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!

Birtsch Newborn >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

I absolutely love photographing a family as they become parents for the first time. The love that is literally beaming out of them is unmatched. I had the privilege of meeting this sweet family several weeks ago at their maternity session and then just recently after they had their sweet girl. I love this mama's words as she reflected on the past few weeks as a new mother.....

"I was so nervous and unsure of myself when we brought Anniston home from the hospital.  I had no idea what I was doing.  My grandmother told me that all a baby needs at first is to be changed, to be fed, and to be loved.  So I changed her when she needed to be changed, fed her when she needed to be fed (no matter what time of day or night :)), and I loved her fiercely.  Soon it felt like I had been doing this mom thing for forever.  

No one can prepare you for motherhood.  No one can prepare you for the loss of sleep and the uncertainty that comes with taking care of a baby, and no one can prepare you for the immeasurable amount of love that you feel for a tiny little person.  I have only been a mother for a short time, but I am already certain that being Anniston's mom is my greatest accomplishment. She is such an undeserved blessing and has shown me a love that cannot be described, only felt."

Congratulations Birtsch Family! Anniston is so blessed to be a part of your family! <3

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.

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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!

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https://vimeo.com/155462165

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!

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The Cardwell Family >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

I have a handful of clients that have been with me since the beginning and I've had the pleasure of photographing their family as it grows and this beautiful family is one of them. I first photographed them when Lauren was pregnant with big sis and all throughout her first year here, here and here. So, I was so excited when they contacted me for maternity photos for sweet baby girl number two and now their in home newborn session. They are so much fun and completely relaxing to hang out with. Congratulations Cardwell Family! Blessings on you and your family as you grow. :)

Reidy Pie is One >>> Knoxville Lifestyle Photographer

I'll go ahead and warn you. This post is LONG. Last night I went through all my pictures of my Reid over this past year and I literally tried to narrow my favorites down and I'm sorry, but this is as good as I could do. :) I am sitting here with tears in my eyes and just in disbelief that this first year is already over. Its funny how with the first baby you are looking forward to seeing your child complete each milestone but with your second and even more so with your third, for me, all you want to do is for time to slow down. To keep them little. This first year with my little buddy has been great. It's been hard at times, overwhelming pretty much everyday, but through all that, I've been stretched in new ways, grown in my relationship with the Lord and refined as a mother. It is such a gift to see my older kids love him. Remember the way you felt when you fell in love with your first child when they were placed in your arms and you got to fall more and more in love with them with every passing day? Well, to me, seeing that same love from my older kids towards Reid is like that feeling times a billion. It is just the best. All throughout my pregnancy with Reid, I felt the Lord confirming this verse to me for Reid's verse "Blessed be the Lord because He has heard the voice of my supplication! The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices. And with my song, I will praise Him." Psalm 28:6-7 Happy Birthday Baby. ~ Mama

Johnson Family Newborn >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

A couple of weeks ago, I got to photograph this beautiful newborn baby girl and her family. They are seriously the sweetest family. I felt right at home with them since I got to know them a bit at their maternity session this spring. What a sweet and adorable family. Enjoy this wonderful time in your lives Johnson Family!

Johnson Newborn Sneak Peek >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

Just a little sneak peek from my sweet in home lifestyle newborn session this morning...More to come!

Cooper's One year Portraits >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

This Family. Oh, this family. I just absolutely love them. I have had the privilege of photographing them throughout their baby's first year. From Maternity, Newborn, 4 months, 8 Months and now his One year portraits. And I have loved every session with them. They are so easy on me. Not only do I totally enjoy hanging out with them and catching up on life with them, but they are just so crazy in love with each other it makes my job super easy! You guys. It has been a blast and I look forward to working with your family for years to come! Enjoy this sweet family.

Luallen Newborn >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

I was so fortunate to get to meet and photograph this little doll last week with her family. Isn't she just an angel? Such a special girl and incredible family. Blessings and prayers for you Luallen family. 

Luallen Sneak Peek >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

And baby makes 5! >>> Knoxville Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

I'm so happy to share this precious newborn session with you tonight. I love sessions with siblings. It is so fun getting to see their excitement over their new baby. After I had Reid, I was telling a close friend who is a very wise and seasoned mother about how I couldn't keep the older kids off of me when I was holding Reid and I kind of just wanted to be left alone with "my" baby.  She told me that when she had her third child, she realized it was no longer just "her baby" but their family's baby. That is so true. Big brother's and sisters just want their fair share of cuddle time with "their baby" as well. :) So fun to capture this sweet family together at home with their sweet new girl. You can also see their fresh 48 hospital session here. Enjoy!

Jackson Family Fresh 48 Hospital Newborn session >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

I am completely in love with fresh 48 hospital sessions. I feel so lucky to get to preserve this incredibly special time for families. I loved getting to spend a little time with the Jackson family a little over a week ago documenting some of their early moments as a family of 4. I was so glad grandparents got to be there as well! I think it's safe to say that everyone is completely smitten with this little bundle. :) Enjoy these photos of their day!

Leuciuc Family Fresh 48 Hospital Newborn Session >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

Last week I had the honor of photographing this beautiful family as they welcomed their newest baby into the family. Mom and Dad waited until I could get there to bring the two big sisters in to meet their new bundle. It was seriously the most precious moment. I feel like as a photographer, I am always learning more about what I love to shoot and what really makes me excited and this winter I've been doing lots of thinking on that. Over and over I keep feeling like one of the words I would use to describe the way I want my work to resonate with others is honest. I get most excited about my work when it is real, authentic and honest. Real smiles (or tears), authentic moments, honest life. Because that's what I want to remember, don't you? Don't you want to remember days like this forever just they way they really were? I am so excited to be offering these sessions now because days like these are the exact ones I want to document for my clients so that they have these incredibly beautiful moments forever. Enjoy these photographs of this wonderful family....

Brand New Wrinkles >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

Here's a sweet little peek from this afternoons hospital session...

Fresh 48 Sessions >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

I miss photographing births so much but with a little nursing baby, I just can't right now. So, I've decided to start offering fresh 48 hospital sessions! I'll come to the hospital within 48 hours of delivery and document your family with your new little one. I also wanted to announce that I will be taking very limited birth bookings starting in August. I will only be taking 1 client every other month so be sure to let me know ASAP if interested. You can see more info on fresh 48 sessions on my pricing page here. Please email me at bethanysamsphotography@gmail.com if you have any questions.  

2014 in Review >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

Since today is the last day of 2014 I wanted to do a post compiling some of my favorites from client sessions this past year. What an amazing year this has been! I am so thankful to have had 80 sessions this year with 51 individual families. I had originally intended to do a post of each type of session I do but ran out of time so none of my maternity clients are featured here but you can see them here in a post I did on Monday. Thank you all so much for allowing me to come into your homes, get to know you a bit, and capture these beautiful memories for each of you to treasure for a lifetime. I love my job and it's because of you all that I am able to do it. I almost get emotional looking at all these photos because I know that each and every one is a real story of love and family. Thank you again for trusting me with your memories! I know this is LONG but I just couldn't pick a few favorites! Enjoy!

And here's one more for good measure with one from each and every session I did this year! Thanks so much for being a part of it and I can't wait to see you in the new year!

Noll Twins >>> Knoxville Twins Newborn Photographer

I love to photograph newborns. I especially love to photograph newborns and their families in their own environment at home. It's just so beautiful. I love getting to catch little adoring moments between father and son, mother and daughter, mother and father. I love hearing dad give sweet comforting words to his new little one while he changes their diaper and getting to sneak down the hallway to catch that little moment. I love talking to new mamas about this new life they've entered into and all the joys and struggles that accompany it already. When I think of my newborn photography, THIS session is exactly the way I always envision it. But enough about me....  

Meet Townes and Etta. Born a month ago today. Brought into this world at 39 weeks by their incredibly strong mama, DRUG FREE! That is a feat with one baby, but two!? I was in awe of her. It is truly something to be proud of. I had the best time spending an afternoon with this precious new family at their session. These babies were so much fun to work with and their family made my job super easy with their good looks and incredible style. Enjoy these precious photographs of this beautiful family. Congrats Nolls!

Snuggle Partners >>> Knoxville Newborn Twins Photographer

More to come from this sweet session!