Johnson Family Maternity | Knoxville, TN Family Photographer

I got to spend the morning with this family on the brink of a big change for them, the arrival of their 4th baby. Those days feel so filled with anticipation and energy, or lack thereof. ha! As mama of 4 myself, I felt the rush of preparation but also the strong and steady tug to sit and savor things just as they are before the page is turned towards the new chapter of our family. And THAT was where this family was on this cool late summer morning. Slow and simple, taking in the time together as a family of 5. Ready to receive the next new blessing. <3 Congrats sweet Johnson Family, it’s been a blessing to witness your family grow. <3

Byrd Family | Knoxville Family Photographer

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you. -Neruda

The beautiful Byrd Family together in Knoxville at the end of summer. <3

Montgomery Family | Knoxville Family Photographer

The simplest of days, the sweetest moments. Nothing fancy or fussy which is exactly how it should be. A morning at home with the Montgomery Family. <3

Meek Family | Knoxville Newborn Photographer

I’m completely in love with this session for lots of reasons but mostly because my time with this beautiful family was so natural and honest. Kids playing all around, making coffee, practicing piano while mama fed the baby, warming up supper as I finished up. Just a beautiful piece of their story captured on an early spring afternoon. Congrats Meek family. It was a blessing to photograph you guys.

Baird Family | Knoxville Family Photographer

“I have, as it were, my own sun and moon and stars, and a little world all to myself.” -Henry David Thoreau

The Baird Family at home on their land. In their own little sweet world. <3

January 10 on 10

Every month when I put this blog post together, I feel as though I just wrote the one for the previous month. But not this time. It seems like a very long time has passed since our last 10 on 10 and so many things have happened since then. Ellie turned 5 last month which for some reason feels like such a big deal to me. I felt the exact same way when Beck turned 5. I think it's because it's such a big year. They grow up so much in this year + there's Kindergarten in the fall, she'll probably lose her first tooth, the list goes on. We celebrated really simply this year just the 6 of us and it was exactly what we needed and honestly what I think made her feel most special. Then of course there was Christmas which was really wonderful. We tried to pack in all the traditions we could and fill their memories with celebrations of Jesus birth and lots of time with family.

Corinne seems to have grown so much this month. She's completely mobile, crawling everywhere, and even standing up. (tears) Then of course, this week, our first snow of winter. We don't get lots of snow here in TN so it is always magical when we do. <3 I know we're supposed to only share 10 each month but I just couldn't narrow it down more than this. I hope you guys are having a great start to 2017! 

Please head on around the circle by heading to my friend Kristi's blog to see her beautiful photos from this past month. 

Noll Newborn >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

It is such a sweet honor to me to be invited into a family's home to photograph them as they've just welcomed in a new little one. It's an adjustment for everyone. Finding a new balance, a new rhythm, adjusting to little sleep, sharing mommy, sharing daddy. But my oh my, the beauty that lies within this precious and fleeting time. Inevitable growth and immeasurable grace. What a gift. Thank you Noll family for trusting me to capture these sweet moments for you. Blessings! 

Martin Family Newborn >>> Knoxville Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

I just love getting to watch a family grow. When you have your first baby and you experience love like you've never know before, it's hard to believe that our hearts and love can expand even more as our family grows, but it does! In new and beautiful ways. Seeing your baby become a big brother and seeing them fall in love with their sibling is one of the sweetest things on this earth. I loved documenting this sweet family's newborn session for them and seeing them as they experience this very thing. A brand new love. Congrats Martin Family!

Wildflowers Workshop

"Some journeys are direct, some are heroic, some are fearful and muddled. But every journey, honestly undertaken, stands a chance of taking us toward the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need." Parker Palmer

For years it has been a dream of mine to go to an in person photography workshop to learn from one of my favorite artists. After a few years in the business and my husbands sweet encouragement, I searched for the perfect one to meet my needs and landed on the Wildflowers Workshop led by the incredibly talented Joy Prouty. I have followed Joy's work for years and it has always resonated with me. Her ability to evoke deep emotion in her imagery is really incredible and I love her complete honesty and transparency in her personal work. I identified with her so much as a believer, mother and wife that I knew it would be a good fit. And it was. I went to this workshop really seeking insight on balance as a creative, a business owner and a mother and left challenged and stretched in all these areas. Although we had two shoots while there, this workshop wasn't very much about the technicalities of shooting but more focused on our artistry and developing that, which was exactly what I needed. I was challenged to shoot the things that make me feel alive as an artist. And although, I feel like over the past year or so I've begun to focus my work in that direction, my time at this workshop really breathed new life into this pursuit in my work.

My time with Joy made me look a bit more closely at what I love to shoot. What makes me love to pick up my camera and in turn create beautiful imagery. My photography journey has evolved quite a bit since I started my business 3 years ago. I have figured out that I am passionate about shooting families, but not always the perfectly posed traditional family portraits. Rather, I love to spend time with my clients, connecting with them, learning their stories, and photographing the season of their family, no matter what that may be. One of the things I wrote down in my journal that weekend that Joy said that I have gone over and over again to myself is that you cannot compare one persons beautiful with another person's beautiful. Sometimes life is not always golden sunlit fields and perfect smiles(sometimes it is!). Sometimes life is a sink full of dirty dishes and a tangled mess of hair and to me that is just as beautiful and equally deserving to be captured. So, as I embrace that, the joys and messes of these beautiful, imperfect lives we live, I hope you'll join me as my business grows and changes as I develop as an artist.

I am so thankful to Joy and the 16 other photographers I met for shaking up the creative in me. For encouraging me, challenging me, and giving me so many things to think about. Over a month later, I'm still mulling over all the things we discussed. I am really excited for all the wonderful things that are ahead for my work and for my clients. A few changes are already in the works and I'm excited to share them with you in the coming weeks. If you are a photographer considering Joy's workshop, DO IT. Just do it. If you aren't a photographer but love beautiful photographs, you should really follow her work. Here is her website. Go get a cup of coffee, a warm blanket to snuggle up to and enjoy. :)

Here are some pictures from my weekend in Austin....

And here are a few iPhone snaps of my weekend...

Cardwell Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

2016-03-24_0002

2016-03-24_0003

2016-03-24_0004

2016-03-24_0005

2016-03-24_0006

2016-03-24_0007

2016-03-24_0008

2016-03-24_0009

2016-03-24_0010

Oh my stars. I hadn't seen little Ms. Piper since she was a bitty newborn and my goodness what a doll she is. Her mama and daddy were going on about what a sweet and precious baby she is and how she makes everyone around her smile and they were absolutely right. She lit up the room. So thankful to get to see this sweet family again. They've been with me since the very beginning and for that I am so so grateful. Enjoy these little snapshots of the love they share. <3

Shields Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

These are my people. My very best friend since we were 15 years old and formed a friendship at the local swimming pool when we were both singing U2's With or Without You, opera style at the top of our lungs. :) God has been so gracious to gift me with such a special friend like her. A lifelong friend. One that I've been able to walk along side through some hard times and the best of times.  Last year they spent the year in Japan as a family and although I know it was an incredible experience for them and a time of growth as a family, we are SO glad they're back. I'm so glad we got to document the beauty of their little family recently. Love you guys so much! "Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." Romans 12:9-10

2016-03-19_0006

2016-03-19_0003

2016-03-19_0004

2016-03-19_0005

2016-03-19_0007

2016-03-19_0008

2016-03-19_0009

2016-03-19_0010

Harper Mama and Me >>> Knoxville Maternity Photographer

2016-03-13_0001

2016-03-13_0002

2016-03-13_0003

Baby Luke >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

I can't say enough how much I have loved getting to know this family over the past couple of years. I first met them when we did a maternity session for their first son, then his birth and the rest is history. I've photographed them several times and I always love getting to spend time with them. I love seeing parents blossom into motherhood and fatherhood and as special as it is to see and spend time with a first time mom, I adore seeing a mother settle into motherhood with more than one child. It totally changes the dynamics of your family and stretches you in new ways. Your heart grows with even more love than you knew you had in you. It's amazing how that happens. <3 Enjoy this sweet newborn session with baby Luke and his crew. He is such a blessed little boy. Blessings to you guys and Congrats! This session was styled by Nicole Wise Styling.

2016-02-23_0001

2016-02-23_0002

2016-02-23_0003

2016-02-23_0004

2016-02-23_0005

2016-02-23_0006

2016-02-23_0007

2016-02-23_0008

2016-02-23_0009

2016-02-23_0010

2016-02-23_0011

2016-02-23_0012

2016-02-23_0013

2016-02-23_0014

2016-02-23_0015

2016-02-23_0016

2016-02-23_0017

2016-02-23_0018

2016-02-23_0019

2016-02-23_0020

2016-02-23_0021

2016-02-23_0022

2016-02-23_0023

Baby Luke's Birth Story >>> Knoxville Birth Photographer

A couple of weeks ago I was honored to photograph this family's second birth. I am always amazed at the strength, determination and beauty of a woman as she brings her baby into this world and this day was no different. I have been so lucky to have been able to get to know this family over the past couple of years after I photographed the birth of their first son and it was just as much a privilege to spend the day documenting their second birth as it was the first. I am over the moon for this family, seeing them become a family of 4. Congratulations! I did things a little differently this time and put the slideshow video at the beginning of the post because I just loved the video clips and didn't want you to miss them. Then you can also scroll through the images. Enjoy this beautiful day!

2016-02-15_0001

2016-02-15_0002

2016-02-15_0003

2016-02-15_0004

2016-02-15_0005

2016-02-15_0006

2016-02-15_0007

2016-02-15_0008

2016-02-15_0009

2016-02-15_0010

2016-02-15_0011

2016-02-15_0012

2016-02-15_0013

2016-02-15_0014

2016-02-15_0015

2016-02-15_0016

2016-02-15_0017

2016-02-15_0018

2016-02-15_0019

2016-02-15_0020

2016-02-15_0021

2016-02-15_0022

2016-02-15_0023

2016-02-15_0024

2016-02-15_0025

2016-02-15_0026

2016-02-15_0027

2016-02-15_0028

2016-02-15_0029

2016-02-15_0030

2016-02-15_0031

2016-02-15_0032

https://vimeo.com/155462165

2016 Mama and Me Mini Sessions at The Hive

I am so excited to announce that on Saturday February 27, I am offering a very special mini session event for mamas and their children. This event will be held at The Hive near downtown Knoxville. The Hive is a beautiful indoor urban location that offers floods of natural light and a variety of cozy places for us to shoot you and your little ones cuddled up together. Seriously, it is so gorgeous in there and I am beyond excited to take my clients there!

I know that as a mother I am pretty much always the one taking our family photos and it’s difficult and rare for me to be in the frame with my children. So, that’s why I wanted to take a day out to focus on you mamas and the connections you share with your most precious treasures.

Nicole Wise Styling will also be on location offering hair and makeup services for $40. Please contact her at nicolemwise@me.com to book your appointment. Nicole will also be offering mini wardrobe styling packages for $50. Please contact her for more details.

The Details.... Sessions are $250+tax and payment is due in full to reserve your spot and is non-refundable. Sessions will last 25 minutes and will include 15 full resolution digital files delivered via download as well as an online gallery for professional print and product ordering. These sessions are suitable for all ages (including adults with your mothers, or expecting mothers) but are limited to one family per session with a maximum of 5 people.

Sessions are available at the following times. 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30

Please email me at bethanysamsphotography@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

Levenson Family Newborn >>> Knoxville Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

Before I share this beautiful newborn session with you today, I want to share my thoughts on why I love this session so much. I have ALWAYS been drawn to lifestyle newborn photography. Even from the very beginning of my business, it's really what I wanted for my newborn work. If you aren't sure what that is, to me, lifestyle is the art of capturing more honest, natural, emotive images. For the most part, that's always what I've done. And those are always the newborn sessions I love the most. Don't get me wrong. I have so much respect for newborn photographers that can pose a baby with props in all sorts of positions. It takes mad skills! But more and more, I just know that's not me. This is me. This session right here. Just hanging out with this family for a few hours. Watching them interact and capturing all those sweet details. These are the sessions that make me excited. It's exactly the way I want to capture families. This family is so incredibly special to me because they were sweet enough to take a chance on me in the very beginning. Before I even officially had a business, they were one of my first portfolio building clients. I am so thankful for them for trusting me again to capture their family during such a special time in their lives. I can honestly say, I always have the very best time hanging out with them. These two little ones are very blessed to be in such a sweet and loving family. Congrats Levenson family!

2016-01-26_0001

2016-01-26_0002

2016-01-26_0003

2016-01-26_0004

2016-01-26_0005

2016-01-26_0006

2016-01-26_0007

2016-01-26_0008

2016-01-26_0009

2016-01-26_0010

2016-01-26_0011

2016-01-26_0012

2016-01-26_0013

2016-01-26_0014

2016-01-26_0015

2016-01-26_0016

2016-01-26_0017

2016-01-26_0018

The White Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

I was so excited to photograph this sweet family again. I photographed them about 2 years ago and absolutely loved meeting them and spending time with them. I knew I was going to love this session because when mom contacted me she wanted me to get some outdoor family photos and to get some of them in their home just documenting their everyday. Which is one of my favorite things to do! Enjoy this sweet session of this beautiful family. 

The Metz Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

I love to photograph this family. They are the best. I think I love them so much because they remind me so much of my own family. Our sessions always consist of lots of knock knock jokes and plenty of little boy humor, aka, replicating sounds of certain bodily functions. haha! I'm always so excited to see them and catch up with them. Enjoy their sweet session from this fall.

Nash's First Birthday Party >>> Knoxville Birthday Party Photographer

My first session of the year was shooting this sweet little guy and his family for his first birthday party. It was perfectly done. Beautiful home with adorable decorations and lots of friends and family to celebrate this little one. Happy Birthday Nash!

Williams Family Birth Story >>> Knoxville Birth Photographer

I get to share a really special birth story with you tonight. It is always such an honor to photograph a birth because it's such an intimate day for a family. The days your children are born are right up there with your wedding day. It's one of the most important days. So, to be invited into that space is very special to me. And this family is so incredibly special to me. For starters, I photographed the birth of their last son and I've been able to photograph them several times in between there. I've had the incredible blessing of getting to know them and they are the real deal. Incredibly loving, generous spirits, hearts for Jesus. Spending time with them during 2 births has truly been like spending a morning with great friends. Two years ago this Spring, I photographed Ashley's brother Hunter and his beautiful bride Amber for their wedding. I had never done a wedding before and they called me the Tuesday before Easter to say Hunter and Amber were coming in town and decided to get married and they wondered if I would consider photographing it on Saturday....in 4 days. Ha! Since they promised me it would be a really small wedding and I just loved their family so much, I agreed. Let me tell you, I have never seen two people more in love. I still remember when I was photographing them after the wedding alone, I could have sworn they forgot I was there. They were just so happy to be together. It was such a special day and I am so grateful I got to document it for them.  Two weeks before this birth story unfolded, Ashley's brother Hunter passed away tragically. The weeks that followed were excruciatingly painful for Ashley and her family as they mourned their incredible loss. Those two weeks, the Lord sustained Ashley's pregnancy and she was able to deliver after they had returned home from their travels.

Ashley wanted me to include..." After a minor complication, I was sent for induction on the two week anniversary of his passing. It was both a joyful and heartbreaking experience. My family, including my brother's wife and child were able to make it shortly after delivery. We changed Judah's name from Jonathan Judah to Judah Hunter, in his honor. We were so grateful that you had met him briefly and were no stranger to the full circle experience that was Judah's birth. We truly believe you were meant to be our birth photographer for this birth and that the Lord began orchestrating that years before we could even comprehend the steps."

The Lord truly was present on this day. I got to see this family experience joy through an incredibly painful circumstance. The day was filled with love and laughter and full of joy. Judah Hunter is a very blessed boy to be surrounded by such a loving family. I pray for continued peace and comfort that only our Father can bring for this family. Congratulations Williams family! Looking forward to seeing your family grow in the Lord.

*Ashley wanted me to also include a few photos from Hunter and Amber's wedding.

Now for this family's beautiful birth story..... Be sure to watch the video at the end. Enjoy!

https://vimeo.com/149233152