iBand

This is the iBand at my parent's church.  If you haven't seen it already, it's pretty incredible and may change your life.

frosty majesty of the winter landscape

Remember those winter images I promised you "soon" in the last post?  Here are some of them!  Hope they help you get into the holiday spirit a little more.  There will be more beautiful brides and handsome grooms very soon.  Until then, get a cup of hot cocoa and imagine that you are in the "old front wheel drive sleigh" cruisin through the smokies.

Miss Kristin's Bridal

Everyone in the South is probably feeling the same way I am today.  I'm looking out my window at the great fall colors that are being savagely thrown all over the place.  It's a very blustery day and I'm actually impressed that there are still a good number of leaves on the trees.  It's the type of day that comes to mind when I think of fall.  That is, until I opened the door and it was 80!!!  I'm sorry, 80?!  80 is NOT a fall temperature.  It is hot and muggy.  I want to wear sweaters and boots.  I'm tired of sweating.  If I wanted to sweat everyday by just walking outside, I would live in some exotic country close to the Equator, not THE MOUNTAINS!

Since I know I'm not the only one who's tired of being hot, I'm going to be bringing you some nice winter images soon.  As I'm working on these, I'm remembering that I was cold, but I can't remember what cold feels like!  So, to get my senses in the right place, I'm turning to my imagination and cranking up the AC to try and pretend that it might actually be a cool crisp day outside.  The temp is supposed to drop throughout the week, but of course warm back up this weekend (boo). 

I have some great shots from Miss Kristin's bridal session that we did a little while ago.  It's not as hot today as it was when we shot these, but it's not far off.  So you all have some time to get your senses ready to be cooled off with some winter imagery, I'll go ahead and show you some of my fave shots of Kristin.  The feel of her bridal is a lot more like summer.  We kept it really casual and just chased different pools of light, while also running away from the horses who seemed to be quite taken with a beautiful woman in white! 

I want to say a special thanks to Farmer Jack and Ms. Charlene for letting me use your land.  I'll tell you the whole story of when I met them when I post pictures from another wedding. 

I know that these first 2 are very similar, but I love them both. 

The sun was hitting this spot at the exact right angle.  I just LOVE getting lens flare!  The building to the left is an old milk house.  This was a small dairy farm YEARS ago.

This was the point when the horses came around the barn to see what was going on.  They are all very sweet, but incredibly curious and sneaky!  So Kristin was actually laughing at either her mom or stepmom who was taken by surprise!  As much as I love lens flare, I love genuine laughs more!!

Remember the old milk house?  We ducked in here to try and get away from the horses for a bit.  This is a storage room where there are still a bunch of milk, um, containers.  What are they called?  Barrels?  Canisters?  I don't know, but they're cool looking.

Now, this is the summer I was talking about.  That late afternoon light that's golden and delicious.  This light is what I think of when I put together my feel good summer playlist that makes me think of all things summer when there's not a care in the world.  This is the one they used as a bridal portrait at the reception too.  I'm singing "Night Swimming" by REM in my head right now and completely ignoring the rain that just started outside.   

YUMMY!!!!!

I do "traditional" shots.  I just add my spin on them after I know I have the formal version.

Her veil was so beautiful.  This scene looked kind of Medieval/Maid Marian/Lady Guinevere to me.

What happens after yummy late afternoon light?  Incredibly soft and even light!!!  Never mind the fact that I had to photoshop out the giant bug bites that were forming on her back.  Actually, they weren't even close to bites, they were whelps.  I think she would agree with me that they were totally worth it. 

While putting these together, I did realize that all of my faves were ones where she didn't smile a lot with her teeth.  Kristin's smile truly lights up a room and is absolutely radiant.  However, she is one that can really rock a subtle smile.  It's an art!  I can't do it without looking smug.  Not many people can do it without looking angry.  So when I find someone who can really do it well, I hop all over it.  It may be because I'm jealous, I don't know.  I just loved loved loved her subtle smile. 

SUPER MONDAY WITH THE BAMBERS

This coming Monday, over 100 photographers across the country are opening up their studios for a one day workshop.  My good friends John & Lindsey Bamber were the only instructors chosen in Tennessee!  John's going to be talking a lot about lighting, doing some live shoots, a little editing, and answering a lot of questions.  I'm going to try to make it down there myself!  John has a great technical background and he always has great tips and new tricks for me.  I highly recommend heading down to Dayton, TN this Monday the 25th from 9-5.  Follow THIS LINK to his blog post that has all the information that you'll need to know.  Maybe I'll see you there!

I.F.T.I.T. - Morgan and Jordon's E.Sessions (plural)

Sadly, big orange country is hearing the much loved IFTIT call today.  What?  You don't know what IFTIT is?  No, it's not dirty, so you best be gettin' your mind out the gutter in a hurry. 

It's Football Time In Tennessee..... I.F.T.I.T.

Today is a off day and our boys are taking a much needed (and well deserved in my opinion) break.  It's a beautiful day too.  I'm sure their not actually getting the day off, but at least they get a day off from the game day stress.

However, it's fall in Knoxville.  As far as about 90% (or more) of our population is concerned, there is nothing else on this planet this time of year except UT Football.  So I think it's pretty safe to say that most everyone spent the whole week trying to figure out what they were going to do this weekend.  My guess is that the following activities are the top 5 choices.

1. Getting married, being a part of a wedding, working at a wedding, or attending a wedding

  *Off days are the most popular wedding days in the fall.  It's the only way to keep everyone happy!

2. Heading up to Cade's Cove / The Smokies to find changing leaves

3. Yard Work

   *Either by choice or necessity (probably the latter)

4. Men are probably sitting on the couch watch football while their wives (or significant others) repeatedly ask them for help in the yard or have realized that there's no point and have taken to the mall or outlets

5. BREWERS JAM!!!!!

   *This was Adam's choice.  I am obviously NOT there since I'm sitting inside, longing to be outside, and talking about UT Football...with you.

I've brought up UT Football for a reason.  For everyone out there that's missing their football Saturday ritual of tailgating, this is for you.  I've only been able to make it to 1 game this year, and I miss spending the day down at the stadium.  Insert big frowny face here.  Well, since I can't do anything to help you get to your tailgate, I'm bringing a little tailgating to you.

I just showed you Miss Morgan's bridals in my last post.  I have some more of her with her (then) fiance Jordon.  We did their engagement session in 2 parts.  When I asked them how they met and what they enjoyed doing together, there was a very common thread.  They met at a tailgate, love tailgating individually, love tailgating together, and love UT football.  So my obvious first choice for their shoot was....?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Bueller?  Bueller?  What was that?  Yes, you in the back.  A little louder so the rest of the class can hear.  YES!!!  TAILGATING!!!!!  I think that Jordon wasn't really a big fan of mine when I suggested it.  I mean, the thought was great and all, but I would be compromising his time.  I'm glad that Morgan and I pushed him.  I promised that it wouldn't be long and that I wouldn't take him away and that no one would be paying attention to us.  So I can't deliver the last part of that, but at least it would be later in the day and MOST of the people around wouldn't know what was going on and that if they did, they wouldn't remember.  There was this one guy that wondered over next to me and started telling me where to shoot.  Never met him before, haven't seen him since.  He did make a single suggestion that was helpful in finding a great angle.  When I showed him the shots I took, he proceeded to tell me how much he DIDN'T like them!  Well then Sir Drinksalot, it's a good thing you didn't hire me to take pictures of you!  He didn't offend me, but I certainly didn't know I was going to be having a critique that day.  He should be a Bud Light Real Men of Genius!  Here's to you, Mr. Diarrhea of the Mouth Opinion Giver!

So crack open a cold one and wish you were tailgating with these guys!

They're in the best spot.  Their actual tailgate spot is right behind them to the far left of the picture. 

This is when we met the "Real Man of Genius"

We only shot for about 10 or 15 minutes at the tailgate.  We parted ways a little while later and then met up again just before the game.  I had them meet us up at our seats.  Yes, these were our seats last year.  Only 2 rows behind us, but the best view.  We were also under shelter, in the shade, and had seat backs.  BooRah!

Several months and cancelled appointments later, we finally finished up.  Every time we had days set, something would come up for one of us that would make that day unshootable for one reason or another.  It's a good thing though.  The day before we shot, the cherry trees at the front of my neighborhood came into full bloom and caught my eye.  Seeing them from the street is beautiful, which was the reason I wanted to shoot there.  When I actually got over there, I realized it was a compltetely different setting under the branches.  It wasn't reality.  It was like a scene from a romantic comedy dream sequence or something. 

The light filtered through perfectly too.  It gave just enough shade for even exposure but also had spots for great rim lighting.  I tried to do something with off camera lighting, but I felt like it just got in the way.  So all of these were without any fill flash and only minor photoshopping.

Jordon told me that Morgan only gets a certain number of kisses.  When she's met her quota, she doesn't get any more till the next day.  No exception...not even for the shoot.  That put a cramp in my shoot plan.  You know I love the kissing shots.  I had to use my kiss requests sparingly. There are 4 kissing shots from this part of the post.  Yes, kissing her head counts.  So when we kissed her, he had to hold it and couldn't move till I got everything I needed.  That's not cheating, it's being resourceful. 

I hope you can tell that I'm kidding.  If not, then we might be making you Mr. Doesn't Understand Sarcasm.

Yes, it's true.  Morgan should be in a touthpaste commercial.