A beautiful at-home newborn session for this family of four.
Cozy at-home newborn session
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in Clarksville, TN
I first met Kelsey via FaceTime. I love to meet my couples in person to talk about their wedding, but Kelsey and Joe live in Atlanta so that wasn’t going to be super convenient for them at all. Thank goodness for modern technology! Kelsey and I had the best conversation! We were able to talk about all the details that she and Joe had already planned for their Owen Farm wedding. For the details that they hadn’t decided on, we were able to talk about all their options and I was able to give a photographer’s opinion on what would photograph well. I really do love that part of my job! I remember one of the more important things that we talked about was the advantages of doing a first look and I’m so glad that they decided to go ahead and do a first look! We were able to capture so many special moments before the ceremony had even started.
I didn’t get to meet Joe until weeks later when Kelsey and Joe were in town visiting their families for the holidays. We met at Starbucks to finalize their timeline and make sure that they were going to have enough photography coverage to capture everything that they wanted. I got so excited just planning their timeline that I knew their wedding day was going to be so much fun. Kelsey and Joe are so funny and easy going and when we left Starbucks that day, they felt like friends instead of clients. If you spend even just a short amount of time with them, you will see that they are so perfect together.
The wedding took place at Owen Farm which is a gorgeous wedding venue with the whole package. Kelsey and her girls were able to get ready in the main house and the guys got ready in the adoarble Silo house near the reception location. It is a perfect setup to keep the bride and groom from accidentally seeing each other! Kelsey and I were able to go outside the main house to capture her getting in her dress, a few moments with just her girls, and the moment her dad got to see her in her wedding dress for the first time. First looks with dads are always a favorite of mine to capture! Kelsey’s dad reminds me so much of my own dad so when he got to see his baby girl in her wedding dress for the first time, I had to fight back tears of my own. Now that I have a baby girl of my own, I am soooooo much more teary-eyed while photographing weddings.
Once we were done with Kelsey’s first look with her dad, it was time for Joe to see his bride. They exchanged their gifts right before their first look and it was so sweet to witness. Both of them had written the same exact thing at the beginning to their letters to one another! They couldn’t help but laugh and I couldn’t help but think how perfect they are for one another. Joe’s reaction to Kelsey’s gift was so sweet and perfect. It seriously made me want to go back in time and redo the gift I gave my husband on our wedding day.
I’m so glad that my wonderful friend Bri was able to shoot alongside me that day so that we could capture both Kelsey and Joe’s faces during the first look. I love how intimate first looks can be and that couples get to have this sweet and private moment where they can hug and actually talk to one another. Joe’s face when he saw Kelsey for the first time was so perfect. You could see how much he loves her and you just know that he feels like the luckiest man in the world for getting to marry her. Their ceremony and reception were perfect and I think my favorite moments were Kelsey’s father daughter dance to Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl (so so fun!!) and her dad’s toast to them. Mr. Kenneth’s toast was the perfect balance of funny, sweet, and meaningful!
OH! And I loved their Krispy Kreme donut bar instead of the traditional cake. I love me some Krispy Kreme donuts!!
Kelsey and Joe, thank you so much for choosing me to photograph your elegant country wedding! You guys were a joy to get to be with on your day and I hope that we will keep in touch so that I can celebrate all your big moments as your life grows together. Below are just a few (ok, maybe a lot!) of my favorite images from your wedding day and I hope that you love them as much as I do!
Each half of the heart that was sewn into the bottom of Kelsey’s dress was a piece from each of her two grandfathers’ shirts.
Kelsey’s florals were stunning!
We couldn’t leave their dog Ace out of the photos!
It’s always fun when little ones are a part of the ceremony. I think there might have been two meltdowns but they eventually all made it down the aisle with a little help. They were so adorable!
I love that Kelsey’s mom and Joe’s dad each read special words to them during the ceremony.
Their faces are priceless in this photo!
I love that they rang the “wedding bell” right after the ceremony.
How gorgeous was Kelsey’s veil that her mother made?!
I’m so glad that they humored me and snuck away before sunset to get a few more photos.
I am a huge fan of the guest favors!
Their wedding hashtag was PERFECT!
Married y’all!!
Venue | Owen Farm
Florist | A Rose Garden
Hair | Southern Grace Hair Salon
Reception Band | Jim Gibson Band
Donut Bar | Krispy Kreme
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This newborn session was extra special to me. Not only because this family is a part of my family, but because of what they went through to have this sweet baby boy. After I had already delivered the photos to Makenzie, I told her that I would love to blog the photos on this website. I asked her if she would want to share what they went through. I wanted to make sure that I made it clear that I didn’t want her to share her testimony for me or my business, I could share Grant’s images without ever mentioning what happened. I asked her if she wanted to share for other women who might be going through something similar and think that they are alone. Below is what Makenzie sent me for this post…
The pain was unexplainable. I was glad the kids weren’t home, and Adam had to be at work. I was able to scream, wail, and just mourn for the loss of my sweet baby. Telling the kids the next day was impossible, I had to have Adam tell them. Their sadness broke me even more. We told them that we would see the baby in heaven one day, and Jesus would watch over him or her until we got there. Trying for another baby was definitely something we were planning for now. Months went by and I felt as though I was healing, I clung to God after that. If nothing else, just to cling to hope for Him to answer my prayer yet again, and in accordance to MY plans. We found out in early March we were expecting again! We were both excited, but more cautious this time. We didn’t tell the kids, and we only told very few people. I was over the moon, but this time of year was hectic. Braedyn & Colton’s birthdays were coming up, I was preparing for a spring break camp at church, and still was trying to do everything in my power to nourish this growing child inside of me. I had gone to visit with a friend, when I noticed I was spotting again. I immediately left and told Adam what was going on. I went home and rested. I hadn’t experienced any more spotting until the next morning…it was happening again. And again I was alone. The kids were at school and Adam was working. I decided to clean. If I was going to be alone on this terrible, terrible day I was at least going to be productive. I was able to clean (angrily) for a good two hours before the agony hit. I lied down in the floor where I was and just lost it.
“Why was this happening when other women were having babies that didn’t want them?” “Why again?” “Was this punishment for past decisions?” I know all these questions were seeds of doubt placed in my mind by Satan, that maybe I was unworthy of God’s love and unworthy to have Him answer my prayers. I mourned again. This time more brief than the last. I had to move on and stop feeling sorry for myself. My family needed a wife and mother that was present and not couped up all the time. I went about life as usual except for one BIG thing…I was one angry Momma. Nobody really shares the nasty parts because quite honestly…it’s embarrassing. I may have been present, but most of the time I was not nice. I thought I was really good at masking it until one day, a couple of friends gently told me they could see how I had changed. They could see the anger and the hurt that had built up and they wanted me to know that they were there for me and praying for me. Boy, did that sting. If they could see it, who else could? I was so angry at God during this time that I hadn’t allowed myself to spend time in prayer an in His word, which were the only two things that were going to help me out of this pit. But how could I let go of this anger long enough to actually spend that time with Him? Pridefulness is something that I was struggling with. Why did I think I could be a better Momma than anyone else (especially the way I was acting at this point)? Why shouldn’t I have things to struggle with in this life? Don’t they make you stronger? Aren’t the trials we struggle through the things that build endurance? Why would I think that God, who is Master and Creator, the Saver of my soul, would want to punish me for the things He has already wiped clean? He wouldn’t. He is a Good and Sovereign God that knows my needs and my family’s needs more than I do. He is in control. Let go of the reigns control freak, and let God do His thing!
In early June, we found out we were expecting again. Unfortunately, as soon as I found out I began to allow Satan to steal my joy again. But this time, there was a kind friend that reminded me of the aforementioned Good God we serve, and how much more mighty He is than the thief of my joy. I was still apprehensive and this time we literally told a handful of people. I began hoping for weeks. At the 12 week mark we should be safe…At the 20 week mark we are halfway…At 27 weeks he would be viable…at 30 weeks we are in the home stretch. Within those last few weeks Satan was trying his hardest to try and steal back the joy he once held onto so tightly. “What if something happens to him in the womb and I don’t notice till it’s too late?” “What if something happens during labor and delivery?” “What if everything goes smoothly, but when I get him home and something happens in his sleep?” NOPE…Not today Satan. God is in control, not you OR me…so back off! On March 1st in the weeeeeeeeeeeeee hours of the morning…3:09 AM to be exact. Grant Collier Bryant came into the world, as happy and healthy as could be. You better believe I was praising the Lord after all we had gone through. To see the joy in Adam’s eyes when he saw his newest baby boy was so warming! I know that even as he had to be strong for me during all the pain of the past year and a half, he had felt the losses too. To say we were grateful for this beautiful and precious gift would be an understatement. Grant is our Rainbow Baby. The rainbow that comes after the storm and rain.
To see Makenzie’s at home maternity session, click on the following link: VIEW THE POST
Last fall, when I first made the announcement that I would be resuming my photography business, I got a message from Mary…
“I’m so happy and excited for you getting back into photography! Please keep me posted on how everything works. Would love for you to do another newborn session for us in March :)”
and my response…
“OH. MY. GOSH!!!! So excited for y’all!”
I can’t even explain how affirming it is to me as a newborn photographer when amazing clients come back to me when they have another baby. Corrine was such a joy to photograph during her first year and some of my all time favorite photos came from her first year baby package sessions. I have no doubt that I will feel the same way after Rhett’s first year too.
Another reason I love working with this family is their HOUSE! Mary has such great taste when it comes to putting together nurseries. I know I gushed over every detail of Corrine’s nursery when I first saw it. I was anxious to see Rhett’s nursery since they weren’t finding out the gender ahead of time. Let me just tell you, it is PERFECT. I love all the tones that were used and the sweet animal prints above the crib! I want them for my own house! This sweet gender neutral nursery just screams to be in a magazine somewhere. It’s just so cozy and warm.
During this session, it was also important that we took time to take some photos of just Corrine. Lifestyle newborn sessions are a great time to also get updated photos of the big kids too! I just love the playful photos that we were able to get. Corrine’s bedroom gets a ton of natural light which makes for some beautiful and timeless images. If you love the idea of a lifestyle newborn photography session, please make sure that your photographer is going to plan on getting other special family photos too.
To see all of the images from this lifestyle newborn photography session, just click on this link : Rhett | newborn
To see a beautiful newborn baby girl session, just click here: Sadie James | lifestyle newborn session
And here is Corrine’s newborn session : Corrine | newborn photography session
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OH. MY. WORD!
So, I got to be a part of something super exciting and fun! I was contacted a few weeks ago to photograph an engagement party at one of my favorite venues, The Belle Hollow. Little did I know… it was a SURPRISE WEDDING!! I arrived at the venue early and when a man walked in, dressed ready for photos, I asked if he was the “groom-to-be” and he said “shhhh, it’s a secret.” I think I had a little look of confusion on my face because he then said “nobody knows”. I think the next thing I said was “but they know you’re engaged, right?” and he said “yea, but they don’t know we are getting married”
I’m pretty sure, that at this point, I was making the classic stupid-confused face. It seriously makes me laugh out loud to think about it. Chas, the groom to be, then went on to tell us that they were going to surprise everyone and get married at their “engagement party”. HOW FUN!!!
I’ve never been involved in a surprise wedding and it was just an amazing night! Their parents didn’t even know!!! I got an amazing photo of the moment that Casey’s mom found out that she was about to see her daughter get married!
Their ceremony was so so sweet. I had to hold back sweet tears for them a few different times. I may have just met this couple tonight, but I felt that this type of wedding fit them so well and was so perfect for them. I can’t wait to show them all the photos, but for now, I hope they enjoy my favorites that I was able to edit tonight.
Casey and Chas, I wish you long and loving lives together!
If you would like to see the rest of the images once I get them edited, just head over to Facebook and like my photography page because that’s where I will post the first update!
www.facebook.com/byjphotography
UPDATE
to see all of the images from this surprise wedding, just click here!
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I wanted to write this post to somewhat explain why you may not see a lot of weddings on this website.
Since I started my business, I made the personal decision not to pursue a lot of weddings. This is because it was just too hard to shoot and edit weddings while working full time as a civil engineer 45+ hours a week. Last year, after the birth of my daughter, I jumped back into shooting families as soon as possible and it. was. hard! I ended up neglecting my husband and felt constantly stressed from trying to balance being a new mom, being the wife my husband deserved, working 7-5 as an engineer, and then owning my own photography business. It was too much and I decided that it was just best to not pursue photography anymore. Being a good wife and mother were more important in the long run and I thought that photography was the reason I wasn’t being able to do that anymore. So I started referring out all sessions to photographer friends of mine that I knew could make my past clients happy. It was so so hard to say no to the clients that I so much cared for, but I thought I was doing the right thing. Fast forward to this past August when my very good friend died. Shea was an unbelievably talented photographer and someone that I looked up to so so much. She was entirely way too good for this earth and it’s still so shocking that she isn’t here anymore. She was most definitely one of the best persons in my life and I truly mean it when I say that I feel honored that I was her friend. When she passed away, we photographer friends made sure that her clients were taken care of. Shea had employed an amazing assistant, Kathryn Mitchell, who managed her business through the end of last year and made sure that her weddings were photographed and edited. Below is just one of the weddings that I helped photograph. I wanted to share some of the images that I took at this wedding and say I AM TAKING ON WEDDING CLIENTS! After helping finish out Shea’s remaining wedding clients, I realized how much I absolutely missed photographing weddings and needed it in my life. Even though I was working more, I was such a happier person to be around. My husband noticed a huge shift in me and we had a long hard talk about me pursuing photography again. This time, we put pen to paper and we made a plan together. A plan that both of us are happy with and believe will work. I have some huge goals for 2017 and those goal include a lot of weddings. I will be rolling out a referral program soon and sharing some more amazing plans very soon. This post is already entirely way too long, and if you’ve made it this far, you are a true friend. So I will now stop talking and let you see this gorgeous wedding…..
But first, one more really important thing, please note that with the exception of the self portrait directly below, these were all edited by Shea’s assistant to match her style of photography. These are not my edits, but I wanted to showcase some photographs that I took and absolutely love to show potential brides my skills as a wedding photographer.
You can see all of the images from this gorgeous wedding over on Shea’s client gallery website. Just click here to see them all: Cox Wedding
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One of the best things about a photograph is that it can take you right back to a moment in time –– right back to the love and joy you felt when that image was taken. My goal is to freeze all those beautiful moments, whether it's welcoming a brand-new baby or capturing the love and connection of your family. During sessions, I am the ultimate tickle monster, giggle maker, and baby whisperer. My family sessions are play-based and fun, while my newborn sessions are gentle and relaxed, allowing for sweet, natural moments to unfold. No matter the occasion, I always strive to capture you authentically.
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