Tag: winter

Weathering the Storm: A Senior Session at Harlinsdale Farms

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Today, I want to share the story of a recent senior session that took place amidst some less-than-ideal weather conditions at Harlinsdale Farms in Franklin, TN. Despite facing several setbacks due to Mother Nature’s whims, I really love how this session turned out.

Scheduling this session was no easy feat. We had to reschedule multiple times due to the unpredictable weather, and just when we thought we had a clear window, the forecast decided to throw us a curveball.

On the day of the shoot, the weather was far from perfect. Occasional sprinkles and persistent gusts of wind threatened to disrupt our plans at every turn. But rather than letting it dampen our spirits, we embraced the challenge head-on. The one positive is that it was unseasonably warm for a February day.

One thing I’ve learned in my years as a photographer is to find beauty in unexpected places. High winds may have been a nuisance, but it added a certain dynamic quality to the portraits that we couldn’t have achieved otherwise. I happen to love photographing windblown hair, so it was more the constant threat of a downpour that had me concerned. Luckily, the rain held out for the most part.

Now, let’s talk about our senior girl. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, she did an amazing job. I LOVED the green color she chose for both her outfits. The color was absolutely perfect one her, and I also love the way it looked with the backdrop of Harlinsdale Farms. She was so much fun to hang out with and photograph.

In the end, despite the weather’s best efforts to thwart us, we managed to capture some great Senior photos. It just goes to show that sometimes, the most memorable moments come when we least expect them – even if they’re sprinkled with a little rain and a lot of wind.

Searching for a photographer in Middle Tennessee, covering Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia? Visit my website for further details or schedule a session through my online calendar. I’d greatly appreciate it if you considered joining my journey on Facebook and/or Instagram.

A Winter Senior Session at Harlinsdale Farms

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Senior Guy Portrait Session at the Park at Harlinsdale Farms.

Clients often express concerns about winter photo sessions, fearing that the landscape may appear barren or lifeless. However, I believe that winter sessions possess a unique beauty all their own. I’m particularly drawn to the brownish color palette of winter shrubbery and find that bare trees offer an interesting textured background. Overcast skies during winter provide soft, diffused lighting that adds depth and atmosphere to photographs.

When planning a winter photo session, I make it a priority to choose locations with abundant architectural elements to complement the natural scenery. That’s why I was thrilled with our decision to shoot at Harlinsdale Farms in Franklin, TN for a recent winter senior session. The farm’s rich tapestry of textures, from weathered barns to rustic fences, serves as a stunning backdrop year-round.

During the session, I enjoyed sharing tidbits of history with my clients as we explored the farm. Harlinsdale Farms boasts a storied heritage dating back to the early 20th century when it was established as a renowned Tennessee walking horse breeding farm. One intriguing aspect of the farm’s history is the presence of two beloved horses buried on the property. Midnight Sun and Strolling Jim, legendary Tennessee walking horses, left an indelible mark on the breed during their time at Harlinsdale.

Despite the challenges posed by winter weather, this young man’s senior session at Harlinsdale Farms was a joy to photograph. I’m grateful for the opportunity to capture his personality and charm against the backdrop of this historic location. And amidst the recent rainy weather, we were fortunate to catch a break and seize the perfect moment for his senior photos.

Searching for a photographer in Middle Tennessee, covering Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia? Visit my website for further details or schedule a session through my online calendar. I’d greatly appreciate it if you considered joining my journey on Facebook and/or Instagram.

Navigating New Terrain: Portrait Sessions at Unfamiliar Locations

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Photo Session at Historical Home in Columbia TN

There’s a unique thrill that comes with stepping into a new location for a portrait session, especially when it’s a place rich in history. For me, it’s a blend of excitement and the need to be prepared.

Getting Prepared:

Before the shutter even clicks, there’s a whole lot of digital exploring happening. The client shared some photos of the property in advance, giving me a sneak peek into what to expect at their home. I used Google Earth to virtually roam around, trying to get the lay of the land and how the sun plays its part.

Early Arrival and Location Scouting:

On the day of the session, I arrived early to scope out the location for myself. I took a stroll around the historical home, hunting for those golden spots that would make for beautiful portraits.

Let’s Talk Light:

Light – it’s the most important thing I’m looking at when I scope out a new location. I don’t want harsh direct light, but more diffused soft light. But I’m also looking at where I can use light in interesting ways, like a sun flare through a tree, or some creamy hazy light for individual portraits. For indoor photos, I’m considering whether there is enough window light or if I want to pull out my flash.

A Suprise Photo Bombing:

One thing I did not prepare for was being drive-by photobombed. I wanted to incorporate the beautiful front gate of the home in the family photos. To capture this, I had to stand across the street to shoot. It was a small side street so there wasn’t much traffic. Until I paused to let a car drive by, but instead of driving on, they stopped and posed and clearly wanted me to take their photo. I clicked a quick pic, and they drove on their way, and we laughed. But now I wish I had somehow gotten their contact info because I think it’s a pretty good photo of them. 😂 If you know these fun guys, I’d love to send them a copy.

Client Clothing Choices:

I have to point out the beautiful clothing this family chose. It’s exactly what I love to see on clients. The rich colors are beautiful and coordinated but not too matchy. And I’ve learned through the years that I love seeing lots of textures on clients’ clothing, and the textures on all these different sweaters are just perfect.

Conclusion:

Getting to know this lovely family and exploring their beautiful home was a genuine pleasure. Capturing the warmth and love they shared during our session was truly rewarding. These moments remind me why I love what I do – freezing these cherished memories, capturing genuine connections, and witnessing the joy between family members.

Photo Session at Historical Home in Columbia TN

Searching for a photographer in Middle Tennessee, covering Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia? Visit my website for further details or schedule a session through my online calendar. I’d greatly appreciate it if you considered joining my journey on Facebook and/or Instagram.

Maternity Portrait Session in Franklin TN

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Maternity Session in Franklin TN

We had to reschedule this maternity portrait session a few times because of the weather, but it turned out absolutely perfect in the end. It was a perfectly warm January day for this beautiful couple to celebrate the coming of their first baby. It is such a privilege to be a part of honoring this special time for new parents. I so enjoyed getting to know this couple during our time together.

I get a lot of questions about making a winter session work. I think winter photo sessions in Middle Tennessee are lovely. The key is flexibility. I am very flexible this time of year, so I leave it up to clients to decide what weather they can tolerate. Some kids are happy playing in the cold, and others are less tolerant. Portraits with everyone bundled up are adorable, especially if you put some thought into the coats, hats, and scarves.

But the good thing about Tennessee weather is that if the cold wasn’t what you imagined, we can probably just wait a few days and the weather will change dramatically. And you will end up with what we have here….a 70-degree day in January.

Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you considered following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.

5 things Toddlers can teach us about life | Franklin TN Family Photographer

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As a family photographer I've observed many things we can learn from toddlers

I love photographing families of all ages, but if you’ve followed me long, you know that my true passion is photographing toddlers. One of my favorite things about being a family photographer is what I have learned through really observing two year olds.

You see, I think it’s the two-year-olds who really have everything figured out. And somehow as we age, we lose all of that wisdom. Here are a few things I think we could learn about life from toddlers.

Assertiveness

Toddlers are really finding their voice, and they are not afraid to let you know what they need. Whether that’s a snack or a hug or they are “all done,” they aren’t afraid to let their person know. Often times, we adults are too afraid to let people know what we need. We aren’t always very quick to take care of ourselves and our own needs. A lot of our problems could be taken care of if we just learned to let others know what we desire like toddlers do.

Wonder

As a family photographer, this is probably the characteristic of toddlers that I love the most. They have not yet lost their fascination with the world around them. Everything is new and exciting and beautiful. The dog in the park, the pretty rock they just found, the snowflakes falling – all these things are a miracle to the toddler’s eyes. If only we could all hold on to that childlike wonder and be more aware of the awesomeness around us.

Only those who look with the eyes of children can lose themselves in the object of wonder.”

– Eberhard Arnold

Mindfulness

How much time do you spend regretting things that happened in the past or worrying about what might happen in the future? I don’t think Toddlers do this. They are the masters of mindfulness. Whatever upset them a moment ago is long forgotten with the current moment’s distraction. They live in the here and now, fully present always. We have a lot to learn from that.

Authenticity

This is another reason I love to photograph toddlers. They only know how to be themselves and no one else. Authenticity means “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.” This is something I strive to capture in my photographs. I am trying to get authentic, natural expressions from every child. I want photos that really reveal who they are at that moment in time. Not fake cheesy smiles. This is easier with toddlers because they are always, always being true to themselves. I love capturing all of who they are. Whether that is a sweet apprehensive expression when they first meet me, complete joy when we are being silly or a thoughtful expression when the notice something new.

As early as 6 or 7, I find that kids have already put up a mask and I have to work harder to photograph their authentic selves. That makes me sad.

Love

Is there anything better in this life than the pure love one gets from a toddler? There is no judgment there, no conditions or holding back. Whether it be with hugs & kisses, holding your hand or maybe even sharing a like of their sucker with you, toddlers know how to love their people.

As a family photographer I've observed many things we can learn from toddlers

I am now booking Spring Family Portrait sessions, or as you can see above, am happy to book you now for a winter photo session. See my website for more information or to book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you would consider following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.

Click here to read post I wrote about what you can expect from a Lifestyle Family Photography Session.

Winter Family Photos in Franklin TN | Franklin Family Photographer

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Nashville Family Photographer winter photo session in Franklin TN

Happy New Year! This outdoor winter family photo session in Franklin was a perfect way to end 2020. Thanks so much to everyone who has trusted me to be your family photographer for 2020. It truly is an honor to be trusted to capture your family memories. 2020 has been such a crazy, trying year for everyone, but when I look back at all the photos I’ve taken this year, what stands out is just all the love.

This photo session is a perfect example of why I always say that winter is a great time for family photos. We had beautiful mild weather for this session, but I love the cold ones too. In 2020 style, I have gotten to know Mona virtually this year, and it was so great to finally meet her and her beautiful family in real life.

I hope 2021 brings you all many beautiful family moments, lots of love and tons of slow news days.

I would love it if you could follow me on Instagram. If you are looking for a Franklin Family Photographer, you can book a session directly from my online booking calendar, or contact me if you have questions. I have added dates for January through March 2021, and will be added April through June soon. Please contact me if you need a specific date.

Sweet 16 Family Portrait Session in Murfreesboro

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Family Portrait Session Sweet 16 in Murfreesboro

It was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon for this Sweet 16 / family photo session at McFadden’s Farm at Stone Rivers National Battlefield in Murfreesboro. I think that as a society, we do a great job documenting family photos when our kids are young, and then again for their senior year. But we often miss getting photos of that in-between time that is also so important. So I am always so excited when someone wants to do a photo session for their teen or tween before their senior year.

Sarah wanted to document Mason’s Sweet sixteen with a photo session, and I just think that is a wonderful idea.

This was the second time I have shot at Stone River Battlefield in Murfreesboro. My friend Jennie had recommended it last year for her family portrait session. Sarah had hired me after seeing Jennie’s pictures and also lives in Murfreesboro. I’m really loving this location and may start suggesting it, even for my Spring Hill and Franklin clients. It’s really not that far away and is such a gorgeous spot for family photos.

I would love it if you could follow me on Instagram. That’s a great place to keep up to date on future openings. Also, you can book a session directly from my online booking calendar, or contact me if you have questions.

The Models I made myself | Country Cove Christmas Tree Farms

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As I told you last week, I am excited to be offering some Holiday Mini Sessions this year at Country Cove Farms in Murfreesboro. The sessions will be 25 minutes long and will include your choice of 30 full-size digital images from the session gallery, with the option to purchase more digital images and/or print products. The cost of the mini-session is $300.

The original spots I offered are all booked up, but because of a scheduling change, I was able to add a couple more spots on October 11.

I almost missed my chance to preview Country Cove Farms, like I have every year. I booked the promotional spot at the last minute. I was prepared to just do the promo shoot with the models I grew myself, but was very happy my friend Christy was able to bring her family as well, so I had some variety. But I am so happy that Kayla and Megan agreed to let me take their photos too because they are truly my favorite subjects, even though they are getting to be such young women.

Holiday Mini Sessions at Country Cove Christmas Tree Farm

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Holiday Mini Sessions with Crystal Freemon Photography at Country Cove Farms

I’m excited to be offering some Holiday Mini Sessions this year at Country Cove Farms in Murfreesboro. The sessions will be 25 minutes long and will include your choice of 30 full-size digital images from the session gallery, with the option to purchase more digital images and/or print products. The cost of the mini-session is $300.

I’ve had a lot of people ask about the status of the Holiday Marketplace event at Spring Station Middle School where I normally do Santa Photos. I’m just not sure at this point if that event will happen or not due to COVID. So these Holiday Mini-Sessions are a perfect way to make sure you still get beautiful holiday themed photos for your Christmas Cards.

This is the first time I’d ever been to Country Cove, and I’m so sad that I hadn’t taken the time to check it out before, because it is a beautiful location. Everything is fairly close together so there is not lots of walking. I had a 30 minute photographer’s promo session, and was able to get plenty of shots of my beautiful model family, shown here, along with some other shots of my own daughter’s, which I will blog in another post.

These mini-sessions are best for families of six or less and are ideal kids who are used to working with me, are older, or are generally pretty agreeable for photo sessions. If you have a larger group or feel that your children may need extra time to warm up to having their photo taken, then a full session might be a better choice for your family.

I’m offering two dates for the mini sessions, but one is almost sold out already so don’t wait to book your spot.

The rain dates for these sessions in case they are postponed for bad weather are October 30 for the first one, and November 14 for the second one. Your rain date time would be the same time slot as your originally scheduled session.

Family of 5 portrait session at Harlinsdale Farms in Franklin TN

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When Jennifer first started discussing her family portrait session with me, she told me that her girls were all “super energetic & goofy.” I said that was great because that’s my favorite type of family to photograph!

Kylie (8), Alexie (6.5) and Bailey (3) were so much fun and I just adored working with them. Photographing young sisters always makes me nostalgic for when my own girls were younger. (Side note: I just registered my oldest for high school. How in the world did that happen already?) Also, Trev & Jennifer are the most adorable couple. There is so much love and laughter in this sweet family, and it shows.

The family moved to Middle Tennessee from California, and in the process, left their beloved family photographer and friend. This was the first time they had pictures made since the move, and wanted a country feel to the location. They also wanted to include their sweet, 13 year old golden retriever. Since it’s still winter and there isn’t a lot of green on the trees, I though Harlinsdale Farms in Franklin would be a good spot. I always love the textures and colors on the barns and buildings there, and it’s a great place for a dog.

I was a little worried about ti being super cold, but it ended up being a really beautiful day, though still a bit chilly if you weren’t bundled up. As a bonus, the girls found the first dandelion of the year! You guys know I love a good dandelion wishes photo, and this year Kylie got to be the first. I hope they enjoyed their first Tennessee photo session as much as I did.

Factory at Franklin Family Portrait Session & My New Messenger Bot

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First of all, I want to say that I adore this family portrait session from this past weekend at the Factory at Franklin. Heather chose to have the session at the Factory because it was supposed to rain, and the Factory provides a good choice for indoor sessions. But my favorite spots at the Factory are actually outside, so I was so glad when the weather turned out to be actually pretty decent.

The combination of agreeable weather, the great color choices for their outfits, and just a wonderful family to get to know made this one of my favorite sessions. Arica and Alec were such sweet and fun kids to photograph. Also, their big sister Maria and her fiance’ were in town for the photo session. I couldn’t help getting a few sweet shots of them alone, so it was almost like getting a combined family session in one.

Besides editing this beautiful portrait session, this week I’ve been working on making it easier for clients to get information they need about sessions right away.

I was an Engineer in my past life and bring some of that analytical thinking to my business.  I love efficiency and you’ll see that through my online scheduling calendar, and my automated emails that help you throughout the process from helping you choose what to wear to reminding you what to bring to a session.

This week, I’ve added to that efficiency by adding a Facebook Messenger Bot to my Facebook page. If you message me, you’ll have the option to get a lot of information from the bot immediately, without having to wait for my reply. So if I am out shooting a session and can’t respond right away, you can still get information on pricing, frequently asked questions and information on how to book a session, with just a click of a button within Facebook messenger.

I’m pondering about adding a way for clients to get communications through Facebook messenger, such as session reminders, what to wear advice, gallery links, etc, rather than just through email. I’d love to have some opinions on that from anyone who has one!

I love creating systems that make it easier on my clients, but the personal touch is also very important to me. I’m always a text, message, email or call away if you need me directly. 

Why I’m thankful for Portrait Session Referrals

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It means the world to me when a new family portrait session client tells me that they hired me because a friend referred them to me for photos. I have several loyal clients who are often sending new families to me and I am so thankful for their recommendations.

First of all, if a client refers someone else to me, that means they’ve been happy with their experience in the past, and that is the MOST important thing to me. I want every client to love both their photos and the experience in getting the photos made. If a client trusts me enough to refer other people to me, then I feel like I’ve done my job.

Also, this photography gig is pretty much a one-woman show. I’m not only photographer and editor, I’m also advertiser/marketer, accountant, web designer and administrative assistant. I never expect or require clients to share my work, write reviews or send friends and family to me. But when they do choose to help with the advertising of my business, I am so very grateful for that vote of confidence.

When Venissa contacted me about booking family photos, she said that she had learned about me from her friend Nicole, one of my oldest and dearest clients, who often sends other people my way and I am so very grateful for her support. ❤

V️enissa wanted to book an extended family portrait session while her parents were in town for the holidays. We had originally booked for a few days after Christmas, but the weather was awful and rainy, so we were able to reschedule for New Year’s day before her out-of-town family returned home. What a gorgeous way to kick of 2020….I loved hanging out with this wonderful family. The weather was a bit chilly but tolerable, and they were all so much fun to photograph.

How did you kick off the new year? Are you planning on scheduling family portraits for 2020? I’m now booking sessions through June! Contact me today!

My last portrait session of the decade

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What a beautiful way to finish up 2019 with this gorgeous family of 5 portrait session at Harlinsdale Park in Franklin. This photo session was originally scheduled for November but we got rained out. We couldn’t reschedule right away because the family’s oldest daughter, Jessica, lives in New York so we rescheduled the session for when she would be home for the Christmas holidays. And what an amazing day it was! We could not have asked for more beautiful weather.

I originally photographed this family about three and a half years ago, and it was one of my most memorable sessions of the past five years because we got photobombed by a hot air balloon! No hot air balloon showed up this time, but we did get the most gorgeous sky! That sunset is one reason Harlisdale Farms is one of my favorite spots for family portrait sessions in the Nashville area!

I’m now booking portraits for 2020 through June! Book online or contact me today to get your spot!

Christmas Eve-Eve Extended family Portrait Session

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The hardest part about this extended family portrait session was deciding which pictures to share. For my large group session the day before, the weather was rainy and awful. We made do with a large covered balcony and some indoor shots, but I was very happy when the weather turned gorgeous for this session.

Sometimes clients are hesitant to book a winter session for fear of bad weather, but this session is a perfect example of how, in Middle Tennessee, any month can be wonderful for outdoor family photos. It was truly the perfect day.

To be honest, a lot of times large family portrait sessions aren’t my favorite. I enjoy them, and wholeheartedly believe they are important for capturing priceless memories. My only complaint is that often, because of the number of people being photographed, there isn’t a lot of time for candid, natural moments. You spend so much time getting all the required combinations of people, that there isn’t a lot of time left to run, jump & play with the kids.

But this session was absolutely perfect. The group shots went quickly and the family so fun and relaxed. We had plenty of time to explore and play. I loved the dynamic with this family, from the silly men to the sweet way that Kalei and Reed looked after their baby cousin, Alice.

I hope that they love this portrait session as much as I do and that the photos will be a cherished reminder of a happy Christmas for years to come.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas making memories.

Extended Family Portrait Session at the Factory At Franklin

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This is a family that I photograph pretty regularly, and I feel like they keep getting bad luck when it comes to session weather. I’ve shot a session for them in the rain. They had a session last year that was super hot, and then another where it was bitterly cold. They’ve been troopers through every single session and handled it beautifully each time. But it stinks because I generally feel like the weather cooperates for almost all my sessions – even late winter ones, but this one family keeps taking all the hits.

So of course, yesterday, when I arrived at the Park at Harlinsdale Farms where we were supposed to shoot, it felt WAYYY colder than the 54 degrees my phone said that it was. Then five minutes later my phone read 48 degrees. That’s still generally reasonable for a winter photo session, but the wind was so bitingly cold. I was worried that it would be way too uncomfortable to have fun and enjoy the session.

So when Kate showed up and asked if we could try to move the session to the Factory at Franklin, I completely agreed. I wasn’t sure we’d be able to, as the Factory charges a permit fee and I’d always booked it in advance. But the man at the front desk was nice enough to let us get the permit immediately so we were able to move the portrait session indoors, which was so much better than dealing with the bitter wind.

We were also able to slip outside for brief periods before coming back inside to get warm, and there is this nice corridor that was mostly protected from the wind. So all in all, it worked out well. But I still hope that next time they get a nice pleasant, mild day….it’s their turn.