Wildflowers Workshop

"Some journeys are direct, some are heroic, some are fearful and muddled. But every journey, honestly undertaken, stands a chance of taking us toward the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need." Parker Palmer

For years it has been a dream of mine to go to an in person photography workshop to learn from one of my favorite artists. After a few years in the business and my husbands sweet encouragement, I searched for the perfect one to meet my needs and landed on the Wildflowers Workshop led by the incredibly talented Joy Prouty. I have followed Joy's work for years and it has always resonated with me. Her ability to evoke deep emotion in her imagery is really incredible and I love her complete honesty and transparency in her personal work. I identified with her so much as a believer, mother and wife that I knew it would be a good fit. And it was. I went to this workshop really seeking insight on balance as a creative, a business owner and a mother and left challenged and stretched in all these areas. Although we had two shoots while there, this workshop wasn't very much about the technicalities of shooting but more focused on our artistry and developing that, which was exactly what I needed. I was challenged to shoot the things that make me feel alive as an artist. And although, I feel like over the past year or so I've begun to focus my work in that direction, my time at this workshop really breathed new life into this pursuit in my work.

My time with Joy made me look a bit more closely at what I love to shoot. What makes me love to pick up my camera and in turn create beautiful imagery. My photography journey has evolved quite a bit since I started my business 3 years ago. I have figured out that I am passionate about shooting families, but not always the perfectly posed traditional family portraits. Rather, I love to spend time with my clients, connecting with them, learning their stories, and photographing the season of their family, no matter what that may be. One of the things I wrote down in my journal that weekend that Joy said that I have gone over and over again to myself is that you cannot compare one persons beautiful with another person's beautiful. Sometimes life is not always golden sunlit fields and perfect smiles(sometimes it is!). Sometimes life is a sink full of dirty dishes and a tangled mess of hair and to me that is just as beautiful and equally deserving to be captured. So, as I embrace that, the joys and messes of these beautiful, imperfect lives we live, I hope you'll join me as my business grows and changes as I develop as an artist.

I am so thankful to Joy and the 16 other photographers I met for shaking up the creative in me. For encouraging me, challenging me, and giving me so many things to think about. Over a month later, I'm still mulling over all the things we discussed. I am really excited for all the wonderful things that are ahead for my work and for my clients. A few changes are already in the works and I'm excited to share them with you in the coming weeks. If you are a photographer considering Joy's workshop, DO IT. Just do it. If you aren't a photographer but love beautiful photographs, you should really follow her work. Here is her website. Go get a cup of coffee, a warm blanket to snuggle up to and enjoy. :)

Here are some pictures from my weekend in Austin....

And here are a few iPhone snaps of my weekend...

Shields Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

These are my people. My very best friend since we were 15 years old and formed a friendship at the local swimming pool when we were both singing U2's With or Without You, opera style at the top of our lungs. :) God has been so gracious to gift me with such a special friend like her. A lifelong friend. One that I've been able to walk along side through some hard times and the best of times.  Last year they spent the year in Japan as a family and although I know it was an incredible experience for them and a time of growth as a family, we are SO glad they're back. I'm so glad we got to document the beauty of their little family recently. Love you guys so much! "Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." Romans 12:9-10

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Raby Family Christmas Session >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

Out of all my Christmas sessions this year I only had 2 new clients (because my previous clients snatched these sessions up so quickly :) ) and this sweet family was one of those. I am so glad I got to photograph them because they were just such a joy to be with. Their boys were so sweet and I immediately hit it off with mom. Their session was one of my favorites this year because it was just so easy to see how much they love each other. Merry Christmas Raby family! I look forward to getting to know your family more! HMUA by Nicole Wise

Christmas Tree Farm Minis Continue... >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

Merry Christmas to you and yours this week! I am going to try my best to get all these sweet Christmas tree farm sessions blogged since most cards should be out now. (although I just sent mine today, yikes!) I love this sweet family and it is such a joy to photograph them. I can't wait to meet their new little one just next month!

Rice Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

  Oh my goodness how I love this family and if you know them, you do too. They were some of my very first clients and I have been able to photograph them many times and I am so happy to say that they have become much more than clients, but treasured friends. Lexi and I have connected through motherhood and I love that the Lord has brought us together to pray for and encourage one another. I was so glad we got to do a family session this year with them at the Christmas tree farm. This crew always keeps me laughing and this session was no exception. I hope you enjoy these photos of this beautiful family. Merry Christmas Rice Family!

The Noll Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

This family. Oh my goodness. I just love getting to photograph them. Their newborn session is still my absolute favorite. You can see that here. So, I was so excited to photograph them for their one year pictures. I love shooting clients at home. It is just so relaxed and comfortable and I always feel like it shows in their images. Thank you so much Noll family for letting me photograph your beautiful family again! Enjoy these sweet photos...

Trusty Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

Oh my goodness how I love this family. They are so special to me because they were my very first clients. I know I say that every time I photograph them but it is so special to me because they were the first people to trust me with their family memories and that is so special to me. I love photographing them more and more each time because they are just so easy. I mean, really. They are crazy about each other and it shows. And that makes me a very, very happy photographer. Love you guys. Enjoy your photos.

Fay Wedding >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

I'm going to start this post off by saying that I am not a wedding photographer. Ha! Wedding photographers are incredibly talented at what they do and I am a family photographer through and through. But I do occasionally make a rare exception like when one of my past clients whom I've photographed since the beginning of their time as family tells me they are getting married. I was beyond excited to get to capture Matt and Danielle's wedding day and see their family united through the bond of marriage. Congratulations Fay Family! What a blessing it was to be there and photograph you all. I pray God's abundant blessings on you and the life of your family. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Patch Sessions >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

I always love getting to photograph this sweet family. They are always fun and so easy to be with. I was so excited to get to photograph them this year at the pumpkin patch. It is the perfect way to kick off fall and see this little guys exploring the pumpkins. And I loved their styling by Nicole! Enjoy these sweet photos of this beautiful family!

Faddis Family >>>Knoxville Family Photographer

I love photographing families over the course of a babies first year. It is so much fun to get to see how they've changed and grown. I had the best time catching up with these guys last week and celebrating  their baby girl's first year. They always have me cracking up! Happy Birthday sweet girl!

The Cardwell Family >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

I have a handful of clients that have been with me since the beginning and I've had the pleasure of photographing their family as it grows and this beautiful family is one of them. I first photographed them when Lauren was pregnant with big sis and all throughout her first year here, here and here. So, I was so excited when they contacted me for maternity photos for sweet baby girl number two and now their in home newborn session. They are so much fun and completely relaxing to hang out with. Congratulations Cardwell Family! Blessings on you and your family as you grow. :)

The Cleveland Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

I recently got to photograph this gorgeous couple and it was so much fun. I'm not even joking, they could give lessons on the perfect couple posing because it honestly came so natural to them to just love on each other. It was awesome! They are celebrating their 3rd year of marriage (yay!) and it was so fun chatting with them about this season of life they are in. I have truly loved every season in my marriage, but it is so fun thinking back on those earlier days were we were free to travel whenever we wanted, take off on an adventure at the last minute and just spend as much alone time together as we wanted. It was definitely a time I look back on with so much fondness and being with these two made me so excited for them and the adventures that await them. I am so happy we did these photographs to capture this sweet season in your marriage. Enjoy!

Gillooly Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

A couple of weeks ago, I got to photograph this beautiful family in the mountains. If you know this family, you love them. They are completely adorable, have huge hearts for the Lord and will keep you cracking up the whole time you are with them. I was so excited that we got to do this styled session with them. This past spring, I was chatting with my super-stylish friend Nicole about how I would love to have styling for my clients. She has the best eye for fashion and always looks fabulous. My clients are always asking about styling and what to wear and although I do my very best to help them, I knew that having someone dedicated to them and their style needs would add an incredible element to their session, as well as make their experience with me even more fun and relaxed. So I asked Nicole if she would be interested in styling my clients, and from there Nicole Wise Styling was born. We wanted to kick off her services by doing a giveaway which we held this past Spring to also celebrate 2 years in business for me.

This sweet family was the recipient of our styled session and they were incredible to work with. It was so much fun throughout the whole process. We wanted this session to be really special and after seeing Nicole's style boards for their session, I knew I wanted to take them to the mountains. Having Nicole style them really helped me with my vision for their session and it took lots of stress off of Amanda from having to put together outfits and accessories for her family. Not to mention, she felt totally pampered having her hair and makeup done before the session. If you are interested in a styled session, you can find out more info on Nicole's services here. Enjoy these sweet photos of this wonderful family!

If you make it to the bottom, there's a little behind the scenes video from our session. Enjoy!

https://vimeo.com/138264676

Samulski Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

I loved photographing this beautiful family for the second time a couple of weeks ago. They are always so much fun and these girls keep me cracking up the whole session. I love that we did their session at their property with their beautifully restored farmhouse. And just for fun, here is the last session we did together. Enjoy!

Introducing Styling Services! >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

A few months ago I announced that styling services would be made available to my clients this fall and I am so excited to tell you all about it today!  The number one question I get from clients is “What do we wear!?” And what you wear at your session really makes a huge difference in the look and feel of your images. BUT I also know that most of my clients are busy moms that have a hard time etching out time in their hectic schedules to plan their family’s wardrobe or maybe just need help figuring out what will look best on her and her family. So, I’ve brought on my super stylish friend Nicole Wise to take care of all this for you! She is incredibly talented at styling and is also a hair stylist and makeup artist.We are so excited about announcing Nicole’s services that we wanted to offer 50% off her services to her next 4 clients! This is an incredible deal and a huge stress reliever. So take a minute to get to know Nicole...

Meet Nicole

Hi, I'm Nicole! I'm a wife to my high school sweetheart, Steve. I'm mom to my little loves, 10 year old Jude and 4 year old Maci. I moved to Knoxville 8 years ago from Orange County, California and am immensely proud to call East Tennessee "home."

I love Jesus, my family, friends, coffee, macarons, fish tacos, any ocean, sunsets, and traveling. I'm most comfortable wearing leather boots, jeans, a feminine top with a leather or denim jacket. I haven't met a lip gloss I don't love and watch YouTube makeup application videos more than I should!

Creativity, fashion and beauty are an innate part of who I am. As a young girl, I cut Barbies' hair, admired and wore my mom's new and vintage jewelry, wore makeup before I was allowed, made jewelry and sketched or sewed clothes. It became very clear to me in high school that I was to make a fashion and beauty my career. So, I became a professional hairstylist and loved doing that full time prior to becoming a mom.

Becoming Bethany's stylist just makes sense! Besides being able to harness all this creative energy and experience and offer a fun service to you, I simply adore her work and am incredibly proud to be a part of it. I am really excited to offer my styling services to you.

Nicole's next 4 clients will receive 50% off their styling services so be sure to let us know if you are interested in grabbing one of these spots. You can email Nicole at nicolemwise@me.com to get started.

Be my Stylist

$100

I'll be your personal shopper. We will start with you completing a style questionnaire establishing your style preferences, budget and expectations. I will provide you with inspiration boards that will assist you in shopping. I will also provide you with store and price information of the recommended items. A fully styled session can involve incorporating items that you already own or purchasing an entirely new wardrobe. My goal is to style you and your family in clothes you will want to wear, not only for your session, but on a regular daily basis. This add-on service will remove stress and time, while insuring you and your family will look and feel your best.

Hair and Make Up

$75

On location hair and makeup before and during your session.

Here is an example of one of Nicole's recent style boards for a client with the end result of her styling. Working with her this spring and summer has been wonderful because she and I are in very close contact coordinating locations with wardrobe and I really feel like it gives sessions that extra something. I hope you guys will be taking advantage of her incredible services. We have several beautifully styled sessions coming up over the next few weeks so be on the lookout! Let us know if you have any questions at all. You can contact me here or you can email Nicole directly at nicolemwise@me.com.

Early morning Sneak Peek >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

More to come from this family's session this morning!

Johnson Newborn Sneak Peek >>> Knoxville Newborn Photographer

Just a little sneak peek from my sweet in home lifestyle newborn session this morning...More to come!

Cooper's One year Portraits >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

This Family. Oh, this family. I just absolutely love them. I have had the privilege of photographing them throughout their baby's first year. From Maternity, Newborn, 4 months, 8 Months and now his One year portraits. And I have loved every session with them. They are so easy on me. Not only do I totally enjoy hanging out with them and catching up on life with them, but they are just so crazy in love with each other it makes my job super easy! You guys. It has been a blast and I look forward to working with your family for years to come! Enjoy this sweet family.

Gandy Family >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

I love to photograph this family. This was the third time I've been able to photograph them and it's always so easy to get great connections with them because they are crazy in love with each other. The last time I saw them was right after little Ms T was born for her newborn photos and it was so awesome to get to photograph them again for her first birthday. Happy Birthday baby girl!

Atkins 1 Year >>> Knoxville Family Photographer

Every time I have photographed this family has been magic. They just love each other so much. It's so easy to get those beautiful natural connections with them in their photographs because it's just who they are! I loved getting to photograph this sweet baby girl throughout her first year. It has been so fun to see her grow and get to hang out with her awesome family. Enjoy this family's sweet one year session with their girl.