Best of 2017 | A Year In Review | The Hatches - Tennessee Wedding & Elopement Photographers

Emily Hatch January 10, 2018

@thehatchesphoto - 2017 Best Nine - Instagram

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Where do we even begin?

It's that time of the year where we reflect on our past year and reminisce on our memories. I don't know if many other photographers felt this way, but I had this overwhelming feeling, that I really didn't do much this year. (I know call me crazy, I was always somewhere doing something) I don't know why I was stuck in this mindset but I'm glad I got stuck there because it pushed me to start going through all of my images from 2017 and prove myself wrong.

Well that was a mistake. Not a mistake as in that I couldn't prove myself wrong, (because I surely did) but a mistake as in - "shit, how am I going to narrow this down?"

I didn't get all of my stats together this year like I did last year with how many states we visited and how many weddings we shot and yadda yadda because, if we're being honest, the only people who genuinely are interested in that are other photographers so they can figure out how to "one-up" someone else.

JK. (only half kidding) LOL

This year we focused on feelings, emotion and how to sustain images that make you feel like you were there. We really wanted to put into perspective how intimacy meant more than something sexual, but being completely vulnerable with your partner in a way where empathy and adoration poured from your body language. Judging by the images below, i think we did a pretty good job.

Our main goal was to find ourselves in our work. Meaning : to become what we wanted our images to interpret. Romantic, Fleeting, Intimate and Adventurous. Marriage is a commitment and a journey within itself, just embrace it.

One of our biggest accomplishments in 2017 (besides bringing our 3rd baby boy into the world) was The Real Workshop. My dear friend, Elizabeth Hoard and I had the chance at hosting our own wedding workshop back in August of 2017. We held it at Petit Jean State Park with 9 incredible speakers, 50 new and established photographers and a rugged trek to a waterfall while 8 and 1/2 months pregnant. Didn't really think that last one through. But we made it out alive. Barely.

I'm not going to sell you on why we started this workshop or how we came across the idea but if you are interested, click the link above and read allllll about it.

We danced, laughed, ate, traveled and saw more this year than we ever have. We learned from mistakes and we broke new grounds. We couldn't be more grateful for 2017 than we already are. Especially, with the amazing clients and new friends it brought us.

We have SO much to look forward to in 2018. Here's to this past year and all of its glory.

*cheers*

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A Cozy Lighthearted Fall Engagement | Payton and Canaan | Memphis Tennessee | The Hatches Wedding and Elopement Photography

Emily Hatch October 12, 2017

PAYTON + CANAAN

I first met Payton when she helped me with a Prom Photoshoot and was one of my models that attended. We then met up again at my cotton sessions I held one fall. Naturally when she got engaged to Canaan a little while later, she reached out to me again about their wedding! I was beyond honored that she decided to come back and work with me because she was so incredibly sweet and so much fun to work with.

We talked about their engagement and their engagement shoot and their upcoming wedding in November. Which we are SO thrilled to be a part of!

I didn't realize how much time has passed and I got excited all over again, when I noticed it was October. I went back to the day of their session with me and just smiled from ear to ear as I remembered how much we laughed this day.
The weather was perfect and we made the most of that cloudy morning by cozying under my trusty ole blanket. (it's my fave blanket, ever)

Payton and Canaan are two of the sweetest souls. She sends me cards, notes and little gifts in the mail. The most recent being the cutest freaking onesies I've ever seen for our newest little Hatchling, Forrest Gabriel, that we welcomed to our little family back in September. Payton has always been so thoughtful towards me and my family and I appreciate her beyond words for that. <3

I loved the laughter and cozy moments as we went through their engagement session, and we got a ton of them. They are so precious together and their love radiated in each photograph. We cannot wait for their wedding next month as it quickly approaches.

I had a hard time narrowing them down but here are some of my favorites. Congratulations you two!

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A Waterfall Engagement | Rock Island State Park | Tennessee | The Hatches Wedding + Elopement Photography

Emily Hatch July 27, 2017

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ALISHA & SPENCER

Intimate Waterfall Engagement Session at Rock Island State Park

First of all, I have to give a HUGE shout out to Kaila Lassey from Klassey Productions for introducing Alisha to me. THANK YOU.

Alisha and I met at Barista Parlor in Nashville over some delish coffee and got to know each other a little better after emailing back and forth for a while. Needless to say, within the first 10 minutes, I was obsessed with her and Spencer's relationship. Dreamy McDreamboat. Mostly I just wanted her hair.

We talked about everything! Interests, hobbies, favorite wedding details, her dress, her venue, Spencer's family, her job and of course, her videographers... Kaila and Jay. Whom just so happen to be our very best friends.

Fast forward to a couple months later when we all decided to get together so that Kaila and Jay could film their Love Story. (If you don't know what a Love Story is, hire Kaila and Jay and you WON'T be disappointed) We decided on Rock Island State Park because DUH, look at that waterfall!

As Klassey Productions filmed the ever flowing beauty that was radiating from Alisha and Spencer, Jacob and I were steadily documenting the still moments. Alisha and Spencer dove right into their feelings for each other and gave us some of the most inspirational images we could have gotten in a short amount of time (it was HOT). Their chemistry was one for the books. We were so in love with the romanticism that was pouring from their bodies.

UGH be still my heart. One thing I love the most about my job, is the different stories that come from each couple that we work with. No two stories or couples are ever the same. And that is something that blows me away every time I work with someone. I am a hopeless romantic, so getting couples who are just as hopeless as I am, make me squeal with excitement.

We are so honored to be with Alisha and Spencer on their wedding day at Mint Springs Farm in Nashville, Tn this fall. Even MORE honored that we get to work alongside Klassey Productions.
CONGRATS YOU TWO.

Here are some of our faves from their Love Story! (Also, be sure to check out their video below!)

Urban Lifestyle Engagement | Kaila & Jay | Nashville Tennessee | The Hatches Wedding and Elopement Photography

Emily Hatch May 2, 2017

Kaila & Jay | Urban Downtown Nashville Engagement |

Jay and Kaila. Where do I even begin? I know you've heard me talk about them before but I don't think I could ever find enough words in a short paragraph to really tell you about these two. Kaila found me on social media and I could tell by her excessive use of exclamation points and capital letters that we were going to be the best of friends. HA. I was right. Numerous trips to Nashville just for hang outs with their sweet siamese cats, Abigail and Miss Daisy. Oh and them too, of course ;)

We planned to come hang out one trip and it turned into a photo sesh downtown. We hit the streets, specifically Printer's Alley, and just started shooting. We wanted more of a documentary\journalistic style, as well as Kaila and Jay, to show their chemistry more prominently in photos versus in words. We wrapped up on the bridge after the sun had set and we were mostly alone. Those are probably my favorites <3

And of course what is Jay without his longboard? We HAD to let them use their longboards during their session because, DUH. Seriously the coolest people ever. You'll see.

To say Kaila and Jay have become good friends of ours would be putting it lightly. Its more like a complicated family thing and we're just better altogether than apart ;) I love these two TO DEATH. And past that. I'm most excited to see you guys tomorrow and FINALLY work together!

(BTW, phenomenal videography team here, folks. Check them out here!)

WE LOVE YOU GUYS.

A Cloudy Romantic Engagement | Downtown Memphis - Spring Creek Ranch | Memphis Tennessee | The Hatches Wedding and Elopement Photographers

Emily Hatch April 27, 2017

JESSICA & JORDAN | ENGAGED

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Meet Jessica and Jordan. One couple who was beyond my expectations for clients. I can say that by the end of this post you'll have fallen in love with them, too.

Jessica is full of life and has the most contagious laugh. Jordan thinks the world of Jessica. Their love seeped into the images we created that day. It was almost impossible for them to take a bad picture! We started at an automotive shop not far from their wedding venue, Loflin Yard. It was rather cold, after all it was January, so getting inside the building made for some fun and cozy shots. We were even welcomed by a train! Haha. I don't know who had more fun, the conductor or Jessica! :P

We made our way towards Spring Creek Ranch for their second location and when we arrived, it blew my mind! The staff was more than accommodating and went way out of their way to make sure we had a great time enduring the cold and windy weather.

After stocking up on hot coffee and heated golf carts we proceeded to ride around the golf course and pick different spots to play around in! We had a ball. From wrong turns to jumping in and out long enough to warm our hands and feet.

Their wedding is Wednesday, May 3 at Loflin Yard and we cannot WAIT to watch these two become one at this eclectic venue and work alongside some AMAZING vendors such as Pickler Events, Deedra Stone, White Door Events and Klassey Productions!

We will see you guys soon!! <3

A Dreamy Canoe Engagement | Sunset at Shelby Farms | Memphis Tennessee | The Hatches - Wedding and Elopement Photographers

Emily Hatch April 26, 2017

The Hatches | Memphis Tennessee Wedding and Elopement Photographer | 2016 Year in Review | the-hatches-memphis-tennessee-utah-colorado-arizona-washington-wedding-elopement-photographer-unique-dark-and-moody-creative-urban-journalistic-canoe-engageme…

R A L P H & S A R A H | E N G A G E D

When I say "Dreamy Canoe" I literally mean.... Dreamy Canoe. Holy cow did we get lucky with this AMAZING light at Shelby Farms for Sarah and Ralph's engagement session! We had wine and cheese and lots of flowers, what more could you ask for? OH YEAH. That sunset! The colors in the sky were almost as romantic as the love between S + R. I wish I could live this day over and over again. Hands down, easily in my top faves.

I could talk about this session forever but I'll let you see the images because, they're way more interesting ;)

Hope you love them!

An Intimate Mountainside Engagement At Sunset | Heber Springs Arkansas | The Hatches : Memphis Wedding + Elopement Photographer

Emily Hatch November 14, 2016

AN INTIMATE MOUNTAINSIDE ENGAGEMENT

HAYLEY + ZACH | HEBER SPRINGS, AR

Mountains and waterfalls and sunsets, OH MY! But even more "oh my!" because its one gorgeous couple like Hayley & Zach. Who will also be tying the knot THIS saturday! Hayley and Zach are one couple who made it very evident in the very beginning on how important their wedding pictures were to them and added on a Day After Session for when they get back from their honeymoon for even more pictures of them in their wedding attire. DREAM BOAT CENTRAL RIGHT HERE, FOLKS.

There are so many things that you spend money on when planning your wedding but one thing that sticks around after you've broke out your cake on your one year anniversary and finally sent out that last Thank You card, are the images and video from your day. Photographs are the only tangible thing left after your day BLOWS past you.

Don't put it on the back burner, if you want your photos to last you for years and years, make it on the top priorities of your list right next to Venue and Date.

Back to Hayley and Zach ;) Meet the most intimate and lovey and adventurous couple. We met for lunch at this cute little mexican restaurant, that didn't have margaritas (bummer), but had some hella good cheesy chicken over rice. We then just drove. We found the creek and man made waterfall close by but everything else was us just driving and pulling over. These are my favorite types of sessions because I get SO MUCH in such a short amount of time.

I had to narrow it down, tremendously but here are some of my favorites!
Congrats Mr & Mrs Horne! Can't wait to see you guys on Saturday!

The Hatches | Hayley & Zach | Adventure Engagement Session | Heber Springs, Arkansas | Wedding + Elopement Photographers | heber-springs-arkansas-engagement-wedding-elopement-waterfalls-mountains-adventurous-couple-unique-intimate-lifestyle-nature-w…

AND OUT OF NOWHERE HERE COMES THIS FREAKING PINK SKY!!!!!

A Moody and Adventurous Engagement | Fall Creek Falls | The Hatches - Memphis Tennessee Wedding Photographers

Emily Hatch November 10, 2016

A MOODY & ADVENTUROUS ENGAGEMENT

FALL CREEK FALLS

JEREMY + AMANDA

The Hatches | A Moody and Adventurous Engagement Session | Falls Creek Falls | Cookeville, Tennessee | Memphis Tennessee Elopement and Wedding Photographers | memphis-tennessee-elopement-and-wedding-photographer-fall-creek-falls-cookeville-utah-colo…

Jeremy + Amanda contacted us for an Adventure Session as their engagement session a few months ago and we immediately started looking for a new park to go explore. She sent me a few waterfall choices and we were totally in love with Fall Creek Falls in Cookeville, TN.

We got to know Jeremy + Amanda and they got to know us. We talked about hobbies, bands, movies and laughed at ourselves more than anything, we found out none of us are very coordinated when walking narrow trails haha.

We met at the suspension bridge and then proceeded to walk further into the woods. I tell you there is nothing better than a few walks in the woods. I say a few because we walked the same trail 3 times due to being unsure which way to go lol. Needless to say we always have fun on these types of sessions.

Locked away from cell phone service, we let Jeremy + Amanda take their time with each other and really embrace their love for each other. Its hard to narrow down when we get couples like J + A who make our job so easy. Here are some of our favorites from their session!!

Now.... let's schedule a movie night ;)

" I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH ADVENTURES; SO I BEGIN TO WONDER, IF THAT'S WHY I'VE FALLEN FOR YOU."

An Affectionate Waterfall Engagement | Nathan & Allie | Petit Jean State Park | Wedding Photographers - The Hatches

Emily Hatch October 5, 2016

NATHAN & ALLIE

I will start this blog off by saying, my legs are STILL SORE. Although that could be argued with the fact that I'm always on a trail of some sort, hiking into some kind of wooded area.

We took separate vehicles and used Snapchat to fire questions back and forth to each other. We probably had the most fun with this. It helped us get Allie and Nathan's interests and hobbies and quirky little stories and helped them open up to us and really let us in on their love life.
Not in a "nosey" kind of way but in a way where we could all trust each other enough to get the emotions and vibes we were trying to pull from them.

"What is something that Nathan is stronger with where you are weaker?"

"What's your favorite thing to do on Sunday mornings?"

"What is something that you two are looking forward to on your wedding day?"

We were completely blown away at the chemistry between these two. The laughs, the talks, the movements, all of it, simply intimate. We didn't pay attention to time or the people around us, we were just living in the moment and connecting with new friends. I, for one, am SO excited for their spring wedding at the beautiful venue, Bonne Terre.

May can't come fast enough and we cannot wait to celebrate you guys ALL DAY as you take your next step into the adventure of marriage <3

Thank you both for allowing Jacob and I to invade your personal space and make some magic with ya ;)

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A Modern Urban Engagement in Downtown Memphis | Memphis Tennessee Wedding Photographer

Emily Hatch July 7, 2016

RACHEL & RYAN | MODERN URBAN ENGAGEMENT

"Ryan and I met through his brother, who is one of my closest friends. The first day we became "us" was at a Mississippi State football game. We knew of each other through Connor (his brother), but had never had the opportunity to really get to know one another until that weekend. We spent the entire weekend together, he took me on our first date, and then he had to return back to Jackson MS (an hour away) where he was finishing up his last year of architecture school. I was super disappointed to find out he had just accepted a job in Nashville where he'd be moving within the month. Despite the difficulties of long distance, we decided to try to become a couple. We fell in love with each other quickly, much sooner than either of us had expected, despite the 4.5 hours that separated us. We were a long distance couple for two full years. The last 2 years have flown by and have been filled with so much love, laughter, and adventure.

Taking our engagement pictures with Emily was something I had looked forward to bc I was familiar with her impeccable skill as a photographer. Ryan, however, did not look forward to spending a few hours in front of a camera. It only took a few minutes before we both were aware of how fun Emily was going to make the whole process. Even Ryan admitted that he seriously enjoyed our session! We felt so comfortable around Emily, allowing our session to be super relaxed and fun and allowing us to be ourselves. We never felt posey or awkward. She seriously madethe whole photo shoot so natural, unique, and FUN. We can't wait to spend our wedding day with Emily and Jacob because I know they'll make it such a blast and capture the best moments of our lives in the most beautiful way."

I don't even know where to begin with Ryan and Rachel, I really don't! Rachel and I had communicated through email a ton and we met for coffee at Cafe Eclectic in Harbortown and immediately hit it off. I just knew that her and Ryan were going to be such a fun and outgoing couple! I could literally sit here and talk about how much we laughed during our session and the jokes that were cracked STILL have me laughing. I cannot wait for their absolutely gorgeous wedding in April of next year at Heartwood Hall!