Search this site:            

Checking in and catching up

Posted on November 23, 2010

I’ve taken the week off from my day job, which means a week full of family, fun, great food, errands that I can’t take care of during a regular week (i.e. dental appointments for me and all four of my children and renewing my drivers license) and, of course, editing!

This is what I’m working on:

1. Jamie & Jacob’s wedding

2. Meagan & Will’s love session

3. Morgan & David’s wedding

4. Ashtyn & Matt’s engagement session

I intend to have the first two sessions listed fully edited by Sunday and the other two by Dec. 12.

Thanks so much for your patience!

Happy Thanksgiving – hope you enjoy turkey, family and making memories!

Photo Friday: Dark

Posted on November 5, 2010

Jamie and Jacob were married on October 16, 2010 at Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church, the oldest church in Tipton County. Their wedding took place at sunset and we’d planned on shooting photos inside the church following the ceremony because we knew we’d run out of daylight.

When we went outside to leave for the reception, I noticed there were lights above the doors (and cue the angels singing!). This shot is one of my favorites from their wedding day, which I am still working on editing. More photos soon, I promise, but I couldn’t not share this one!

Nikki and Adam | Covington, TN engagement photographer

Posted on November 3, 2010

I have always loved the scene from The Wedding Planner where Mary (Jennifer Lopez) says she can determine the length of a couple’s marriage by their song and color selections for their wedding. Of course it’s not really true and is a great gauge in theory, but I prefer the body language route. You can tell a lot about a couple by the way they interact, by the way they look at each other, by the things they do for one another when they think no one’s watching.

Adam and Nikki have great body language and a connection that is easy, comfortable and not at all awkward.

We met at the gazebo on the square in Covington and started shooting there, then moved to various spots around it. Adam mentioned going over to Lucci’s Pasta House for a couple of quick shots and, lucky us, they didn’t mind. They even allowed us to take over their chalkboard!

(Side note: The awards you see the wall are for two first place wins in this year’s Best of the Best readers’ choice poll, which was done through the newspaper where I spend my days. The awards are well-deserved, too. I picked up lasagne (delicious!) today and the interior has changed already! lol.)

I thought the way they held onto each other as they watched Brandy draw the heart and their initials was adorable. And then it was Adam’s turn to play with the chalk.

He’s writing their wedding date … and he got it correct! Way to go, Adam.

Don’t you love the way they look at one another? Some couples would give anything to be transported back in time for just one more look like that.

We also shot a few photos in Adam’s parents’ backyard – it was gorgeous! The pink blooms matched Nikki’s sweater perfectly.

We still had time and light, so we continued with our session. Next stop? The always popular railroad tracks. This time we shot on some old tracks that are no longer in use and afterwards we shot some by a warehouse-type of building that is currently being renovated by the city. Adam’s job was to look for snakes – I delegate this task to every man I know. I am terrified of snakes.

Our last stop was a cotton field, tucked away between the trees. Usually cotton is picked by this time, but we found a field that hadn’t been touched yet (thank you, Adam!). Cotton field photos are super popular in the South, though this was my first one. I’m very proud of the way they turned out.

Nikki and Adam, thank you so much! I loved working with you two and wish you nothing but the best in your future.

It’s all about the details: rings!

Posted on October 10, 2010

When I have a couple or a bride in front of my lens, I make sure I capture the little symbol – that metal and those stones – which share with the world a sacred promise between two people.

With no beginning and no end, the band’s shape represents an unbroken promise of love and commitment.

This weekend I had two sessions and was inspired to try a few new things. The vertical photo above is from Saturday’s engagement session with Adam & Nikki and features Nikki’s ring tucked into a cotton boll (this shot inspired by Simply Bloom Photography); horizontal photos are from Morgan and Davey’s session on Sunday and feature Morgan’s ring with weathered barn wood and tied into Davey’s hat band.

When our family friend Amy, who will be married in January, and her mother Mona came to visit last month, we shot bridals in nearly pitch black darkness; we were lucky to get a few ring and flower shots in at dusk (top left). Above, bottom left, Joshua and Erika heated things up in Mason and gladly showed off Erika’s ring. The other two photos are of my own ring …

Today before my session with Morgan and Davey, I snapped on my 50 mm 1.4 and decided to take a few more detail shots of my own rings.

I really wanted to contrast the textures in the photo, mixing the smooth diamonds with weathered wood from our deck and a tree stump in our yard (and later more glass; the yellow bud vase was a wedding gift from my husband’s cousin, Tobin, and wife wife Marta).

My husband, God bless him, likes to take his ax or chainsaw and just chop down random trees. He has a myriad of reasons, such as needing firewood (we have a gas fireplace) or getting an RC copter stuck in the tree and having to chop the tree down to get it out. Our next door neighbors think chopping down trees is what he does when he’s mad (ha). The RC copter tree has left us with one of many stumps and, well, today it was my prop (which means it was finally good for something).

I pretty much adore this series!

The bud vase was a complete accident, I have to mention. I came inside to download the photos and saw the vase sitting next to the computer – I just had to prop my ring on top and test it out. The light was gorgeous (!) and I love how the white laptop case and my sea green walls were blurred because of the depth of field, making it look so smooth as a background.

Photos of rings can sometimes be difficult to get – check back later this week for Quick Tips on taking better engagement ring pics! It’s one you definitely won’t want to miss, especially if you’re sporting a shiny new rock and you still need to share pictures!

Kimberly, Allie & Jacob | Mason, TN family photographer

Posted on October 6, 2010

Railroad tracks are one of my most popular requests since Joshua and Erika hit the blog this spring. (What can I say? Joshua and Erika rocked it!) When Kimberly contacted me about a family + couples session, I made a return to the tracks to capture two different types of love.

“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”

Meet Allie. She’s two and took some time to warm up to me. She finally decided throwing rocks would be the way to do that, so I did what any other photographer would do and invited her to throw rocks at me. It kinda worked.

I caught this little smile while using my sister-in-law Kelly’s technique with my nephew: “You can’t smile! You don’t know how to smile! I bet you can’t smile at me …” Yes, reverse psychology works on two-year-olds.

I’ll never forget Allie for three reasons: She was the first person I’d ever asked to throw rocks at my head, she decided she was going to use the bathroom when we were in the middle of couples shots with Mommy and Daddy and because it took a stray dog to finally make her happy.

This dog came out of nowhere, made Allie smile and was ready to leave minutes later. She wanted to take the dog home with her – how adorable!

In between shots with Allie, we did our best to get some photos with just Mommy and Daddy, Allie-willing, that is.

Thank you, Kimberly, Allie & Jacob! It has been my pleasure working with you!

My focus with Echo Day Photography is primarily on couples – from brand new couples those well-seasoned, and everywhere in between – but I am accepting a limited number of family sessions for the 2010 holiday season. There are only five spots left this year! To book yours, please call 731.612.2723 or send an email to echodayphotography@gmail.com.

Quick share: Amy’s ring

Posted on September 13, 2010

This past weekend was busier than busy, plus I had two sessions, a wedding consult and a gallery deadline to make. My brain is exhausted, but in all of my proofing this shot made me the happiest.

Amy and her mom Mona, who are longtime family friends (Amy was actually the flower girl in my parents’ wedding in ’79 and her parents are my brother’s godparents), drove to Tennessee from the Dallas-Ft. Worth area over the weekend to visit and work out some wedding details. While she was here, we squeezed in a bridal session.

Due to the busy-ness, we lost light pretty quickly and had to deal with darkness, but we managed to get some great shots. She thought I was playing with my camera when I took the ring shot above, but was then excited because she’d wanted pictures of her engagement ring.

She and her fiancé will be married in January and I can’t wait to be there! Best wishes, Amy and George! See you in a few months …

Donkey Business

Posted on September 8, 2010

Aren’t these guys adorable? My children and I see them every morning on the way to work/school and every morning I want to stop and photograph them because the light at that particular time of the morning is generally amazing and magical.

A couple of weeks ago we had a pre-autumn spruce-up at church. I was in a particularly happy mood that morning. It was Saturday and cool, the humidity had not yet set in and we’d had a much-anticipated break in the heat wave that’s plagued our area since late May; two of my children spent the previous night elsewhere and the other two had soccer practice, so I was alone. I was excited to have a few hours without the responsibilities of being a parent while being productive at church.

On my way I stopped to photograph the donkeys. They were grazing in their pasture and I didn’t want to disturb them, but they were more than happy to oblige after a few minutes. The small guy on the far left was a little skiddish, walking around nervously until he figured out I wasn’t there to hurt them. And then? They all just stood there. Perfectly. Allowing me to capture them.

And they nuzzled up – twice! Did you see that?

How sweet is that?! (The two in the back never glanced in my direction once. They were too busy munching on grass.)

So why am I sharing pictures of donkeys? Because there are a few things these little guys can teach us about posing for sessions:

1. Don’t be afraid of photographers. I’m really not going to hurt you, I promise! Don’t be afraid, just go with the flow. Relax and have faith that our session will be great!

2. Just be yourself. My job is to capture you, to capture memories of you, to capture the love you share with others. There’s no need for pretending. Be the you God intended for you to be. Be the you you want remembered. It also doesn’t matter what you wear – just be you.

3. Don’t pose - act naturally. Just like our donkey friends, do what you normally do. I strive for candid, modern, photojournalistic styles in my photography which means you can act the way you would if I wasn’t around and together we can make fabulous photos. Hug your partner, kiss your children, smile because you’re happy and blessed and in love. Just do what comes naturally!

The bottom line: Trust in your photographer, be yourself and just be captured the way you are. These are all the quick tips you need for a fantastic session, I promise.

PS – If you were the owner of these donkeys, would you want an enlargement of these guys? I think they’re terribly adorable and I love the light so I naturally want to print them, but I don’t want to be creepy.

PPS – Did you catch the sneak peek of my new logo? That was not inspired by the donkeys, I promise, but I adore it.

Engaged: Joshua & Erika

Posted on April 24, 2010

In November, Gwen and I shot photos at our co-worker’s son’s wedding. While we were there, his other son’s fiancée asked us to shoot her wedding and, of course, we agreed.

Having a fledgling photography business, I want to shoot as many sessions as I can. Gwen and I have tons of ideas and we made sure Erika knew we wanted to shoot engagement and bridal photos prior to the wedding. A week ago, we did it! It was a marathon double-session, and it was exhausting, but so. much. FUN!

Erika and Joshua aren’t getting married until May 22, so you’ll have to wait to see the bridals, but the engagement photos are a go!

In my last entry, I shared all of the scenery for the engagement shoot. Our locations were all in about a half mile of one another along Hwy. 59 West/Main Street in Mason, Tennessee. We had beautiful gothic-style arches, painted brick buildings and railroad tracks. And obviously, a very easy-going couple.

Poor Joshua was subject to primping by his bride-to-be and future mother-in-law prior to the shoot – he’d better get used to it (right, ladies?).

We started at the church, then made our way south towards the tracks.

Remember the blue wall? It looks kinda shabby, I know. But in photos, it rocks. I hope that in seeing these, Erika’s mom agrees. lol. When we said we were headed to the businesses she was a little surprised.

This has to be one of my favorites (below).

It’s no secret they’re in love – and have been since Erika was in the seventh grade and Joshua was in the tenth (Erika graduated with the Class of 2009).

Another run-down building, but the teal-ish paint made a teal-ish stripe in her dress pop.

Next up, the tracks! During our consult – which we actually did via Facebook chat (gotta love technology!) – we discussed several ideas and Erika asked for railroad tracks. Before she asked, I was tempted to toss the idea out there, but not many people are willing to play on the railroad tracks. But this was one gamble that worked out (and thank you, Gwendolyn, for finding some fabulous inspiration photos for the basis of this entire shoot)!

First, helping each other walking along the rails. Hand-in-hand, working together.

And then? A little sit-down. So, so sweet.

I love the way Joshua and Erika were up for anything we suggested! This is a modern take on the famous post-World War II shot taken of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square. Except, you know, in Mason, Tennessee.

Thank you, you two, for such a great session! We cannot wait until May 22.

Sneak peek: Erika & Joshua

Posted on April 18, 2010

We had a fun (and long!) double session this afternoon with Joshua and Erika. We started out on the square in Covington with Erika all dolled up in a dress that is “seriously, five layers of poof!” as Erika said. We shot photos all over the square and at a nineteenth century church in Mason. Then, two hours later, we met up with her groom for some railroad chic engagement photos.

I really love the series and can’t wait to share, but until then, here’s something to tide you over. Erika and Joshua, Gwen and I had a blast hanging out with you!

Sneak peek: Jonathan & Christy

Posted on March 21, 2010

Last weekend I shot the simple, sweet wedding uniting Jonathan, Christy and their children.

Christy, her daughter and new stepdaughters spent the morning bonding at the nail and hair salons, getting gorgeous before they became a family. Christy, I was told, even drove through the McDonald’s drive-thru with her veil on! So cute.

Though this was her second wedding, this was Christy’s first wedding dress (she was excited because she’d never had one before) and her oldest stepdaughter (MM) proudly helped her get ready.

A quick candid shot while getting dressed. Christy’s daughter MG is quite the ham! Her other stepdaughter, SM, had a case of the nerves, poor thing.

Before the ceremony, they played Kenny G on the iPod downstairs as well as up in the sanctuary. MM told us she is not getting married for 30 years -  we’ll see about that!

Meanwhile, the groom and IG, his stepson, goofed around upstairs.

IG really, really didn’t want to smile. I have a feeling this is much more his speed.

The ceremony was attended by the family only, with the exception of two officiants, a videographer and me. Well, and the lovely Holly who manned the sound system. It was over pretty quickly and Jonathan swooped in for a kiss that lasted about a millisecond, then sweetly hugged his new wife.

Afterward, they prayed together as a family. I like how IG is trying his best to keep his eyes closed! Ha.

Jonathan and Christy, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your big day! I hope it is the beginning of some of the best days of your lives. (PS – You have four awesome children!)

And Christy, you looked simply beautiful. Congratulations!