2016 Holiday Guide

Merry Christmas Everyone! I thought it would be so fun to put together a little style and holiday gift guide this year to give you (or your spouse) some great gift ideas and tips on holiday styling from Nicole and some photo related gift ideas from me. I asked Nicole to give us the scoop on some of her favorite trends this holiday season to have you looking amazing at your parties and get togethers as well as a few gift ideas thrown in the mix as well from she and I both! So, without further ado, here we go!

We'll start with Nicole's picks for this holiday season's trends. Get your pen and paper! You're gonna want to take notes. :)

 Fashion this holiday season is rich in color and full of texture and movement.  Leather, sequins, velvet and lace are among the many options.  Pieces in these fabrics can be real statement makers!  It’s important to style them with something that will keep you looking on trend without looking over done.   Try pairing a classic sweater with a sequin skirt or pants to create the perfect balance.    Layer a leather jacket over a romantic lace dress for a fun bit of edge.  Pair leather pants with a flannel top or classic sweater.  Add bold earrings and knee high boots to an understated sweater and denim outfit.  Lastly, if your outfit is looking a little bland, add a pop of rich festive color with your handbag, shoes or lip and nail color.

Here are some suggestions...

1.  Kat Von D lipstick to add that pop of red!

OR

Try this

2.  Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac is such a versatile bag.  You can wear it as a clutch, cross body or shoulder bag.  They come in a ton of styles and colors and 2 sizes.  The right amount of edge and boho in one bag.

3.  Kendra Scott lariat or any lariat style necklace is the perfect accessory to wear with a low, v-neckline.

OR

Try this

4.  Kendra Scott Elle Earrings come in many colors and are a perfect statement earring to add to an understated outfit.

5.  Lucky Brand Hoops add sparkle and edge to any classic style sweater.

6.  Swedish Hasbeens Bordeaux or Oxblood color shoes or boots are a gorgeous way to add a festive pop of color to an outfit.

OR

Try this

7.  Silence and Noise Metallic Jacket is one of so many options when considering a leather jacket.  Leather jackets add a layer of warmth, edge, color, etc.  I could go on for days why I think every woman needs one in her life.  

And if you're looking for some new makeup or accessories to update your look or need a  gift idea, here are some of Nicole's top 10 faves...

1.  Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics eyeshadow palette is my everyday, go to palette.  A little tip:  depending on your eyebrow color, there’s a couple shades you can use to fill those in. 

2.  BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector is a universally flattering highlighting product.  It can be used on all the areas you want to highlight.  Pop a dab of this in the inner corner of your eyes, to instantly open and brighten. 

3.  TOCCA Stella perfume…where have you been all my life?  Blood orange and soft florals make this my everyday, all day scent.

4. Maybelline Fit Me Poreless Foundation is a must try if you have combination/oily, large pored skin.  It’s so affordable, yet offers the same results that much higher end brands offer.  Plus you save even more since you don’t need an additional powder to finish.

5.  Dior Addict Lip Balm is AMAZING!  It’s definitely a splurge item, but sooooooo worth it!  

6. Sephora Favorites Perfume Sampler is such a great gift idea.  Get one for yourself while you’re at it!  They are super fun!

7.  Swedish Hasbeens Clogs range in many different styles, colors and heel heights.  Stellar quality, incredibly comfy and simply gorgeous.  Amazon always has great prices ranging from $30 and up.  

8.  HOBO Lauren Wallet has been a staple of mine for years.  This beauty can also be used as a clutch for quick trips to the store or a date night.  

9.  Rebecca Minkoff Gold Facetted Earrings are my everyday earring.  They are understated and edgy.   I’m a big fan of this designers jewelry and handbags!

10.  Trader Joe’s Lavender Salt Scrub is soooooo amazing.  If you’ve never checked your neighborhood TJ’s bath and body products shelf, you should.  This product is one of many worth trying.  

For the photography lovers!

 If you're looking to treat yourself or someone you love this Christmas with a photography related gift, I've got you covered. Just read on...

For anyone, friends or family....

In my opinion, there is nothing like holding a beautiful print in your hand, or seeing your images displayed proudly in your home or work space. For this I love prints, calendars, or photo albums by Artifact Uprising. I like to wrap gifts for family members in kraft paper and tie their square prints on with twine for a personal touch. You can even print your iphone photos straight from their app. The print quality is great and I love that they are printed on thick Mohawk Eggshell matte paper. Think cardstock. They are just gorgeous. 

For the budding photographer...

I get asked all the time what camera to start with and what lens if you are wanting to start learning to take better photos of your kids. I am a Canon girl so if you're going to go with Canon, I recommend starting out with one of their Rebel series cameras. I also recommend skipping the kit lens (the lens that comes in the bundle) and purchase a body only then buy a "nifty fifty" aka the 50mm f1.8. This lens has a fixed aperture and is a great economical lens to get started with. It's fast, sharp, versatile and will give you that nice creamy background you like seeing in photos since it's aperture opens up to 1.8. 

So, now you might be asking yourself what does that mean? What's aperture? How do I shoot in manual mode? What's exposure? How do I take good photos of my kids? Well, I'll be covering all that and more in my Photo Class for Mamas. My first class will be end of January and I should be emailing newsletter subscribers first next week to get you more info and book spots. Yay! Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to get all the info when it drops. This is a great gift idea for mama so she can learn to use her fancy camera. :) 

Another favorite of mine for everyday photographers is my Darby Mack camera bag insert. I take my camera with me when we're out a lot. And if you're like me, you don't want a big old bag that screams "I have an expensive camera in here!" haha! But at the same time, you want your gear to be protected. This bag insert is perfect because it protects your gear and you can slip it into any bag, even your diaper bag. I've had mine for a couple of years and it has held up beautifully. I love that it has room for a camera with a lens attached as well as another lens, sd cards and batteries. 

For everyone....

There is nothing like giving someone the gift of memories with their family. Whether it's a family session, an in home Beautiful Everyday session or a newborn session, the photographs of your family are a gift that will always increases in value to you and your loved ones over time. So, if you or someone you love has been wanting a session with me and or styling with Nicole, you can purchase gift certificates in any amount. 2017 is booking quickly so I'd love to see you in the new year!

I hope these tips and suggestions have been helpful and feel free to pass them along to someone who might be on the lookout for a gift for you! We won't tell. ;) Have a great Christmas season!

Blessings,

Bethany 

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

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.