Marcelle Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

A few weeks ago I got to meet and photograph this beautiful family. This mother's strength and love for her children was so beautiful to me at her session, that I asked her to share a few words with her blog post. She writes....

"I am not saying that I wanted Dramatically Broken, on display. I wanted Mended.... I am a single mom. What I mean when I say single mom however, is that at the end of a long day it all falls on me in this house. Mortgage… mama, all other bills… mom, trash out…mmhm, lunches made….. ahem,  health… mama, activities…mama, training them up right…mama, love/hugs/kisses…me, bath time… me, “can i go ride bikes mama?” , accountability…me, grass mowed…me, oil changed in a safe vehicle…me, vacation plans…yep… me, comfort and discipline… you guessed it. I think I know that they trust me and love me beyond measure. But, most of the time, I feel like I have failed and they see it. I feel like i am worth nothing if I don't remind myself of Gods love for me, constantly. In my heart of hearts, I want “give me more of you, Lord.” To be okay mingling with being “accepting of my mess”, and I imagined that you would journey there with me. Later I learned that I would get more than I even bargained for. I would get to see how my children see me.

The time that I have spent in the past and that I would have continued to allow to gnaw at my tissue, in all of this turmoil…. will not be what graces our walls. It will be the glance of brute motherly strength that melt into my most beloved possessions’ foreheads with kisses and closed eyes. I got photos that don't remind to be anything! They remind us of who we are! They don't scream, “look how good we are at bliss” they whisper, “look what God is doing when you don't blanket everything with pride, and you let him stomp out your shame” Or they say to those who enter “there is no tip toeing here, we fill each others empty cups with Christ when we each fall short.”

May 10 on 10 >>> Knoxville Lifestyle Photographer

Hey Friends! Time for another month of photos from our family for this months 10 on 10(although I'm making it a habit of posting more than 10, woops!) This month has been filled with LOTS of time being outside, exploring and enjoying this beautiful spring we're having here in East Tennessee. 

I hope you'll continue on around the circle and visit my friend Breanna's post. Her Alaskan adventures always give me a case of wanderlust! Enjoy ya'll!

Bailes Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

This family. I knew this session was going to be amazing because of the way this mama talked about her family in my client questionnaire. I could feel her love for them through her words and her desire to remember this time with her sweet littles. Blessing to you Bailes family! Enjoy these sweet photos of your family

April 10 on 10 >>> Knoxville Lifestyle Photographer

For this month's 10 on 10, I wanted to share a few images from a fun little road trip we took to meet some of our long distance best friends and it was the best time ever. Canoes, hiking, campfires and no cell service. It was awesome. 

Continue around the circle to visit my friend Sarah who lives in Kalamazoo. Her images are full of life and color and always make me want to take a trip to Michigan! Enjoy!

Geist Family 6 Months

I loved photographing this sweet family in their own space to celebrate their little guy turning 6 months. He even fell asleep during our session which I didn't mind one bit. Happy 6 months Asher man!

March 10 on 10

Hey Friends! Here are some of my favorite moments from this past month. Continue on around by going to my friend Breanna's post. I always love seeing her Alaskan adventures.

Luke One Year >>> Knoxville Family Photography

"Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:14

There is an honesty that cannot be denied when a session is done in your home. It's where you're most "you." Where you're most comfortable, where life happens. The truth of your family. And I can feel all of that in this family's session. The honesty in their love for one another, it's here. Happy Birthday baby Luke! It's been an honor to photograph your sweet family this year. You are so loved. 

Dake Newborn>>>Knoxville Newborn Photographer

Last month I got to spend the morning with the sweetest family photographing them as they settle in to life as a family of four. I love watching these new dynamics in families as they adjust to a new baby. Big sister eagerly waiting for each and every chance to help mama cuddle, kiss and shush her new brother. Such an honor as always to get to document this time for this family. <3

Waring Newborn>>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

Ya'll, there is nothing like the air in a house with a new baby. There's just about nothing I love more than spending time photographing a new family. The love in the home is fresh and thick. And I love how even though new parents are tired, their eyes have never seemed brighter. 

I was so grateful to come into this family's space and photograph this sweet time with their new little guy. Britney is my best friend's sister so it has been such a joy to see her and Blake step so gracefully into parenthood. Congratulations Waring Family! 

February 10 on 10

I have come to look so forward to this post every month. I love getting to look back over our personal photos and carve out a little time to be creative just for myself and my family. This month has been filled with the usual slower rhythm of winter. A bit more time spent here at home focusing on school and being together before the business of Spring arrives. I always feel like these first couple of months of the year are spent with a lot of time reflecting on the past year and casting a vision for the current year. Aaron and I want to spend a bit less time looking at our phones and being more intentional with our time, reading and being more present with the children. A dear friend and client of mine passed away unexpectedly last week and her death has even solidified my desire for intentionality. She was a complete inspiration. She DID live intentionally. Her life was a testimony of God's love and faithfulness. She was an encouragement to all those who knew her and she left a legacy of love for her husband and children. Our hearts are broken for her husband and children, so would you please join me in praying for them and asking God to comfort their hearts? 

This year, I've made a commitment to get in the frame once a week. After this past week's loss of my friend Lexi, I've never felt more the infinite value of a photograph. So I am so thankful to have this challenge to be in the frame with my children more. I hope you'll head on around the circle and check out the rest of the ladies in 10 on 10 group. You can head over to my friend Cris's blog and check out her gorgeous work. 

Metz Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

Love this sweet family even more each time I photograph them. I feel right at home with them because they remind me so much of my own crew. A little wild and crazy mixed with a whole lotta love for each other. <3

My approach to newborn photography

Several years ago when I started my business, my very first official client was a newborn session. I was instantly hooked. There is nothing like the time with your baby especially in those early groggy days. I mean, yes, there is the utter exhaustion and sleep deprivation but the flood of emotions during that time is palpable and I LOVE to photograph it. It's been a while since I wrote a blog post about how I approach my newborn work and I thought it was time. 

I've always considered myself a lifestyle photographer when it comes to newborns, even in the beginning. That can mean different things to different folks so let me explain. To me, it means our session is done in the comfort of your own home and we focus on your natural interactions together. That doesn't mean I don't pose you or direct you into beautiful light, I definitely do. But the magic in the image all comes from the real emotion that's happening between you and your family. 

 As a mother of 4 myself, there's no denying that my work is heavily influenced by my own family and the photographs of my children and myself that bring me the most joy. These are usually the ones where I can see things the way they really were. How we loved each other, the way a lip curled when my daughter cried, how my son beamed when he got to hold his sister(or not, haha), the way a father smells the head of his new daughter, a mother's embrace. These are the images that stir me and these are the images I want you to remember and see of your own family. 

When it comes to portraits of your newborn, I love simplicity. In my opinion, newborns are just perfect on there own so I definitely think less is more when it comes to any kind of props for your session. Besides a few neutral wraps and swaddles, I rely totally on things in your own home to incorporate into your session. To me, this makes your session even more personalized.

For your baby's portraits, I focus on baby led posing in a more natural set up like the bed, their crib, a rug, the couch, etc rather than a more formal set up with a backdrop. I used to incorporate some of this into my sessions but over the past few years I have come to realize it's not my strong suit, nor are these the images that feel true to my style. In addition to baby led posing for individual photographs of your baby, one of my favorite ways to take portraits of newborns is in Mama or Daddy's arms. Babies are always more content close to one of their parents and I personally feel like it adds another element of emotion which makes the photograph more meaningful to you over time. 

Another aspect of my newborn sessions that is very important to me that I feel like goes without saying is that the entire family(siblings) is incorporated. Bringing home a newborn is a huge change for siblings and photographs of siblings are so important. I always do my best to get portraits of siblings together but I also love getting photographs of little glimpses of what life was like with a brand new baby in the house and the impact it had on your entire family. This is different for every family and I love that about sibling shots!

Last but not least, I like to get a good mix of family shots. I always get the good old, traditional everyone's-looking-shots but those are never my goal at our session. My favorites by far are the ones where everyone forgets I'm there and your true story unfolds. 

I hope this was helpful in understanding the way I approach my newborn sessions. When it comes to newborn sessions there is definitely no right or wrong when it comes to photographic style but I do feel it's important to choose a photographer that best suits your family. So, if we're a match, and you're expecting, shoot me an email and we can chat about a session. :)

Waring Maternity >>> Knoxville Maternity Photographer

I have always dreamed of photographing a family in the snow. Snow is so rare and magical here in Tennessee that we can't plan for this type of session and even when it happens we can't garantee that we can make it to one another because of road conditions. But a couple of weeks ago it all worked out and I couldn't be more happy about it. I CANNOT wait to meet this little guy here in the next few weeks and see this sweet pair become a family of 3. Congrats Waring family!

Kicklighter Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

This family. I just love them. I have loved seeing them become a family of three this year. This mama is not only a hugely talented photographer herself but also a very dear friend to me. She is a constant source of encouragement and their little darling is so lucky to have them both. So happy to have been able to photograph them this fall. Love you guys!

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. 

Lezatte Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

Happy New Years Eve everyone! This year has been such an incredible blessing to me and I am so very grateful to each and every one of my clients who have allowed me to photograph these beautiful connections with each other. I wanted to end this year on my blog with one of my favorite sessions of the year. I'm hoping to get more of these beautiful families from this past fall blogged here in the coming weeks. I can't wait to see this family again this spring when they welcome their new little bundle in April! Enjoy! And blessings to you and yours in 2017!

Geist Family 3 Months >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

Whew! I am super behind on blogging this fall's sessions but I wanted to post this family's sweet session from September since we have his 6 month session next week! It is always such a blessing to spend time with this family. Happy 3 months little guy! Looking forward to seeing you again next week!

Wardrobe styling by Nicole Wise Styling

Ellie turns 5

Today our biggest girl turned 5. 4 to 5 is such a big change. I feel like at the start of this year, she was just beginning to leave toddlerhood behind and now she's a little girl. Oh my Ellie. She is so very full to the brim with life. She wakes up beaming and shines till bedtime. Her name means shining light and that is truly what she is.

She has always been the one that has challenged me most in parenting and although, I'll be totally honest, at times that has been really hard, the Lord has used her in my life so many times to show me His unending love and grace towards me. 

Last night when I tucked her into bed, I told her about how at that time 5 years ago, I was in labor with her and how relieved I was to finally hold her in my arms and how I cried when I met her because I loved her so very much. How she smiled all the time as a baby and would squeal with joy in her crib when she woke up from naps. She just lit up as I told that little love story to her. We are so very thankful for you Ellie. Our shining light. 

"You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.  “As for God, his way is perfect:  The Lord’s word is flawless;  he shields all who take refuge in him." 2 Samuel 22:29-31

December 10 on 10

Happy December and Merry Christmas you guys! The past month has felt like a blur but I have so enjoyed being busy wrapping up client work and looking forward to my "slower" season(haha) and focusing in on my people and celebrating the birth of our Savior this month. I have always loved the Thanksgiving and Christmas season but children have a way of making it so very magical. I hope you are enjoying these days with the ones you love and cherish. I'm so very thankful for this group of women that spur me on to share images of my family on my blog. I hope you'll continue around the circle and visit my friend Min's blog where she shares her life in Kuala Lupur, Malaysia. Her work is stunning and I love seeing through her lens. 

2016 Holiday Guide

Merry Christmas Everyone! I thought it would be so fun to put together a little style and holiday gift guide this year to give you (or your spouse) some great gift ideas and tips on holiday styling from Nicole and some photo related gift ideas from me. I asked Nicole to give us the scoop on some of her favorite trends this holiday season to have you looking amazing at your parties and get togethers as well as a few gift ideas thrown in the mix as well from she and I both! So, without further ado, here we go!

We'll start with Nicole's picks for this holiday season's trends. Get your pen and paper! You're gonna want to take notes. :)

 Fashion this holiday season is rich in color and full of texture and movement.  Leather, sequins, velvet and lace are among the many options.  Pieces in these fabrics can be real statement makers!  It’s important to style them with something that will keep you looking on trend without looking over done.   Try pairing a classic sweater with a sequin skirt or pants to create the perfect balance.    Layer a leather jacket over a romantic lace dress for a fun bit of edge.  Pair leather pants with a flannel top or classic sweater.  Add bold earrings and knee high boots to an understated sweater and denim outfit.  Lastly, if your outfit is looking a little bland, add a pop of rich festive color with your handbag, shoes or lip and nail color.

Here are some suggestions...

1.  Kat Von D lipstick to add that pop of red!

OR

Try this

2.  Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac is such a versatile bag.  You can wear it as a clutch, cross body or shoulder bag.  They come in a ton of styles and colors and 2 sizes.  The right amount of edge and boho in one bag.

3.  Kendra Scott lariat or any lariat style necklace is the perfect accessory to wear with a low, v-neckline.

OR

Try this

4.  Kendra Scott Elle Earrings come in many colors and are a perfect statement earring to add to an understated outfit.

5.  Lucky Brand Hoops add sparkle and edge to any classic style sweater.

6.  Swedish Hasbeens Bordeaux or Oxblood color shoes or boots are a gorgeous way to add a festive pop of color to an outfit.

OR

Try this

7.  Silence and Noise Metallic Jacket is one of so many options when considering a leather jacket.  Leather jackets add a layer of warmth, edge, color, etc.  I could go on for days why I think every woman needs one in her life.  

And if you're looking for some new makeup or accessories to update your look or need a  gift idea, here are some of Nicole's top 10 faves...

1.  Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics eyeshadow palette is my everyday, go to palette.  A little tip:  depending on your eyebrow color, there’s a couple shades you can use to fill those in. 

2.  BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector is a universally flattering highlighting product.  It can be used on all the areas you want to highlight.  Pop a dab of this in the inner corner of your eyes, to instantly open and brighten. 

3.  TOCCA Stella perfume…where have you been all my life?  Blood orange and soft florals make this my everyday, all day scent.

4. Maybelline Fit Me Poreless Foundation is a must try if you have combination/oily, large pored skin.  It’s so affordable, yet offers the same results that much higher end brands offer.  Plus you save even more since you don’t need an additional powder to finish.

5.  Dior Addict Lip Balm is AMAZING!  It’s definitely a splurge item, but sooooooo worth it!  

6. Sephora Favorites Perfume Sampler is such a great gift idea.  Get one for yourself while you’re at it!  They are super fun!

7.  Swedish Hasbeens Clogs range in many different styles, colors and heel heights.  Stellar quality, incredibly comfy and simply gorgeous.  Amazon always has great prices ranging from $30 and up.  

8.  HOBO Lauren Wallet has been a staple of mine for years.  This beauty can also be used as a clutch for quick trips to the store or a date night.  

9.  Rebecca Minkoff Gold Facetted Earrings are my everyday earring.  They are understated and edgy.   I’m a big fan of this designers jewelry and handbags!

10.  Trader Joe’s Lavender Salt Scrub is soooooo amazing.  If you’ve never checked your neighborhood TJ’s bath and body products shelf, you should.  This product is one of many worth trying.  

For the photography lovers!

 If you're looking to treat yourself or someone you love this Christmas with a photography related gift, I've got you covered. Just read on...

For anyone, friends or family....

In my opinion, there is nothing like holding a beautiful print in your hand, or seeing your images displayed proudly in your home or work space. For this I love prints, calendars, or photo albums by Artifact Uprising. I like to wrap gifts for family members in kraft paper and tie their square prints on with twine for a personal touch. You can even print your iphone photos straight from their app. The print quality is great and I love that they are printed on thick Mohawk Eggshell matte paper. Think cardstock. They are just gorgeous. 

For the budding photographer...

I get asked all the time what camera to start with and what lens if you are wanting to start learning to take better photos of your kids. I am a Canon girl so if you're going to go with Canon, I recommend starting out with one of their Rebel series cameras. I also recommend skipping the kit lens (the lens that comes in the bundle) and purchase a body only then buy a "nifty fifty" aka the 50mm f1.8. This lens has a fixed aperture and is a great economical lens to get started with. It's fast, sharp, versatile and will give you that nice creamy background you like seeing in photos since it's aperture opens up to 1.8. 

So, now you might be asking yourself what does that mean? What's aperture? How do I shoot in manual mode? What's exposure? How do I take good photos of my kids? Well, I'll be covering all that and more in my Photo Class for Mamas. My first class will be end of January and I should be emailing newsletter subscribers first next week to get you more info and book spots. Yay! Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to get all the info when it drops. This is a great gift idea for mama so she can learn to use her fancy camera. :) 

Another favorite of mine for everyday photographers is my Darby Mack camera bag insert. I take my camera with me when we're out a lot. And if you're like me, you don't want a big old bag that screams "I have an expensive camera in here!" haha! But at the same time, you want your gear to be protected. This bag insert is perfect because it protects your gear and you can slip it into any bag, even your diaper bag. I've had mine for a couple of years and it has held up beautifully. I love that it has room for a camera with a lens attached as well as another lens, sd cards and batteries. 

For everyone....

There is nothing like giving someone the gift of memories with their family. Whether it's a family session, an in home Beautiful Everyday session or a newborn session, the photographs of your family are a gift that will always increases in value to you and your loved ones over time. So, if you or someone you love has been wanting a session with me and or styling with Nicole, you can purchase gift certificates in any amount. 2017 is booking quickly so I'd love to see you in the new year!

I hope these tips and suggestions have been helpful and feel free to pass them along to someone who might be on the lookout for a gift for you! We won't tell. ;) Have a great Christmas season!

Blessings,

Bethany