor had a first look with her brother, which I thought was so special. The wedding day is a big deal for everyone, not just the bride and groom! And his reaction was so sweet. :) 

Taylor and Andrew did their first look in this beautiful garden, which only added to the fairy tale feel of the day. 

She looks like Cinderella, right!?

This was a first for me. Taylor rode up to her wedding in a HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE! It was so magical!

Andrew Martin - Nashville, TN Birth Story

ANOTHER BIRTH STORY! You know I love a birth story. And this one is completely different from all of the others, so be excited. 

Alyssa contacted me a while back wanting a birth story photographer. I was very nervous about someone from Nashville hiring me for birth story photos, given the nature of birth. The last birth story I shot (which you can see here) I had about eight minutes from being told it was starting to taking pictures of a baby being born on a bed. Naturally, a 2.5 hour drive had me nervous.

Alyssa ended up going past her due date and needing to schedule induction for May 4. I drove to Nashville and spent the morning hanging out in the hospital lobby and drinking coffee from the coffee cart, waiting for the family to be ready for me. Despite the coffee, I became overwhelmingly tired and fell asleep folded up in some ridiculous looking ball on a lobby chair. At some point I shot up from my nap, my neck SUPER stiff from sleeping in the previously mentioned ridiculous looking ball, and checked my phone. I had FOUR MISSED CALLS from Robert from almost half an hour previous, and I was terrified that I had missed the birth because I couldn't stay awake. I started to panic, grabbed my many bags, and asked the person at the lobby desk how to get to their room. It was in a completely different building from where I was (makes sense that I should have been waiting in the Women's Building... but I wasn't). I started running through the rain with my bags flying everywhere and my marked up map from the front desk crumpled in my hand. I seriously looked like a romcom movie trope. If I wasn't already married I bet I would have run crashing into a handsome man who picks up my map and we end up falling in love. I burst dramatically into Alyssa's hospital room all frazzled and drizzly. I had not missed it. Whew.

I only made it by a bit, though. She was having very regular contractions when I arrived and it wasn't long until we met little Andrew Martin.

I've shot many birth stories, but I've never actually shot a hospital birth, at least not a traditional one. I was present for the post delivery moments for two c-sections, but that process is different. This was a completely new thing for me. Yes, I acknowledge that it's weird that a hospital birth felt weird to me. I understand that's how most people do it. I'm used to what I'm used to, and it was really interesting to have a completely new experience to add to my understanding of child birth. I was fascinated.

At 1:29 in the afternoon Andrew was born. He was 9 lbs 5 oz and 22 inches long.

I LOVE the dad seeing his kid for the first time look. Never gets old.

Alyssa meeting her little man for the first time.

Robert gave Alyssa a sweet gift, for being a total boss and bearing his child.

Coming soon to the blog, family photos in the Strobel home on Alyssa's very first Mother's Day. 

Carmen + Paul - Fall Creek Falls Engagement Spencer, TN

You know when things just work out perfectly? Carmen and Paul are one of those things for me. I know that sounds weird - stick with me.

Back in April I was having a really scary time in my business (quitting your job and going in to business for yourself is tough sometimes). I was worried constantly and doing everything I knew how to bring business through the door. One of the things I did was confide in my friend Hannah. There's more to this story, and it's really cool, but the short version is that we started talking about something, which led to something else, which led to something else, each topic more fortuitous than the last. We made some awesome discoveries in the course of this conversation, which went on for the better part of a day total. At the very end of all of it, after every topic had been exhausted Hannah mentioned Carmen. 

I was looking for clients who are like Hannah's sister Rachel. Running a business involves identifying your "ideal client". So far, Rachel is mine. Hannah said she knew someone kind of like Rachel with similar hobbies and personality. Her name was Carmen and she'd just gotten engaged. Hannah and Rachel talked, and in the end Rachel mentioned me to Carmen.

During this period of time where my business was super scary I spent tons of time in prayer asking for something (someone) to show up. I'm sorry to say I don't always dedicate much time to prayer but I REALLY did during this time. It was all I did. 

Then I got an email. It was Carmen. Within the week Carmen and Paul had hired me.

These two are adventurers! They love to hike and even got engaged up on a mountain. I knew we had to do something cool for their engagement session and Carmen wanted mountains. I did some research, she did some research, and in the end I decided Fall Creek Falls was our best bet for an awesome shoot. I looked up the park and realized that traveling here would put me 4 hour away from home! I didn't really want to get a hotel room and then like a lightning bolt I remembered that my friends had planned a camping trip for that weekend. I tried to remember where they said they were going. Phone call. Where are you guys camping again? Fall Creek Falls. 

Perfect. I'll see you there. 

YES, that IS a butterfly to the right of the photo. Totally real - promise. How magical is that?

I love this view off the edge of the waterfall! I want to shoot in locations like this all the time. All. The. Time. Someone hire me for photos and go adventuring with me?

The second half of our shoot was quite the adventure. We knew where we wanted to end up and had rough directions for how to get there. Getting to the look out involved about a half mile hike both directions. I LOVED working with Paul and Carmen because I said "mile hike" and they said "ok". It's not every day you get clients who don't mind a sweaty walk to get their photos. 

This is the happy couple and their precious dog Indi right as we set out for our hike. 

After a bit of hiking we thought we had arrived at this lookout point, but then discovered we were not in the right place. We kept hiking, turning off on random trails that we thought would lead to the lookout. Only to discover after three false trails that we had been originally right the first time and needed to turn around. I promise we're not dumb, it's just honestly not that easy to tell. 

So, we finally found the correct trail leading to the lookout. Getting to this point involved a wardrobe change in the woods, climbing down into the rocks then back up while holding camera gear (me), or a dog (Paul), or wearing skinny jeans (Carmen). Not your typical mountain experience. We deserve props for even attempting this.

I think the view was totally worth it. 

Thanks for being willing to do all the ridiculous things I asked of you guys. I loved working with you and I can't wait to see you again for your October wedding!

Meadow Hills Styled Shoot - Nashville, TN

Earlier this year I threw together this beautiful styled shoot with some amazing Nashville wedding vendors. I'm so thankful to everyone who was willing to donate their time and effort to this project. I think it turned out lovely! 

I love the use of natural color palettes and used neutrals as inspiration for this shoot. 

Venue: Meadow Hill Farm
www.meadowhillfarmweddings.com

Planner: Kenzie Events
www.kenzieevents.com

Videography: KLassy Productions
www.klasseyproductions.com

Dress: Posh Bridal Couture
www.poshmn.com

Paper Goods: Mallory Mayhew at Letters from Mal
www.lettersfrommal.com

Floral Design: Robin's Nest
www.robinsnestweddingflowers.com

Cake: Nashville Sweets
www.nashvillesweets.com

5 Tips for Choosing the Right Wedding Photographer

One of the most important choices you'll make for your wedding day is who you have as your photographer. There are a thousand and one different photographers to choose, so how do you know who is right for YOU and YOUR special day? I've compiled five essential tips from my time as a wedding photographer and as a bride myself. 

1. Choose someone you like

I can't emphasize this enough! Many brides don't consider this, but you will spend more time with your wedding photographer than any other person on your wedding day. More time than your mom, more time than your MOH, more time than even your groom. Your wedding photographer will be by your side almost every moment of your big day. If you meet with a potential wedding photographer and think they are arrogant, or annoying, or you don't like their sense of humor, TRUST YOURSELF. Don't hire this person. On your wedding day you want to be surrounded by people who make you happy and make your day the absolute best it can be. You want a photographer who makes you feel content, calm, confident, and comfortable. Choose someone you will look forward to spending all day with. Someone who makes you happy. 

2. Choose someone who responds

It's frustrating when you want to get in touch with someone and they never seem to respond. It's even more frustrating when the person you want to get in touch with is responsible for your wedding photos, or has already taken the photos and you haven't heard from them. Unfortunately, I've had two friends in the past two years who had issues with uncommunicative photographers. One of these friends has STILL never seen her wedding photos (almost two years later). Understandably, not every business owner can respond within the first 24 hours, (though most GOOD ones do) but if you reach out to your photographer and regularly cannot get contact back that is a big RED FLAG. Great customer service is essential when you're talking about something as important and irreplaceable as wedding photos. If someone can't take the time to get back to you, you can find someone else who will be happy to work with you. 

3. Choose someone who fits your needs

You want full day coverage, but this photographer only offers 6 hours? No. You want a bridal session, but this photographer only offers engagement sessions? No. You want to be able to purchase an album, but this photographer doesn't offer that service? No. There are so many wonderful photographers out there in the industry. Find someone who is offering you EXACTLY what you want. 

4. Choose someone who fits your style

The best photographers have a clear style and vision. There are so many different artists with so many different perspectives on wedding photography. Find someone who has the right vibe for you. Don't book someone just because they are local or in your price range. If they don't produce the style of images that YOU want to treasure forever that's ok. But find someone who does.

5. Choose someone who has YOU in mind

Whew, this is a big one. As wedding photographers, it's our job to go to weddings all the time. Duh. I'm sorry, that was obvious. Because of this some photographers will fall into the trap of treating your wedding like a run of the mill day at work. It can be easy for people in this industry to begin to think of your super-special-once-in-a-lifetime-very-important wedding as just another task to accomplish. The cake was prettier at the last wedding I shot and will be better for my portfolio. Uh, if I see ONE MORE bride use navy blue for her bridesmaids dresses. I've already shot at this venue twice this year... BORING! Etc, etc. YOUR WEDDING IS NOT ABOUT THEM. You MUST choose a photographer whose number one priority is making YOUR big day the absolute best it can be. Your wedding is not a portfolio filler. Your wedding is not a future Facebook ad. Will your photographer use your wedding photos for their portfolio and future Facebook ads? Probably. But that cannot be the focus of a great wedding photographer. The focus should be you.

If you're still looking for your perfect wedding photographer I would love to work with you! Head to the contact page to get in touch!