Simmons Family - sneak peek {East Tennessee Photographer}

It was the hugest compliment ever when Melissa contacted me about doing her family pictures.  Melissa happens to be the amazing photographer behind Meltilly Photography & Design... someone whom I admire and respect.  No pressure right??  We drove up to "The Beauty Spot" in Erwin, TN for their session.  I had never been before and wasn't sure what to expect.  It's name fits perfectly - it was gorgeous up there!!  The weather was amazing and we had tons of fun.  It was a bit on the bright side, but we made it work.  Her boys are the SWEETEST things ever!! I wanted to take them both home with me!   I had to laugh a couple times when she said, "Now I understand why my clients are so stressed - this is hard!!"  I'm sure I'll be saying the same thing in a month or two when I have my family's pictures done with her - hopefully my kiddos will behave as well as hers did!!  Thanks for a super fun time guys - enjoy your sneak peek!!  {if you can even call this a peek... I went a bit overboard, sorry!!}

***  25 COMMENTS AND THIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY RECEIVES A FREE GIFT PRINT {$40 VALUE!!)  ***

 

Lucas - 6 months {Kingsport, TN Children's Photographer}

This adorably squishy piece of perfection is my baby boy!!  I still can't believe six months (well almost 7 now really - hey better late than never right??) have past by since he arrived!  Looking back at his newborn pictures is so bittersweet.  Why does it have to go by so quickly??  I just love him to PIECES!!  He is such a laid back and happy baby, thank goodness.  He loves to eat - anything but green beans, is getting pretty good at sitting up - but his big brother just loves when he goes "TIMBER!!" and is making super adorable "mama" and "googoo" sounds.  But more than anything else, this little guy loves his big sister and brother.  He loves being near them and watching them.  We are so grateful to have him in our family!!  

These aren't amazing - I took them on a whim, all within about 4 minutes and didn't have anyone else to help me, so it was hard to get the smiles to last when I stuck my face behind the camera.  I love them anyway!!  Enjoy!

 

 

Spring Mini's - sneak peek {East Tennessee Photographer}

We had SO. MUCH. FUN. yesterday at the Serendipity Spring Mini Sessions!!  The weather was gorgeous, in fact it got hot later in the afternoon!!  All the craziness of rescheduling paid off.  It was awesome to see some of my favorites families and how their sweet kiddos have grown and to meet some amazing new families too!!  I love, love, love my clients!!  Of course you know I'm going to overpost... narrowing things down is has never been one of my strong suits.  Here are a few of my favorites - enjoy these and feel free to share with your friends and family!!

Also, if you're not a fan of Brandilyn Davidson Photography on Facebook - do it NOW!!  I love to post even sneakier peeks (a sneak peek before the sneak peek) on my page, and I love being able to tag my clients in their images.  Click {HERE} and simply click 'Like' at the top of the page.  

Thanks to her Mama, I snapped a quick shot of these two cuties who made friends while digging into their goodie bags...  Adorable!

Rue is ONE - sneak peek {East Tennessee Children's Photographer}

First of all... can I just say how SAD I am that this awesome and amazing family is moving away???  I had the privilege of taking Rue's newborn pictures {which you can see by clicking HERE} and have seen her several times over the past year.  I'm so glad it worked out to meet up before they left town to take Rue's 1st Birthday pictures!  She is such a doll...  I'm looking forward to seeing them when they come back to visit.  Enjoy the sneak peek and I'll miss you guys!!  

On a personal note:  My house has been hit with sickness!!!  My poor baby ended up in the hospital and long story short - over a week has gone by and I feel like I'm just now emerging from my cave!!  Hence the lack of posts the last week and a half!  Thanks for your patience everyone!  I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel... {or cave - either way, there's light!!!}

Revolution Dance & Gymnastics - Dance Portraits Preview

I'm so excited about doing Revolution Dance & Gymnastic's ballet and dance portraits this year!!  This is the first time I've done something like this - I'm always up for a challenge and an adventure, so here we go!!  I decided it would be a good idea to do a test run to check out the lighting/background/location etc. where we'll be shooting the images.  I love that Kate took the time to get all the girls dressed to a T - their hair and makeup done perfectly and in record time too... she's amazing.  I love working with the girls at Revolution!  They were even sweet enough to hold my baby while we wrapped up the shoot!!  

They have a recital coming up in the middle of May which I will be shooting as well.  I'm loving all these images below - can't pick a favorite.  I'm going to blow up a few or create a storyboard type display for the parents of the dancers at the gym.  I want them to have a good idea of the look and quality of my images so they know what to expect.  I'm looking forward to taking more soon - but in the meantime, enjoy these and let me know your favorites - I'm terrible and making decisions!!!!


Spring Mini Session Preview... {Tri Cities TN Portrait Photographer}

I need to do this more often... take pictures just for fun.  Get my daughter all dressed up and go out into a field and just. have. fun.  It felt so good!!!!!  It's rare that she'll agree to let me take pictures of her {if you're a frequent to this site you already know that!} so when I have the opportunity I always take it!  I wanted to get some shots for a preview to my Serendipity Mini Sessions coming up next month.  I am sooooo excited for them!  There are still slots open, so contact me {HERE} with your top three preferred time slots to book yours!!

Remember how I told you I'm a Matilda Jane addict?  Well I'm nothing compared to my girl Lori!!  Her sweet little Ella is THE most stylish little 4-year-old you'll ever see (she's the smaller of these two beautiful brunettes)!  If only I had a never ending supply of money and a husband that wouldn't kill me... I'd buy EVERYTHING they sell.  LOVE it.  It was so much fun getting these two cutie pies all dressed up.  They had a blast chasing butterflies, having a tea party and running wild through the fields - so much that they almost didn't notice they were having their pictures taken!  Imagine that...   

I know you're swooning over these clothes...  And this is just a taste!  Check out the full line {HERE} and make a wish list.  You can send it to Lori and she'll take care of you!  And before you do - remember that each person who books a Serendipity Mini Session will recieve a $25 Matilda Jane gift card to get something special for your pictures!!  For more info on the Mini Sessions, click {HERE}.  Enjoy these... I am seriously in love with them.

Clothing - Matilda Jane Clothing Company

Vintage Fabric Banners - Starlit Nest Gifts

Allie is Eight - sneak peek {Tri-Cities TN Portrait Photographer}

I absolutely love taking pictures of Miss Allie.  She should really be a model... I mean, can you say gorgeous??  And she's so comfortable and sweet in front of the camera.  I'd take pictures of her every day if I could!  We just did a quick mini session (especially quick when we heard thunder in the distance!!) of her in her baptism dress.  I love that you can tell she felt beautiful in it - as she should!!  You might recognize her from her just as beautiful family session this past fall, which you can see by clicking {HERE} or from her Mama's session for Revolution Dance and Gymnastics which you san see {HERE}.  Did I mention I love taking pictures of this family???  Enjoy!!

 

***News Flash!!!!  25 comments and this family will receive a free gift print!! ($40 value)  Help them out by leaving one below!!  

Cutie {mud} Pie - Elena {Bristol, VA Children's Photographer}

We just got back from an awesome few days at the lake... it was so relaxing to get away from everything and just be together as a family.   Life gets so crazy sometimes and it's hard to slow down.  We didn't even have cell reception way out at the cabin which forced me to just "be" even more!! haha!  Our good friends came out for a day and the kids had a BLAST getting D I R T Y from head to toe down at the beach - especially this wild gal!!!  Of course it starts off slowly... throwing a rock here and there into the water.  Then she starts getting cups full of water and dumping them in the dirt.  Then she sits down in the mud she made... and well you get the point.  By the time we got her back up to the house we had to strip her down and throw her in the shower!!  There's just something right about letting kids get dirty beyond belief.  They love it so much!  I snapped the most pictures of Miss Elena because she'll let me and can't run away as fast... haha!  I'll post more pictures of our adventures in the next few days, but here's a few cute ones I snagged of her.  I sure love this cutie pie!!  Enjoy!

 

If you look closely in these last two shots you can totally see me and my bright coral shirt!!!  ***Photog tip: always wear a white shirt when shooting - it acts as a natural reflector and you wont end up with wierd colored catch lights in your subjects' eyes!!  =) 

just because... {Bristol, VA Children's Photographer}

One of my goals for this year {and every year, really} is to be better at taking pictures of my kiddos.  Trust me, I'd take so many more if they were cooperative.  Maybe it's because they've had a camera shoved in their face since they were born or because they know how badly I want pictures of them or some other random reason... but whatever it is - I can't seem to find the secret to getting them in front of the camera {happily}.  I also want to respect their feelings and try not to ever force them to take pictures {although I've had my moments...}  However, every blue moon they are up for it and I take advantage of it every time!!  

The other day I got a couple new backdrops in the mail and was setting them up.  The odd shape of the box captured their attention immediately and they helped me get them all set up.  I told them they could play on them if I could take pictures he he...  Of course it didn't last long, but I'll take what I can get.  

My son is so hard to shoot because he literally never stops moving and the blocks were way more interesting than I was.  I love how he sticks out his little tongue whenever he's concentrating.  Now my daughter is another story... oh my.  She will hold still, but can I get her to make a normal face?  Rarely!!  Haha!  Neither one of them is lacking any personality - which is a good thing.  I didn't snap any of my baby boy this time around because he was sleeping {allowing me to get a few shots of his siblings!} and who wakes a sleeping baby?  Not me!  I sure love these crazies!!