On the way to Belize…
April 19, 2007 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 5 Comments
We headed out this morning to begin this big adventure together. It is so much fun to be a photographer. It’s even more fun to have family that are up for learning, helping and jet-setting! Mom, Kyle (my brother) and I set out for our first international destination wedding in Belize! Here’s a quick shot of the three of us in Nashville before leaving. Big shout out to Mom who wore her Bynum Photography t-shirt today!
Our papers…we’re official.
Here’s a shot of the Belize City airport as we stepped off the plane. Did I mention it’s really hot and humid here? Luckily it was a little overcast when we landed. There were a lot of folks just hanging out on that upper deck doing some “people-watching.” I don’t blame them. I like to people-watch myself.
Here we are in the same spot!
Here’s the line to enter the country. This is where they stamp your passport! I think it was a few more feet when it said “no cameras” and I had to put it away.
Everyone here has been very helpful…they helped us find the right plane to get us to the island, the right taxi to get to our hotel, the right restaurant to eat dinner, etc. We’re looking forward to what tomorrow will bring! 
We made it to Belize!
April 19, 2007 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 2 Comments
The internet connection is fair here, so these updates might come in waves…here’s part two of our first day.
Our pilot/cockpit on the Tropic Air plane (14 seats) from Belize City to San Pedro.
A few shots from the plane window by Kyle…
The hotel’s wireless internet connection is not accessible in our room, but it IS accessible at the pool. So we’re sitting poolside and enjoying the music from the swim up bar, the cool night beachy breeze, and the glow of our computer screens.
Happy First Birthday Sophie
April 17, 2007 | Filed Under babies | 2 Comments
I had so much fun today celebrating Sophie’s first birthday party at her home in Murfreesboro. Her Mom, Lorrie, gave Martha Stewart a run for her money, by planning the most adorable “shabby chic” birthday party that I have ever seen. Her whole house is like looking at an inspiration board for style mixed with function. I just love it!
I first met this sweet family when I shot some pictures for them back in September. It was a pleasant surprise to be asked to share in this special day. Here’s some sneak previews…enough to tide you over until I return from Belize.
Here’s the birthday girl, enjoying her party. Don’t you love the hats? Each little guy and girl had one of their own with their name embroidered on it.
I love this shot, showing the motion that surrounded the table of 1 year old’s and their moms trying to keep them clean and in their chairs, and drinking from their own cup, etc.
Here’s Reagan (there’s two of those) enjoying her cupcake. This Reagan is the oldest of the bunch at 18 months. 
Here’s the whole bunch. It was such a beautiful day outside - perfect weather for a stroll with friends.
Here’s Matthew and the other Reagan. You’ll remember Matthew from this post when he was just a few weeks old and this post at 3 months. I can’t believe he’s almost one too! Miss Reagan was sound asleep when she arrived at the party, but she woke up and joined in the fun after a little while.
This is Julia, and I love this picture because of how her little tummy is sticking out. Oh, to be young and innocent and not care… I love it! I met Julia and her Mom Terri at Ryan & Lindsey’s Wedding in July.
This is sweet little Claire, who devoured her cupcake face first and loved every bite. I know her parents Jimmy & Sarah from working at the Boys & Girls Club for so many years. Here’s Sarah helping Claire with the “big kids” slide!
And here’s the birthday girl with her Mom Lorrie; Two beautiful ladies who know how to throw a fabulous party!
Thank you so much for having me as a guest at the party today. As a little treat, enjoy this SLIDESHOW as my birthday gift for Sophie!
Senior Pictures - Canaan
April 13, 2007 | Filed Under senior pictures | 8 Comments
I met up with Canaan Chapman yesterday to shoot a few senior pictures so Mom will have something cool to stick in the graduation invitations. There’s not much I can say about this guy that hasn’t already been said - he’s wonderful…smart, funny, cool…he loves Jesus, loves his family, his friends…he’s athletic, loves Taco Bell…and he actually asked me if I minded photographing nudes? HA! If you know Canaan, you are not surprised, I am sure.
I love his glasses!
Canaan’s Mom and three of four sisters were hanging around during the session. I grabbed this shot of Yolanda and Lydia, both sporting new hair-do’s and looking great!
OK. Then we ventured over to this awesome orange wall that I have had my eye on for a while. If you are a native Smyrnite, you might have a guess about where this is. It’s not the most glamorous location. But I needed the right person to photograph around it - and Canaan was a perfect fit.
I think this is the picture that should go in the graduation invitations. Seriously.
Thanks for a fun afternoon Chapman’s.
Becky’s Bridal Portrait in Murfreesboro
April 12, 2007 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 5 Comments
Meet Becky. Beautiful sweet Becky.
During my ga-zillion years working for the Boys & Girls Clubs, Becky was one of my “kids.” She has always been such a fun girl to be around - she was a great athlete in soccer and softball, she was active in her church and in sharing her faith, and she loved to help others by being involved in her community. She is responsible, trustworthy, honest…the list goes on and on.
Becky was one of my guest book attendants at our wedding, which will be 5 years ago on May 11. Becky’s wedding is going to be on May 13 - the same Mother’s Day weekend like ours was. May 13 was also her Mom & Dad’s anniversary, and it’s Mother’s Day this year! 
Becky and I got up bright and early this morning and headed out around 6:45AM to a few locations around Murfreesboro to shoot. I love the morning light…and how there is a feeling of peace to this image.
Becky, I am so proud of you. You are a strong and beautiful young woman. I hope you enjoyed our session as much as I did! Thanks for getting up early with me! Enjoy your nap!
Mike & Jen’s Engagement Pictures at the Factory in Franklin
April 6, 2007 | Filed Under engagement | 4 Comments
I went out to the Factory at Franklin this afternoon for Jen & Mike’s engagement photo session. After working with this couple for just one hour today, I am SO excited about their wedding in May. They were so easy to work with, and I know I am really going to enjoy hanging out with them at their wedding & reception and walk away with some awesome images.
We started out on a little walk with Jen & Mike’s dog Ben. Ben reminds me so much of my sweet Katy - maybe we can have a play date in the future! I love that Ben gives hugs!
Then Ben headed on his merry way and Jen & Mike and I walked around on our own and found some great backgrounds.
These stairs were fun…
I am in love with this green wall. We’ll be back here in wedding dress/tux for another shot I am certain.
Then we found the train…
And Jen checked it out to see if anyone was around…
and things got a little steamy…
Jen & Mike - thank you for making my job so easy today. It was a blast, and I am looking forward to working with you! Hope you enjoy the photos!
April Pictage User Group Meeting in Nashville
April 5, 2007 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Our April TN Pictage User Group (PUG) meeting was tonight in Nashville and we had a great time. Mirna Campos was our special guest speaker, joining us from Pictage to demo the Album Design 3.0 application. She did an excellent job and we learned a LOT! Thanks Mirna!
After the meeting, and our usual hour of standing around chatting, a bunch of us headed to the Cheesecake Factory in Green Hills for some dinner. I had the best chicken salad sandwich I think I have ever eaten!
Here’s Amber and me…
Our whole group that hung out for dinner…
Mindy & Phil, Danielle, Mirna and me…
I wish Erin had shown her beautiful face here, instead of just her fun pink purse. I am shown here with my slightly sad and kind of amused face…
Joey & Amy and Whitney & Peter
This is such a great group of photographers and I am blessed to know all of you!!! Thanks to everyone else who came to the meeting tonight - we had 25 people - a high attendance for the last several months!
Christy’s Maternity Portrait Session
April 4, 2007 | Filed Under family | 5 Comments
I didn’t realize it had been so long since I had shot a maternity portrait session, so I am excited to show some off. These are especially fun to show off because they are of Christy, who has been my best friend since we were nine years old. We were each others’ maid/matron of honor in our weddings and we have been blessed to add our husbands and Landon, Christy’s son, to the mix and it has worked out well for us!
Joey & Christy are expecting their second child, a baby girl whose name will be Lanie Ann, in mid-May. We are all holding our breaths (ok, I am holding my breath) because I am going to be traveling SO much between now and then, and I am planning to be on hand for some “Birth Story” coverage. So, everyone say a little prayer that Lanie Ann will not be 5 weeks early like her brother, which would put her arrival around the time that I am working on the beach in Belize!
Christy is so beautiful. Of course, she is her own worst critic as we all are, but I just love these photos of her. I have always thought she was one of the prettiest people I knew. I think that is true, even as a pregnant woman.
Landon is a pretty cool 4 year old. He has grown up so much in the last few months and he is going to be a great big brother. He already talks about how much he’s going to take care of Lanie. He was patting her and tickling her yesterday.
Joey arrived home from work in time to hop in a few photos as well. He is a proud daddy. Can’t wait to see what kind of a softy he becomes with Lanie.
I threw in this little collage of Landon because I love the pictures. He has the best eyes…yum.
Sorry for the long post, but I love this girl. Congratulations Rhyne Family!
Blog-Love is so nice…
April 4, 2007 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 3 Comments
Below is a picture that I grabbed of my dear friend Stephanie Edens’ blog today. She was so kind to give me a little “blog-love” today. I am honored because every single person in her town reads her blog several times a day, and to be featured on there is a big deal to me!
The reason for the blog-love is because I have been selected as a presenter at the upcoming Pictage Partner Conference in Chicago in May. My presentation will be “Blogging; Insert Clever Subtitle Here” and it will discuss in depth how I believe that a blog is an essential tool for a photographer to maintain relationships with clients (and to create future clients). If you’re reading this, you are proof that it works!
Steph is also proof that it works, and she and her business (that is not even a year old yet) are going to be featured in my presentation. She doesn’t even have a website - just her blog - and she does not have one open session or one free day until JULY. I mean…if that doesn’t tell you something about her and also about the power of the blog, I don’t know what does.
If you want to read Steph’s ridiculously long and gushy but sincerely appreciated post, click the picture or click HERE. And if you are a photographer and want help with starting a blog of your own, I suggest you get registered for that Conference and my workshop today!
Woodfin’s Funeral Chapel, built by Dow Smith Contracting Company
April 2, 2007 | Filed Under commercial | Leave a Comment
My friends at Dow Smith Contracting Company needed a couple shots of Woodfin’s Funeral Chapel in Murfreesboro, so I stopped by last week to grab a few. It was a pretty day and there wasn’t much going on at the Chapel, so I was able to get these shots.
