{Jackson, TN family photography, newborn photography}

From my family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We pray that your celebrations are blessed by the one who came to save us. May the manger laid, cross hung, tomb conquerer be the center of your Christmas celebration. JT Photography is on vacation until January 9th. I cannot wait to help you capture many new and exciting things in 2012. I can't wait to get your family in front of my camera so that you have memories to hold in your hand.

I am looking for a newborn to photograph. The first person to mention this (or my facebook post) will get 50% off their newborn session fee!! Newborn sessions are the only sessions that I will book or photograph during my vacation!

See you in 2012.

{Jackson, TN newborn photography} I don't normally talk to strangers. I'm pretty reserved and keep to myself. But when I see a pregnant woman I can't help but ask questions...like most people I suppose. When are you due? Do you know the gender? Is this your first? Standard fare. But then I usually progress with, have you had maternity photos taken? Do you have a newborn photographer in mind? A little forward? Maybe. But to me, I just want to know that the person has a way to capture the newness of life and the love of a family. Many times when I ask those last questions I am met with the name of a photographer in town. And that's good with me. I am so passionate about people having professional photographs taken that I don't mind when they tell me that someone else is doing their photos. I'm all about leaving a legacy and getting this point in time down in print. Since I am new in town I don't suspect that people would have my name on their tongue for photos of their new babies, anyway. Most people don't even know I'm here, let alone that I photograph babies and families, among other things. So, when I saw Nichole, I approached her and asked the standard questions and was met with an open opportunity to tell her about my photography business. I am so glad that she welcomed me into her home and allowed me to photograph her sweet six day old baby. I'd like to properly introduce you to sweet Eva Grace. I shared a few sneak peeks with you on Saturday but I'd like to give Nichole and Brandon a few more photos to share with their family and friends of their sweet baby...and I'd like to tell her story. Everyone has a story, whether it's dramatic or not does not matter...it's YOUR story and you're the only one who can tell it and share it with the world.

I think having a newborn in the house around Christmas can add so much to the season. You are instantly reminded of what happended two thousands years ago as our Savior came to the world as a baby. You're reminded that Mary still had to wake in the middle of the night to feed him, she had to calm him when he cried and even change him when he was dirty. You see everything with a new pair of eyes. Even last night when five year old Naomi prayed "Dear God, thank you for making Christmas so close. It's only 6 days till Christmas. I cannot wait to see you as a tiny baby. It's so awesome. I can't wait. Amen" it reminded me of how tender and fragile and amazing those little lives are.  Even the earthly life of our Savior Jesus Christ started as a baby. Here are a few more photos from little Eva's session. She didn't fall asleep too hard so I didn't get to try all my sleepy baby poses on Eva but I am so happy with the ones that she did allow me to capture. Here they are.

Eva has been loved since they knew she was coming. Nichole, Brandon and the boys were the recipients of that care and love before Eva arrived. Nichole had asked her grandmother to make her a quilt, not knowing that her grandmother had never made a quilt before. But her grandmother set to work and with the help of some friends made this beautiful Lonestar quilt. My cousin-in-law Jamie who is a quilt maker and has even designed patterns said, "It's takes a lot to piece the top, you have to make sure all the colors are in the right spot and there are Y seams in it that is more tricky to piece....Gorgeous quilt, one of my favorite patterns of all time and it's impressive that it's the first quilt she's ever made!" That's love. Now their family of five can snuggle up under this gorgeous quilt and think of all the time and love that went into making it. Nichole is a third grade teacher and her class made Eva a VERY special quilt that includes all of the students handprints in the shape of hearts and then each student also made an owl (one of Nichole's favorite things) with their fingerprint. They took the time to make handmade gifts for their special teacher and her new baby. That's love. Eva is the first little girl in the family so Nichole made sure to give Eva a girly space of her own. I know how much fun it is to decorate a little girls room so I know Nichole must have had a blast dreaming up this space and making it happen. I love the black and white damask pattern with the hot pink. She had her friend cut out the tree and owls with her silhouette machine and many items in the nursery were handmade or given as gifts. When you spend that kind of time working on your babies room make sure to have your photographer take some photos of it for you! This precious little girl is loved and doted on by everyone in her family. What a great family. A great example of love and faith. Thank you Brandon and Nichole for allowing me to come into your home and work with your little six day old baby. I had so much fun working with all of you. Thanks for letting me get a few new baby snuggles in as well. I hope that you like these images and that you'll cherish them for many years!

{Jackson, TN Newborn Photography}

I am so honored to be asked to capture these first moments in a precious little one's life. Sweet baby Eva is an adorable little lady doted on by her two big brothers and loving parents. She wasn't too interested in sleeping (until I was ready to leave) but I am so excited about the images I was able to capture. Nichole and Brandon thank you so much for allowing me to capture this amazing time in your lives. Thank you for trusting me with capturing these memories for you. I have SO many photos for you to see but here are three quick little sneak peeks! Check back later in the week for more!

Eli was so excited to be able to take Eva's picture with his own camera! Looks like I may have an apprentice!! Ethan and Eli love their little Eva!! Such sweet big brothers!

{Jackson TN, Family Photography}

I cannot tell you too many times how much I love my job. I don't even think it's fair to call it a job sometimes. But I do take my job very seriously. I am in the business of preserving memories and that is not something I take lightly. I meet people who are in love with their families and want to remember this point in time with a photograph. A picture IS worth a thousand words. For this sweet family it was the first time they'd had professional photos taken. I was so excited to be able to help them get this moment in time for their family captured and now part of their story is told. These sweet little boys are full of life and energy. They made me work for their smiles and laughter at first but we warmed up to each other pretty quickly. They were so much fun to chase around and be silly with. And I'm not going to lie to you, I was exhausted when all was said and done. But these sweet boys were themselves, they had fun, ran away a lot and were BOYS! I wouldn't want to capture them any other way.

Robert and Stephanie, thank you for trusting me with these very important memories. Thank you for trusting me to be the first to capture your sweet family of four! I cannot wait to capture more milestones for your incredible family. I've got some hard work ahead of me with narrowing down your photos, there are so many good ones! Here's a little sneak peek!!

Sometimes suckers DO make everything better!!

I LOVE the emotion in this one!!

This photo shoot was a team effort, I had asked my Aunt to take some photos of us after our Thanksgiving feast so we would have a current photo for our Christmas card. The camera was in her hands, Greg's hands and my hands. I think the group effort turned out great. I wanted to make sure to be in some photos with my kids and as a family. Yeah, I don't really enjoy being photographed and I'd like to lose some weight before I'm photographed, but my kids won't be saying that when they look back at these photos ("man, I wish mom would have lost 10 pounds before we took those pictures"). They will be saying things like, "remember when we ran around in the backyard and remember how Micah didn't want his picture taken. And remember how dad threw us in the air. Yeah, those were good times." So, here's to capturing good memories, picture perfect or not. And if you have to photoshop a blemish or two I give you permission!! We can put our best face forward right ;)      

 

Here's a "real life" shot for you! - Hannah trying to get away, Micah being Buzz lightyear, Naomi smiling through it all...priceless!

I hope you take time to have your family photographed this Christmas. Regardless of how you may feel about yourself and how you look, your kids deserve to have  you in their photographs. You're in their memories, give them something to look at to help them remember THIS time in their lives!

If you would still like photos before the year is over let me know! I'm more than willing to find a time to make it happen! Remember the PAST with a PRESENT! (of photos)

Last year I had a sweet little newborn on my hands for the holidays. My sweet friend Katherine sent me an adorable santa hat, diaper cover and booties for Hannah...and I took photos of Hannah in the cute little ensemble...but I don't think I ever shared those photos. for shame. So to make up for not sharing these photos for a year I'm going to share an obscene amount of photos of sweet little santa Hannah. Because it's my website and I can if I want to. Because I couldn't choose just a few. And because she's just that cute.

hmmmm.... I had to share this because this is still the face she makes when she gets really upset. It's funny how some things never change. Who's going to break it to Hannah that girls can't win the Heisman? I guess you gotta have goals right? Shocked? Surprised? Cold? ehhh.... and the hat falls down again... Thanks again Katherine! I hope you have a cute little Santa hat for some pics with Frankie...if you want to borrow mine just let me know :)