Colquitt Family | 30A Florida Family Photographer

It’s been over 2 years since I last blogged a session and it’s just time to remedy that. I love seeing a family session in it’s completion, telling a story, giving away little details . It makes me fall in love all over again with what we created seeing it here and I hope it allows future clients to get a strong sense of what our time together could be like. Today I wanted to share my time with this beautiful family in Florida last spring. I’ll be in 30a again this May so please reach out if you’re interested in a family session.

Marrotta Family | Knoxville Family Photographer

Oh the Marrotta Family. They traveled here from Chicago to play in my Smoky Mountains and I am SO grateful I got to meet them and document this sweet spot in the life of their family.

If you are a family photographer and are interested in the way I interact with and photograph clients, I am happy to announce offering my break out session for sale again. These materials are jam packed with information on light, client interaction, prompts, posing and so much more. There are 2 full behind the scenes family session videos where you can hear me interacting with clients in real time as well as additional voice over explaining things in more detail. These materials were produced when I was shooting digitally but my process for shooting families has remained the same. I hope these materials will help you to grow and find confidence as a family photographer and help you let go of perfection while helping you see the beauty that exists all around you. You can find more information on my breakout and what all is included below.

Blessings,

Bethany

Cardwell Family Newborn | Knoxville Newborn Photographer

There’s nothing I love more than walking away from a session feeling like I just took a peek at normal life for a family and getting to share that back with them, showing them all the beauty in that time. Please know that I am not saying perfection, because we all know that our days hold the whole gamut of emotions and feelings, messes, mundane chores and exhaustion. But seeing the beauty and especially the blessings even there, and reflecting it back through photographs to you, is what it’s all about for me. Sharing a beautiful morning with the Cardwell family and their newest baby girl today, where all those things I mentioned were happening at the same time. Here is the result.

If you are interested in sharing a morning or afternoon with me and creating together with your family, I would love to chat. Contact me here and let’s get your session scheduled.

Ryg Family | Knoxville Family Photographer

I’ve been photographing this family for several years and I can say fully that every time I’m with them is so incredible. Mostly because their mama, Sarah, always shows up with zero pretense and her children follow suit. It always feels so easy to get into a groove photographing them because they show me who they are from the minute I get out of my car. She is the kind of mother you would invite over for coffee and know that you didn’t have to pick up your house but that you could just clear a spot on your couch, relax instantly and feel seen. And when she left you would feel less alone in this motherhood gig. This is how I feel when I’m with her and her family and really, isn’t that just an incredible accomplishment? But this is just who she is and I’m so happy I get to photograph them. I got to spend a beautiful chilly late fall evening with them on their farm this year and I am so excited to share it with you all today. Enjoy!

Corpstein Family | Knoxville Family Photographer

If I had a great big mansion
I'd rather live in a shot gun shack with you

If I drove a red farari
I'd rather ride in an oldsmobile with you

If I won a million dollars
I'd give it away to spend more time with you

With you I can be myself
With you I don't have to be somebody else
It's like puttin on my favorite pair of shoes
I'd like to be with me, when I'm with you

-Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors

McCafferty Newborn | Knoxville TN Newborn Photographer

Come and be here in the present moment,

Come and be reminded of all that is beautiful and true.

All the things fear wants you to forget.

-Morgan Harper Nichols

A beautiful morning with this precious family seeing them live fully present in this season with their new baby girl. Blessings to you McCafferty family. <3

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

Bailes Family Extended | Knoxville Family Photographer

Nicole has been a client of mine for the past several years and I felt so honored this year when she reached out for me to photograph their extended family after her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer this year. I may or may not have asked them to adopt me by the end of our session. I have always enjoyed spending time with Nicole and her family but seeing her with her siblings and mama just kicked it up a notch and definitely allowed me to see the source of her deep rooted love for her family. It was a gift to spend a beautiful fall afternoon with them in the Smokies and I hope these images serve them as a testament to their strong bond for years to come. Blessings to you guys!

If you are interested in a family session with me this year whether that be your immediate family at home or in a favorite spot of yours or with your extended loved ones like this family, drop me a line and we’ll get it scheduled. 2021 sessions are open for booking and some of my more popular months in spring and fall are almost booked already. I would love to create some keepsakes with you this year.

Blessings

Bethany

6 Months with Micah | Knoxville, TN Family Photographer

“The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” -William Morris

A beautiful morning with the sweetest family celebrating 6 months with their newest babe. <3

Baird Motherhood | Knoxville Family Photographer

Perhaps the reason you are drawn to flowers is not only for their outer beauty, but because they remind you beautiful things will bloom after the longest seasons of waiting. -Morgan Harper Nichols

I met Kelcy almost 2 years ago when I photographed her family at home and I got to catch up with her and her boys this Spring for a motherhood session. We had the most relaxed time together and I loved getting to see her in her element loving her sweet children. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. <3

Reveiz Family | Knoxville Family Photographer

I was the lucky one to spend a morning in the mountains with the Reveiz family early last month. Brittany and Nick are some of the most loving and intentional people I’ve ever met and it was evident and reflected so beautifully in their family. Brittany is an incredibly talented artist herself and she and I have talked about working together for years. And let me tell you, I loved every minute of my time with them. I wanted to share some sweet words she sent me along with a scripture. Enjoy!

“Nick & I will treasure these photographs forever because of the way they ooze the love, joy, and gratitude we feel as “Team Reveiz”. In this life chapter, we cherish the Z’s constant snuggles, silly giggles, tiny toes, creative minds, tender hearts, and their deep love for one another. These precious moments you captured on film will encourage us as a family for years & years to come and will remind us of God’s faithfulness to lovingly guide us and care for us (Psalm 23).”

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

July 10 on 10 | Camping at Indian Boundary

Hi friends! I wanted to share a little this month in our 10 on 10 about our recent family camping trip to Indian Boundary. First of all, I have no idea how in the world I have never been to this beautiful place before. A sweet friend told me about it a year ago and I tucked it in my memory for the future. Thankfully, we made it happen a few weeks ago on a whim right after campgrounds in Tennessee opened back up. We stayed in the A-loop on the water which I highly recommend because our site was right on the water and our kids basically spent most of the time there running back and forth from the lake to the campsite to warm up by the fire. There’s a little beach area that’s a short hike away but we only went there the last day because the kids wanted to play in the sand. Otherwise we were happy as clams to have our own little private inlet to the lake right by our site. The water was clear and shallow for a long way out making it perfect for littles and bigs.

On our second day there, we drove the Cherohala Skyway to Huckleberry Knob just a few miles past the North Carolina border. The skyway itself is beautiful with scenic pull offs around every bend. We were ooooohing and aaahhhhhing the whole drive. We listened to worship music as we drove through the mountains. It only felt appropriate to worship our Creator as we got to see so much beauty in His creation. The hike to Huckleberry Knob was pretty short, about 2.5 miles roundtrip, and SO beautiful. There were lots of wildflowers in bloom and if you go later in the summer there are tons of wild blueberry plants along the trail. The knob gives you 360 degree mountain views and is a great place for a picnic. We watched a rainstorm in the distance and eventually got caught up in it on the last bit of our hike back to the car. Thankfully everyone thought it was a blast and sweet memories were made. :)

When we got back to our campsite, we went to the camp store and rented a paddle board for the day. We had so much fun exploring the lake, checking out the carp and jumping off the board together. Every evening we topped off the day by walking a bit of the 3 mile trail that goes around the entire lake.

On our way home, we stopped at Tellico Grains Bakery which was DELISH! I had one of the best reuben’s I’ve ever eaten and we also helped the kids polish off their wood fired oven pizzas. Tellico Plains is the cutest little town and we left talking about how much we’d love to rent a cabin on the river some time soon. We will definitely be back to Indian Boundary! My kids all said it was one of their favorite trips we’ve ever taken together!

Be sure to follow around the circle by heading over to Fort McMurray Lifestyle Photographer Melissa Richard is up to this month!

For my photographer friends these were mostly taken on my Rollieflex 2.8e with Portra 160 rated at 320 and pushed a stop as well as Ektar 100 and a couple of Portra 400. The black and white is taken with my Canon 1v with Kodak Tri-x400.

Montgomery Family at Home | Knoxville Family Photographer

“The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance than their simplicity might suggest.” Thomas Moore

I got to photograph this beautiful family at home for the second time several weeks ago. I shot them last spring in the same place but this session felt totally different. They’ve changed, grown closer, been pulled together and are spending their last days in their family home that’s raised them. What a privilege to share the morning with them. Blessings to you Montgomery family.

Life at home during Quarantine | Knoxville Family Photographer

It has been a long time since I did a personal blog post and what better time than now. Like many of you, this time has held so many mixed emotions for our family. So much has changed, yet so much has remained the same. We’ve always been homeschooling but we lost the ability to gather with our friends and family, which bring lots of life to us. That has felt sad but we’ve also gained so much more meaningful time together with fewer distractions and less busyness. We’ve enjoyed the sweetness of having my husband Aaron at home with us. Spending time in the mornings with him reading the Bible and discussing the application with him has been really sweet and comforting. Not to mention how I’ve loved to escape to his office when I felt overwhelmed during the day. lol. It’s been nice to have him here. Although it hasn’t exactly been easy, it’s been nice to enjoy a simpler life these past few weeks. I have thought so much about how it’s felt like a nod to my own childhood. I’ve missed photographing clients but I’ve spent a lot of time documenting the life of my own family during this time. As I put this post together, these photographs were precious reminders of the beauty of this time, my life at home with the children, the simplicity of it all and for that I am so so grateful. I hope you enjoy these little reminders as much as I did. Blessings friends.

I’ve been part of a beautiful group of women over the past few years that came together each month to share some of our favorite lifestyle of our families from the month. We haven’t participated for several months but felt the desire to come together again to share during this historical time. Please make your way around the circle by starting with Kalamazoo Michigan Photographer Sara Rypma and make your way around the circle.

Fay Family | Knoxville Family Photographer

This session made me fall in love with extended family sessions. There is no need for them to be stiff or stuffy. Just come as you are. Since the start of this year, I’ve lost 2 of my grandparents so sessions like these seem to hit me right in the feels as the images I have of them has increased in value to me by infinity. It’s really the most important thing I have left from them. I hope these are as treasured as my images with my family are to me. An evening with this family is time well spent. I’m so glad I’ve seen Matt and Danielle’s journey since the start of their family and I loved that he surprised her with this session for Christmas when they were at home in Tennessee visiting family for the holidays. If you want treasured memories like these of you and your loved ones, send me an email, there’s nothing more I’d love than document this time for you.

Baby Micah | Knoxville Newborn Photographer

I’ve been photographing this family since the beginning and that always feels like a gift to me. To get to see them blossom into parenthood. To see how the battles and trials and joy filled moments all mesh and melt down together, how it begins to shape them, softening them in the best ways possible. What a privilege to bear witness of a small bit of time with these photographs. Congratulations guys. It’s a blessing to see the parents God is shaping you into.

Jackson Family | Knoxville, TN Photographer

A beautiful fall evening with the Jackson family. I just love you guys and look forward to spending time with you each year. <3

Johnson Family | Knoxville Family Photographer

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” -G.K. Chesterton

Thomas Newborn | Knoxville Newborn Photographer

I had the honor of photographing this incredibly talented mama and her family as they welcomed their first babe into their family this fall. Anne is the creative art director at Altrd State and I probably spent a whole afternoon watching her instastories after her inquiry. Go see for yourself and you’ll understand. She has the most incredibly creative brain and is responsible for the window displays at Altrd State’s retail stores. Seriously seeing what she comes up with is INCREDIBLE. I could have spend the entire afternoon at her session just picking her brain. lol. So, of course I had such an incredible time getting to know her and her husband and of course the star of the show, little Behr. <3 Congratulations Thomas family!

Bessom Family at home on the farm | Knoxville Family Photographer

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” -Abraham Lincoln

I have photographed this family for years and each time is special but this time was even more so. That’s because I got to photograph them on their new farm. I’ve seen and heard them dreaming about this since we met and to see them in this space that’s been talked and dreamed about for so long was so beautiful to me. I love that they are seeking a life for their family where their days are filled with homesteading, farm chores, chickens and goats and long walks to the fire pit, watching sunsets on the pond and most importantly, each other. I hope you love these photos of the Bessom family at home on their farm as much as I do.

If you’d love for me to capture your family at home where you’re comfortable and you and your kids let your guard down. Where all the beauty of the mundane and real living take place, I would love for us to talk about a session together this year. You can drop me a line here and we can chat!