Cumberland Mountain Farm Part 2

Go Me! I'm actually doing the post that I said I was going to do! :Big pat on my back!:

I've rambled on about how much I absolutely loved Rachael and Matt's wedding in my previous post here, so now I'm just going to lay all the pictures out there for you...plus, I'm exhausted. So have a gander and leave a comment (because they make me happy)!

Love these pictures of John seeing his Momma super beautiful! Sweetness!

Rachael, Matt and Samantha! I can't even begin to tell you guys how awesome you are and how much fun I had with you guys! It really was a blessing to be there on your day!

I hope your mom loves these pictures! :)

Cumberland Mountain Farm Part 1

I am so excited to share my first solo wedding as Jennie Andrews' associate photographer! Samantha, the bride's sister, contacted Jennie because she, of course, loved her work! She wanted to do something incredibly special and gift her sister with awesome pictures for her wedding day. Jennie already had a wedding for this particular day, so she told Samantha about silly ole' me! And so the story goes on...I absolutely fell in love with Rachael and Samantha when I arrived at Cumberland Mountain Lodge, the groom's parents home! I was blown away! The views were absolutely stunning and I was met by a bride who was basically in pajamas, hair in a ponytail and zero makeup. I have to admit, I was slightly nervous, then after an hour of not much happening, I realized that I was actually a full hour and 30 minutes EARLY!! (Stupid time zones) Anyway, I absolutely fell in love with this place and this amazing family! So I am indulging myself and making this a two part blog...check out later this week for the getting ready pics, ceremony and the down-home family farm party. First up though is all the yummy details! :)

Matt raises Pheasants! I know right...I didn't know there was such a thing. So think how surprised I was when Rachael, the bride, walked me up to a field where the fellas where shooting skeet! :)

I love a laid back couple and they were everything I could have asked for!

Handmade flowers by an awesome family friend! This is what some brilliant minds and late/or early hours will get you!

I know this is a semi small post, but check back later this week to the finale of the wedding. It was so much fun I couldn't hold it all to myself!Cumberland Mountain Lodge

The Tingle Bump

So I have been waiting and waiting (patiently I might add) to edit this session! I try and be good and edit everything as it comes in...no cutting in line, my elementary school teachers would be so proud!

Carla and I have known each other for a few years now; we are in a elite scrapbooking club together but haven't seen each other in MONTHS!!! So let me tell you how surprised I was to find an email from Carla asking me to do a maternity session...FOR HER!! I was literally beside myself! As I read her long, very long, email, I realized that I HAD to do these pictures! I didn't care where I needed to go and what I needed to do, I just had an overwhelming want to do this. So off I went to Oak Ridge...almost the day after getting the email! :) Let me just say I almost died when I walked in Carla and Tony's house! Seriously, if you guys don't know how much I love the Biltmore...well, I don't know what to say, but I obviously do; so when I saw this sofa...I literally almost tripped walking in the door! I instantly knew it was a winner...and to top it off; it came from Asheville...and there is almost, if not exactly, a sister to it IN THE BILTMORE!!! I almost died for the second time in 10 min! Anyway, on to the shoot...lets just say this sofa was my love affair for the next hour and a half! Throw in a beautiful momma-to-be and a smitten dad-to-be and I am a happy girl! Let me know what you guys think!

Yup, this is my shot of a lifetime...I can't get over it!

Not to mention these yellow walls.

We headed outside to take advantage of the oh-so-yummy light! Carla, you two are so adorable!!!

Now Carla and Tony already have a full house...5 dogs to be exact! This one was my buddy...I tried to stick him in the van, but he wouldn't fit!

Love this happy family and can't wait for the new little guy to get here!!

Johnson Clan #2

I am in serious crack down editing mode...which of course means more blog worthy material! :) I was so happy when Jenny told me that she would love to have me photograph her new family! I love Jenny and will find any reason to see her so this was perfect! We decided to head back to the awesome location that she and Ryand got married; The Knoxville Botanical Gardens! Look familar? Families with the same last names in the same location...I chuckled. Not only did I get to meet Ryand and Noah, but I also got to meet Carlos and Ripley (phenomenal pup names)! I have heard about these two dogs since Jenny and I worked together and lets just say...they totally lived up to the stories! Meet the Johnson's Clan #2!

Love this one!

Coming up...the bump session that rocked my socks off! You've probably seen me spamming Facebook with this pic! I can't help it...I love it!

The Johnson Clan #1

Happy Friday everyone! Fridays have now become my safe haven; Saturdays and Sundays are jam packed with weddings with Jennie Andrews so Friday is my day of rest...well, after my full time job! But trust me, I am not complaining! The more I'm behind my camera that happier I am! :) (Oh, how corny did that sound?)

Anywho, I am introducing to you The Johnson Clan (#1)!  You will understand the #1 next week...

Meet Cristi, Brett, Braeden and Evan!e

These two boy boys are just beyond adorable...and hysterical!

When they first got out of the car, this kiddo, Braeden, hopped out and just said "Hello!", but it was the cutest way a little boy could ever just say hello! Ahh, we became best buds instantly. Not only did he like me, he liked my camera! Which always makes you my instant friend! The looks he was giving me were soooo funny! Plus, who couldn't just fall in love with those big blue peepers?! He will, most definitely, break hearts...over and over again!

Now, this one on the other hand was a little bit tougher to crack! Meet Evan! He was a little bit skeptical...and who can blame him? You've got a peppy girl running around with a black box in front of her face, pointing it at you and making a  lot of noise...I'd be a little standoffish as well. But boy did he love his brother. He's a little daredevil, but he just wants to do everything his big brother does! So sweet!

Cristi and Brett were so awesome and so much fun to work with. Plus, you could tell how much they just absolutely loved their kiddos. And who couldn't, they are so stinking cute!! Thanks so much Cristi and Brett, not only for trusting me to take your boys' pictures, but for letting me hang out with them too!

The Bowers' Bump

So I cannot begin to tell you how excited I was when my awesome cousin Micah and his beautiful wife Heather told our family that they were expecting! Little bursts of screams were heard all around Knoxville and Virginia! And lucky me got the priviledge not only to go to her baby shower (even if it was an 8 hr drive in an automotive clad mini van with a broken foot - me, not the van), but Heather asked me one of the best things you could ask a family member...to shoot her belly! Well, you guys know what I mean! Maternity shoots are one of my favs! Not only because it is one of the most laid back shoots (what 8 month pregnant woman wants to run around to tons of different locations?) but also because these are pictures that really will be cherish for a lifetime! One thing that Heather and Micah decided to do was keep the name of the baby a surprise from everyone...I think it has leaked to a couple of people here and there, but in the end they want to go with a name they love and I couldn't agree more...

Oh and it's a GIRL!!!

I am in love with the next three pictures...I couldn't settle on just one...or two! :)

And this is why photographers always want to shoot at sunset...look at that yummy light!

I can't wait to be Auntie Kayla to a new member of our amazing family!

Ladybugs in the Garden Baby Shower

Can anyone else believe it is already June?! Where has this Spring gone? Well, many many things have been going on with my life lately...if you hop over to Jennie Andrews Photography, you just may see yours truly in all my Bilmore-engagement glory! Plus, I am now finally out of my boot (long story that ends in a 4th fractured metatarsal) so I finally have some time to put my full attention back on my love (other than Robby), photography!

I was asked one of the most flattering questions there is to ask a photographer (at least in my opinion) by R.D. Berrie Weddings and that was to help showcase her talents! The creator and head-honcho of R.D Berrie Weddings is Holly, a super fun, quirky and uber talented gal in Richmond, VA. She also so happens to be my beautiful cousin! When Heather (my other cousin) announced that she was having a baby, Holly almost instantenously sent me a message asking for my help in capturing this beautiful event. I had been stalking Holly's Facebook page and drooling over the amazing Thanksgiving Turkey butt cupcakes and beer cheese cupcakes (they look so yummy) that I knew her eye for detail was going to be jaw dropping at this shower...and boy she didn't dissappoint! So enough with my jibber-jabber and onto the pictures.

One of the best parts of the whole day was when Heather and Micah came in and saw all the decorations for the first time. The whole shower theme was a complete surprise for Heather and you could tell she was more than impressed from the expression on her face! :)

Make sure to check out these yummy cakeballs' creator, Morsels! I've might have snuck a couple of these into my goodie bag while no one was looking! :)
And all that devine, yummy candy came from Sweet Spot Candy. If only there was a candy shop like that here in Knoxville!

I love how much Holly used plants in at this event. Even the smallest of events can stil be completely transformed just with the flowers and plants - real or paper!

The best element of the entire room is this next picture. Holly went to, well, I'll say extremes for this little surprise. Or should I say a couple thousand surprises?!? She had over 3000 of these little guys in her fridge. But lets just say...these sure were the hit of the party (besides Heather's adorable belly!)

So definitely make sure to swing by R.D. Berrie Weddings' Facebook page. Even if you aren't getting married, you can get some inspiring ideas from her pictures! :)

Holly and Heather...I can't say enough. I had such an awesome time with you two! :)

Be sure to check out the blog this weekend for Heather and Micah's belly-tastic maternity shoot! There just may be loads of solar flare! :D