My Love for Engagement Sessions

Wednesday


Engagement sessions are my favorite! There, I said it! Whooo! They really and sincerely are so much fun and so relaxing and just all-around awesome!!! I highly, highly recommend to every couple that I book that they have an engagement session! If you’re out of town, and you feel like there is no way you can fit in an engagement session, let’s a least talk about it! :D  Let’s take 2 hours the week of your wedding and just hang out and take pictures. You don’t need to get all jazzed up; it can be a fun, laid back session that also serves as a nice break from all the crazy-week-of, last minute details and also allows you and your love to spend some fun, “un-wedding” time together…leave the tool and ribbon at home! :) 


I know a lot of grooms (and even brides) don’t see the benefit of doing an engagement session. This just absolutely breaks my heart! Let me tell you firsthand how beneficial engagement sessions are. Robby and I had an awesome engagement session. Now, it wasn’t with our wedding day photographer, but still being in front of the camera made us learn a lot!! Here are some things that you might not have thought about!




1.      I have never (and I say never) had a bride or groom say they regretted doing the engagement session. They are so.much.fun! Not only do you get to hang out with me for 2 hours (just kidding) but you also get to hang out with your love! There are no expectations, no rules, no limits!! It’s just you guys having fun! Who could ask for anything more?


2.      It allows for me to get to know you even more for the big day! It lets me learn what makes you comfortable and uncomfortable and allows for you to better understand me and how I work. Plus, when I tell you on the wedding day, “Oh, remember that pose we did at the engagement session that you totally rocked,” you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Or if I say, “Oh James, remember that cute little thing you told Ashley that made her feel absolutely stunning…tell her something else”, you won’t feel silly. It sounds corny but we will have a connection on the wedding day! This in turn makes wedding day pictures go SO much more smoothly!



3.      You can use the engagement pictures FOR the wedding day! Need an announcement for the paper? Want to send out photo Save-The-Dates or Thank You cards? Want to have a photo guest book? There are so many fun things you can do with your engagement photos that make your wedding day even more unique.



4.      If you are able to do an engagement session…and it doesn’t frighten you ;), it is a fantastic time to do a trial run of your makeup! Having your makeup done will not only make you feel insanely beautiful, but it will LAST through the engagement session. No raccoon eyes in the middle of July or barely there lips in chilly November!


My amazing December bride, Keely, was insanely sweet and wrote a little something something about her engagement session:
"Our session for our engagement pictures was AMAZING with Kayla! Scott sometimes gets tired of having his picture taken, so I was initially concerned with how long his smile would last, but Kayla kept us laughing the entire session so he had a great, natural smile throughout all of the pictures! We also felt completely comfortable with Kayla. We took our pictures outside near the Grist Mill at Norris Dam, and Kayla took us around to multiple spots and just observed us how we are. She got great shots that did not look posed at all. Needless to say, the pictures turning out wonderful and the quality was so great we printed them on magnets to send out for our save the dates. Can't wait to see how our wedding day pictures turn out!!" - Keely

And because I absolutely LOVE my engagement pictures, I thought I would share one that shows just how much fun we really did have! :D
So if you are a future or current bride, please definitely consider an engagement session! Its a great time for you and your love to spend some time together just having fun, and in the end...you'll have some amazing pictures! :)
Smiles,
Kayla F

Little Miss Aidyn

Sunday

Its crazy to think that I took Aidyn's newborn pics 1 year ago!!! Its amazing how time flies AND how I'm able to see these adorable kiddos grow up through my camera! I love taking pictures at places that mean something to the family, and we took these photos at Aidyn's aunt's house! She's absolutely ADORABLE in that straw hat and with her big ole' pink elephant! 



My absolute FAVORITE shot from this session! I can't get enough of it!




The Day: Suzy and Bob

Monday

Where do I start off with this couple? Could it be that Suzy won my heart when she said she was wearing her mother's dress? Or that they were having a very casual, laid back summer wedding? Or that they wanted Louis' restaurant to cater their rehearsal dinner (which sadly wasn't able to happen), or that Suzy herself was planning her wedding in 4 (yes, you heard me FOUR) months?? Lets just say it was all these things plus SO much more! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being at this wedding! Suzy and Bob were the absolute sweetest! I know I say this about pretty much all of my couples, and its true! I have the BEST couples ever! :D

I'm not going to do much talking in this post...because it would be long...very long and its already going to be a long one with just the pictures!!! ;) I hope you LOVE it and come back later this week for a modge podge of little kiddo sessions! 

Do you not just LOVE this adorable church?? Its right near the water in Maryville! LOVE it! 

LOVE that Suzy wore her mama's wedding dress!!! Makes my heart sing!


Something Old, something new, something borrowed and a few things blue and literally, and a silver sixpence in her shoe! :)


An adorable necklace that Suzy's sisters got her on her Big Day! How fitting!

 I love this couple for SO many reasons...exhibit #250, they chose to do a first look! ;) 




 P.S...look how Suzy and Bob held each other through the entire ceremony! Swoon!!!!



Suzy and Bob now live out in Maryville, right on the water! What a better way to enter your wedding than on a boat?!?!? 







It is obvious that this wedding cake was de-lic-ious!!!



And you know I love a good wedding with some fishing opportunities! And so did Suzy's dad! 

Suzy and Bob! I seriously cannot begin to tell you how much I needed your wedding in my life to make me love what I do and realize why I do it! You and your family and friends were wonderful!!! So happy to see you both together and so incredibly happy you chose ME to be there to capture it all!!! 
Smiles,
Kayla F

The Day: Tiffany and Fran

Monday

I have been waiting and waiting to share this awesome couple's beautiful wedding from the Bleak House! Tiffany and Fran are Awesome (yes, with a capital A)! I seriously couldn't ask for a better bride and groom to start off my 2012 season! Tiffany was referred to be by another amazing photographer and Tiffany and I have come to the conclusion that it was meant to be! We seriously have SO much in common that I'm pretty sad that I've handed over her images...no more emails, phone calls or fun lunches! :( 
So on to their amazing wedding! Tiffany was going for an easy going, vintage/20's vibe. She nailed it. Everything fit with her vision and she even had some people dress the part! ;)

Here is Fran and Tiffany's big day! 

I was in love with Tiffany's jewelry! Her chandelier ear rings were a thrift store find and her beautiful blue ring was from her mother. 


Major love for my second shooter Anjelica for capturing this gem!! 

Tiffany, seriously?? You are absolutely stunning!

Tiffany and Fran opted for a first look and I couldn't have been happier! Their main focus for their wedding was to have a good time with their friends and family, so they didn't want to have to take pictures after the ceremony...first looks are my favorite part of the day! Both the bride and groom are so excited, nervous, happy to see their soon-to-be and you just can't match that intimacy. Love that Anjelica was able to capture the shot of Fran seeing Tiffany. Love!!!


 LOVE how Fran looks at her!




Fran was such a trooper...and even gave me the best smile EVER!!! 

 Yes...we did a mafia picture with the gents. ;)


Once guests started to arrive, Tiffany and Fran went inside to cool down and get ready for the ceremony. I got to go have fun and get all the yummy details!





I love the Bleak House and the backdrop for the ceremony!!! 


Tiffany's brother, Jason, is in a band...oh yea! And that band just so happens to be the Humanaires! Lets just say, they gave me their CD and I have been listening to it non-stop for a month...seriously. I love them!!! 


Ava and Camden= the coolest and CUTEST flower girl and ring bearer ever! Seriously, they were attached at the hip all night and were soooo sweet with each other!


I can't take how cute they are!!!


My FAVorite first dance pictures EVER! Seriously??? 





Tiffany and Fran, I cannot thank you both enough! I hope DC treats you amazingly and when you come back in town...you know my number! <3
Smiles,
Kayla F

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