Roxanne & Galen | Downtown Franklin, TN | June Wedding | Franklin First United Methodist Church

As a photographer, what is the best birthday gift you could get? (Besides maybe a 1 million dollar Nikon gift card) I would say it is being asked to shoot a wedding! Especially when it is your first wedding outside of Oklahoma. Well, that is exactly what I got to do this year and I am honored and very grateful to have had the opportunity to meet this beautiful couple, and document their wedding day through photographs. 

The wedding was held in Downtown Franklin, Tennessee. (and yes, it is important that you capitalize the "D" in Downtown, Franklin's Downtown is worthy of the capitol, trust me) The venue was a Franklin First United Methodist Church and the history of this church was so apparent and beautiful.  It was built in its current location in 1871. The groomsmen were hanging around in this parlor type room when I arrived and I loved the vintage old school vibe coming from these dapper young men in their tuxes in this almost 200 year old room. 

We started photos with the guys. Galen and his buddies were troopers to stay outside in the Tennessee humidity on a June evening in those tuxes. 

And had a really good sense of humor about it, as you can see...

As the ladies finished getting ready, I moved on to some detail shots of the Bride's beautiful bouquet. 

That moment when the bride's girls gush over her beauty and she feels so special, loved, and amazing is just the best. I over heard that Roxanne made her own veil, which makes ME gush even more! I love that! It was now time for Roxanne to see her groom before the ceremony...

Can I just say, that whoever decided that is "first look" thing should happen has my upmost respect and props. How wonderful is it for the bride and groom to see each other and really soak in the moments just before becoming husband and wife TOGETHER. I love it. And I felt very privileged to be a part of this moment for them. 

After the first look, we continued with some Bride and Groom Portraits. We went over near a window on the side of the church, and the first thing the groom asked me is if we could do some photos with him kneeling in front of his bride. (Hold it together Heather, no tears, NO tears. Professional, all the way!) I agreed that was a terrific idea, and I think the images we got from that moment are very special and precious. 

After I pried Galen from Roxanne's side, we were able to start some photos with Roxanne and her bridesmaids. I love the joy and lightheartedness that bridesmaids can bring to the situation. These girls were a joy to be around and their beauty was oh so radiant. 

Roxanne's sister was her Maid of Honor, and having only one younger sister myself, I enjoyed watching them interact and share in the joy of the moment together. Plus, her sister just graduated college in Oklahoma (which is where MY sister currently resides) and therefore their connection was a special one for me to document. (LOVE YOU MY SISTER! MISS YOU!) 

OK, so I have 4 kiddos. And trust me, the break I get from them while I am on a job is well needed. But being a mom and doing this job just draws me to those sweet kiddos playing the role of flower girl and ring bearer. These two girls were so chill and so sweet and were fully enjoying their twirly skirts, as they should be. 

After the ceremony it was time for the whole wedding party to get in on the photo action.

 They were so bummed about it. 

Seriously, I wish they could have loosened up just a bit for me. 

Oh well. 

Everyone headed to the reception, and it was time for some Roxanne and Galen after wedding portraits in a beautiful garden area that they had in mind to do their photos. The sun was almost down and the heat humidity had traded places with a beautiful breeze. It was pretty much perfect. I love this part. The ceremony is over and done, and now they can sigh relief and enjoy each other's presents (with a camera close by) as husband and wife in those first few hours of their married life. The contentment is evident on their faces, and it is a beautiful thing to document. 

Pause for a dress shot. SO stunning. 

To speak only from a creative mind for a minute, I super loved the colors in this shot. The yellow building behind them and the turquoise bench, and the natural greenery surrounding. My goodness, Downtown Franklin, you have my heart. 

And that was a wrap on post wedding couple photos. 

We then headed to Vanderbilt Legends Club for the reception. 

I am not a golfer, but I can tell you that this place made me wish I was. It was beautiful and right at sunset the evening could not be more perfect. 

Roxanne and Galen, again thank you for allowing me to share in your perfect day... 

"As you travel life together, may God guide you on your way, And bring you newfound joy in each other, day by day … 

May your home be graced with peace, may your sharing know no bounds, May your friendship know full measure in this lifetime love you’ve found … 

And as your closeness deepens, may each moment be the start of life lived hand-in-hand, and love lived heart-to-heart."

... Heather

Time to Catch Up...

What am I doing right now? Am I actually blogging? Goodness. It has been awhile. My last blog was at the end of October! Goodness! (I fully accept my slackerness on this)

Well, being in our new city of Nashville, and with my husband starting a new job here at the beginning of the year, things just have not been real settled for a while. So, I have not really pushed to get much business here in Nashville yet. And I am OK with that. All things in good time. :)

We did take a trip in November to OKC for me to do family mini sessions and that was SO amazing to reconnect to past clients, and get to do some fun photos, it even SNOWED one day during shooting!

While I haven't been "bringing home the bacon" with my photography,  much since the fall, I have been busy with my craft.

I was so excited to start being a contributing photographer for a online devotional blog called Daughter of Delight. It has been wonderful to be a part of something that I can contribute to, and learn from and be inspired by other's art and passion for the Lord.

Also, I have been able to connect with a wonderful group of moms here in Nashville through a blog called The Nashville Mom. They did a feature on their blog of my small business, and I am so grateful for that connection.

So that pretty much brings you up to speed on my business life since the fall. I am looking forward to shooting my first wedding in Franklin, TN in June and seeing what else 2015 may bring House on a Hill!

... Heather

New Places and New Faces...

So, I did a quick post on Facebook last week about how I was able to get my first "complete stranger" client here in Nashville.

That means a lot to me, because is someone other than family or friends trusts me to do their photos, I count that as an honor.

Nicole and he precious little boy did me that honor a week and a half ago. She heard about me through a mutual friend. A friend that I only just met back in March when we moved here, our kids played soccer together. But, this friend was kind enough to say some sweet words about me and my photography on Facebook and Nicole enquired!

We set up our time, she wanted fall leaves, and so I asked my own personal Nashville guru where to go and Shelby Bottoms Nature Park it was!

I met Nicole and her son at the park and her sweet boy was a little shy, like any young kid would be around a stranger with a camera... Good for you kid, that is the right way to be ;)

Within no time though, he loosened up and was so charming and sweet. My favorite moments to capture are just the interactions between people and there were plenty of those moments going on between this boy and his most loved momma.

Here are a few of my personal favorites from the session...

Thank you again Nicole for letting me capture these beautiful and fleeting moments between you and your son. You two make one amazing team and the future is beyond bright for the both of you!

... Heather

First Client in Nashville, but so much more than that...

So, in my previous blog I talked about how excited I was to get started doing photography here in Nashville. Well I completed my first session here last Friday at Shelby Bottoms Nature Center and Greenway. The family? Well, here is the story:

I met Rebekah this fall at the ball fields, her son played on the same team with my son, and her husband was the coach. I think we talked for like 5 minutes and connected on many levels and I was just SO excited to have met her! We continued to talk at games and our friendship is blooming and it is just pure awesomeness. She home schools, like me. She is leads her family in a very healthy lifestyle, like I try to. She is a successful work from home mom, (visit her Facebook page to find out more! Rebekah Downing Fitness & Nutrition) which I aspire to be. And, she doe not have a Tennessee accent, like me! Her Michigan accent is adorable, my Oklahoma accent? Not so much...

So to say the least, she is amazing and I am super pumped to know her and her beautiful family. She mentioned at the ball fields that she needed to get one year photos done of her son, and I was like: PLEASE LET ME DO THEM! I don't even think I had told her I was a photographer yet, lol, oh well. She agreed!

So we set up our session at the beautiful Shelby Bottoms near downtown Nashville... The leaves were started to fall, but it was pretty steamy that Friday afternoon! Oh Nashville and your lack of fall temperatures... Anyways. The session was so relaxed and fun, that happens when your clients are new friends and so easy to work with and be around. So, here are a few of my personal favorites from the session...

I really felt like this session needed a warm, autumn like tone to all the photos. So, I edited them that way based on the outfits that the family chose and the rustic setting. 

I love just seeing families interact and be them. 

Especially when they are being super cute. 

Sometimes in a photo the Mom may be fixing her hair, or the Dad may be blinking (I don't remember if either of those things were true in this case) but, there will be something else very precious going on in the shot. That is what is happening above. 

The way a son looks at his momma. Heart melt. 

Rasslin' session. 

The above photo will be so perfect for the boy's room. 

This guy. Seriously. I know he would rather be playing baseball right now than in front of my camera, but I appreciate so much that he humored me. 

I am pretty sure that the son said something to his Dad about how annoying I was being at this point, we were almost done!

I love that magical moment when a baby looks at you and connects with your lens at the most perfect moment.

Such an amazing couple. Thank You Downing family for being my FIRST session here in Nashville. You guys are wonderful and I look forward to many more... Sessions and Play Dates. ;)

... Heather