Rusty + Maury | A Modern-Folk Sunset Romance | Memphis Tennessee Wedding Photographer

A MODERN-FOLK SUNSET ROMANCE

 

Guys, meet Rusty and Maury. Two of the most romantic souls. Two of the most humble souls. I first met Maury through a mutual friend and I photographed her oldest daughter, Chevelle, 3 years ago when I held lemonade minis. I instantly became fond of this precious little family and later developed a friendship with Maury that is still alive today. We're actually going to Jerry's Sno Cones tomorrow :P
 

Maury and Rusty were so enthralled with each other that their emotion seeped through these images. They have that shy, intriguing romance that pulls you in and boy was it hard to stop taking photos of them together. I always enjoy getting to catch up with The Fletcher's because they genuinely are some of the most down to earth people. We always have lots of laughs and love getting our kiddos together. 

It's always a pleasure working with Maury and Rusty <3 Here are some of my faves!!


 

 

"I am so grateful for that random summer day in July 2008 when I saw Rusty for the first time. I didn't think for a second he would be my future husband! It took us three months for us to have our first date, on Halloween night! Ever since then, we have been quite literally inseparable. It's the absolute best thing being married to your best friend (cheesy but true :)) Rusty and I mainly just want to be the best examples for our kids. We want to love each other the way God has called us to. It isn't always easy, but we choose each other everyday." 

_ MAURY <3

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

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! 

John David and Aubrey | A Minimal Boho Elopement at Laurel Rose Manor | Memphis Tennessee Wedding Photographer

A Minimal Boho Elopement at Laurel Rose Manor | Memphis Tennessee Wedding Photographer

A while back in the early spring, I had an idea for a styled elopement at one of my favorite locations, Laurel Rose Manor. It is a beautifully landscaped property located in Mississippi in a secluded area so I knew it was going to be perfect for this intimate setting that I had envisioned.

A tremendous thank you to Mr and Mrs Cockrell for allowing me to come run all over your property with my crew! This won't be the last you see of LRM, as their beautiful daughter Sarah and her fiance Matt are getting married there in the early fall of this year!

*pssst. there might be something else in the works but that's all you can know*

Make up and hair was provided by the ever so talented Abrianna Albonetti. You can find her at Hi-Def Salon located in Southaven, MS next to Maria Cantina's! 

Last but not least, I have to thank Aubrey and JD for letting me boss them around for a few hours. I'm beyond grateful that they took time out of their schedules to come and help me bring my thoughts to art. 

When I thought about doing this elopement I had immediately thought back to when I used Aubrey and JD for my pink cherry blossom tree shoot and I was so in love with their chemistry, I knew that they would be perfect for this vision, too.

Well, I've been keeping these forever, since before Easter, so I'm excited to finally share these with you all! Enjoy and Thank you! I would love to hear your feedback!

 

Models : John David and Aubrey Little

MUAH : Abrianna Albonetti

Venue : Laurel Rose Manor

Event Planner/Florals/Decor : Emily Hatch

Photographer : Emily + Jacob Photography

 

Embracing the Adventure of Marriage | Emily + Jacob Photography | Memphis, TN Wedding Photographer

EMBRACING THE ADVENTURE OF MARRIAGE

By : Jacob & Emily Hatch

“I’m not interested in light little flings, skin-deep attractions, or long loveless marriages. With you, I only want raw, full-blooded connection, to share a bond full of passion and breathtaking adventure. After all, love is not a pastime, but a privilege.”  - Beau Taplin

The journey into marriage is exactly as Jacob and I want to document it; an adventure. What better person to take on this remarkable and moving quest with, than your best friend.  

One of our favorite things to do when we have free time, is to explore. It doesn't matter where we go initially, we just want to see and see it together. It seems funny now, but it never fails that we wind up having a day to ourselves at just the right moments in life. We've both had an exhausting and trying last few weeks with life in general that we had began to close up and become frustrated with ourselves enough that it affected the other.

Marriage is hard, but marriage is worth it. 

Every single time we venture out together just to walk in silence side by side we find a new piece of ourselves falling in love all over again. The bond that we have when we dedicate our full attention on each other, is unlike any bond I've ever experienced. We've managed to discuss our future and things we were hesitant about. It's made for intriguing conversation and some hilarious stories to share with our kids and grandkids one day. We discovered new weaknesses and strengths. We found ourselves again. That one on one time with each other is so vital to your relationship. Yes we, as women, tend to need a little more attention than normal but men need it just as much, if not more.  

We can get so caught up in today's advantages such as social media, tv and internet that we tend to neglect those who matter more to us than how many likes we can get on a picture we posted. It's so easy to get distracted because it's all right there at your finger tips, but so are the hands of your partner. 

Too often we take for granted the time we spend with our better half. We want to change that. We want to help you guys practice putting down the distractions in your life and get that connection between you two, back to its roots. What better way to connect than in the middle of nature? 

Our focus behind : Embracing the Adventure of Marriage is a self explanatory title. We want to encourage you and your partner in your adventure together along your journey from relationship to marriage. We want to reveal your story from within you and bring it to life in photographs that you could hang on your wall for your friends and family to enjoy every time they come by for a visit. And think about the stories YOU will tell from those images! We know how important it is to have that one on one time with your significant other because no one understands you better than them. We want to give you that one on one time. 

We are offering a special session for our couples (married or not) in order to have that necessary bonding time with the love of your life. We call them; Adventure Sessions. You guys and Jacob and I will load up into our cars and head out to explore while documenting the chemistry between you as a couple and as individuals. We have a list of locations all around the mid-south that have walking trails, impeccable parks and breathtaking landscapes. 

If you are interested in doing an adventure session with your partner click the button below!

Josh & Kristina | Waterfall Elopement in Kentucky | Memphis, TN Wedding Photographer

JOSH & KRISTINA - An intimate, waterfall elopement in Corbin, Kentucky.

DOG SLAUGHTER FALLS

Don't let the name fool you. Sunday, June 12, 2016

Josh and my husband go way back. Like "highschool buddies, skipping class, late night trips to taco bell" back. I couldn't even begin to tell you all of the stories I've heard from their friendship but it makes me so happy that he's got a best friend like that. 

On Saturday, we drove up to Kentucky and scoped out some spots but mostly we just wanted to see Josh and Kristina. We hadn't seen them since WE married more than a year ago! Josh gave us the honor of standing beside Jacob on our wedding day but we were completely humbled when he asked us to photograph his elopement to Kristina. And BOY was I glad that we were there. The atmosphere alone was incomparable. I can usually nail details on describing what I was surrounded by, but I can't. The words aren't there. You just had to be there.

Sunday we got up SO early, but it was totally worth it. I wasn't even my normal grumpy self when I haven't had my coffee yet :P  I had traveled with a giant cooler in my backseat so that I could transport the flowers from my favorite florist, Memphis Center City Wholesale in Bartlett. That morning I cut the stems and put the bouquet and Kristina's crown together and we headed to their hotel to help get them ready. I mean they were family to us basically.

We traveled down a dirt road off the highway for a few miles and then hiked a little over a mile to the falls and I fell in love. It's not the biggest waterfall but it was simple and secluded and that's exactly what we were looking for. 

We could not have had a better time in Kentucky! We laughed. We cried. We tripped over roots and rocks and slid down hills. And then we laughed some more. I'm so sad that we were all limited on time spent together but this won't be the last we see of them. My heart is so full, we love you guys! CONGRATULATIONS!

MR & MRS SELLERS

 

Shelbi & Ramsey | Day After Session | Shelby Farms Park | Memphis, TN Wedding Photographer

SHELBI & RAMSEY | DAY AFTER SESSION

SHELBY FARMS PARK | MEMPHIS, TN

Jacob and I had the pleasure of meeting Shelbi and Ramsey over the weekend at Shelby Farms for their intimate Day After session. These are quickly (very quickly) becoming one of my favorite type of sessions. There's nothing more powerful than invested love and it's always fun to reminisce on your wedding day. Sometimes wedding days are hectic and there is so much to take in that you sometimes miss out on things. I, personally, love Day After Sessions because it gives you a chance to be one on one with your spouse in a more relaxed and calming state!

Shelbi and I had been talking about their session and she expressed how they loved their wedding images, but would have loved more time. We set up her appointment after discussing what she liked about our style and how she visioned us capturing their relationship and they took it over! I could have stayed at Shelby Farms all night if they wouldn't have close at 8:00PM. BUT here are some of my favorites from their session!!

TJ & Amanda | Lifestyle Maternity | Memphis, TN

TJ & AMANDA | MATERNITY LIFESTYLE - MILK BATH | MEMPHIS, TN

I can't tell you how excited I am to share these!!! A while back before I ever stepped into photography, I had a basic job at Sonic. Tj was one of my first friends I made there and I am so glad to have kept contact with him and Amanda over the years. 

A few years ago they moved to Michigan and are now expecting a healthy baby boy! As a mom of boys, I'm sure you could tell of my excitement! TJ told me that they were coming down to visit so of course I had to make sure we got some pictures made of Amanda's belly! And some of them, too ;) 

It was so nice to catch up and hang out for the small amount of time that we had, but I definitely want to come to Michigan sometime and visit, too!! Thanks for letting me drag you guys into a creek. Here are some of my favorites!

Kayce & Matt | Lifestyle - Memphis, TN

KAYCE AND MATT | MATERNITY SESSION

SHELBY FARMS | MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

Over the weekend I got to hang out with one of my favorite families!! I have watched Thomas grow for 2 years now and now I get to watch him and Hayden be big brothers to sweet little Caroline <3 To say that they are excited is an understatement. 

I am so privileged to have met Kayce and Matt and are forever thankful that they allow me to document their lives!

Shea & Kelsey Connor - A Vintage Wedding at Woodruff-Fontaine Museum in Memphis, TN | Memphis, Tn Wedding Photographer

MR & MRS SHEA CONNOR | MEMPHIS, TN

APRIL 30TH, 2016

I know you guys remember the adorable couple I photographed last fall with the favorite image called "The Mantle Piece", right? Well here they are again..... 

And now they are HAPPILY MARRIED!!! So surreal. I met this awesome couple last summer and they were referred to me by my best friend, Meagen. *thanks beeb* We talked over coffee at the incredible City & State Coffee house in Midtown, in the arts district of Broad Ave. Quickly became one of my favorite places to stop in when I'm in the area. We instantly clicked. These two had my heart from the moment I saw them interacting through the window of the store. My favorite thing about them was that they are just as weird as I am. They let me have full rein over their engagement pictures and we laughed until we cried...... twice. 

Fast forward to April 30th, and while we had a little bit of a problem in the beginning of the day, Kelsey kicked in gear and completely transformed the entire day. We went from gloomy and overcast skies, to sweating by the first dance because the sun came out!! I absolutely LOVED their venue, The Woodruff-Fontaine Museum located just off of Adams in Downtown. They have awesome tours all year long and special ones on specific holidays. Be sure to find them on Facebook to keep up with all of their events!

Besides their amazing venue, Kelsey's details were so quirky! It was right up my alley. While I couldn't get over every little detail, the day as a whole was intimate and joyful and as unique as Kelsey and Shea are. Every single thing from their awesome bridal wreaths to the groomsmen funky patterned ties had a touch of Kelsey and Shea. These don't even put a dent into the images we captured this day, but here are some of our favorites!

2nd Shooter : Cassie Cook Photography

2nd Shooter : Cassie Cook Photography

We had to end this celebration of Shea and Kelsey's brand new marriage by hopping into the bar across the street from their venue called, Mollie Fontaine Lounge. If you are ever in the area, I highly, HIGHLY, suggest stopping by this place. 

Jacob, Cassie and I were tremendously honored to have spent the day with you and documenting your journey into marriage. You guys have become SUCH great friends of ours, I am forever grateful to have you in my life as well as excited to watch your sweet family grow! <3

#WECAMEWESAWWECONNORED

VENDORS

VENUE : The Woodruff-Fontaine Museum

PLANNER/COORDINATOR : Stephanie Abby

MAKE UP / HAIR : Shelby Pitts

WEDDING BANDS : Stag Head Designs

FLORALS : Emily Wood

PHOTOGRAPHER : Emily + Jacob Photography, 2nd Shooter : Cassie Cook Photography

VIDEOGRAPHER : Matt Wood

CUPCAKES/CAKE : Kipp Holmes

BRIDE'S DRESS : The Barefoot Bride

BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES : Union Station

CATERER : Kelsey Connor & Team

SIGNAGE : Paper and Pine Co.

GROOMSMEN TIES : Petite Peanut

GROOMSMEN TUX RENTAL : Men's Wearhouse

HANGERS : Delovely Details

BAR : Mollie Fontaine Lounge Bar

VIOLINIST : Steven Bowman

RECEPTION ACOUSTIC BAND : Jessica & David Epting

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Urban Kidz

URBAN KIDZ

It's Tuesday. The sun is shining, and I'm pretty tired of sitting inside. My kids have been sure to let me know, too. 

You know what, guys? Yeah. Let's go exploring.

We trotted along the streets of Memphis and happened upon some awesome buildings with enough room to let them loose. They had an absolute blast! They fight often but they're best friends. No doubt in my mind.

I think it takes a very special person to be a mom to boys. They are one, wild ride. The most adventurous little beings I have ever seen. I imagine all kids are this way but I have never seen a pair of boys who love jumping off of any plato they can reach as much as these two. I think my favorite part about today was listening to them in the backseat while I'm driving to and from each place we stopped. The laughing and giggling and eventually snorting, they were laughing so hard! Over NOTHING! 

Boys are tough. I know some may disagree with me but boys are so rambunctious. They have an unlimited supply of energy. Makes me wish, sometimes, I was a boy, haha. There are quiet moments and they are rare, but it usually means they are up to no good. 

For those of you who don't know me personally, the tall lanky one is Braylen Gage. He is 6 years old and loves Superheroes and Ninja Turtles. And being a super ninja turtle hero. The short chunky monkey is Joseph Aiden (goes by Aiden). He is 3 years old and loves Paw Patrol and Thomas the Train. And anything Braylen loves. He is a monkey see, monkey do kinda kid. Gotta love 'em. 

I saw the many stages of "Brotherly Love" today as well.
 "Hey Aiden! Come over here and look at this!"
"Aiden, go look over there for something."
*sigh of irritation* "Aiden stop following me."
"Aiden! Are you okay!"
"Mama! Aiden is picking up that stick."
 

You'd never know that they didn't get along from the pictures because they had an absolute blast today. (And I wasn't necessarily shooting when I was having to separate them haha) There are days where Braylen wants to be independent and I try to let him have his independence from time to time because I want him to be able to depend on himself naturally and enjoy being on his own, so I tend to keep Aiden on a tighter leash around me. There are also days where I can't separate them far enough from each other to get anything done! HA. Lunch together in the living room unattended? Nope. That lunch will be scarfed down by the dog and Aiden will have found some activity that allows him to be pants-less. Simple coloring and coloring books? Not a chance. Crayons will be shoved into the Mega Blocks and couch cushions and lots of tiny "A's" (Aiden has learned how to write an A) up and down the hallway walls. 

I wouldn't trade being a mom to boys, for anything. They have told me some of the funniest stories I have ever heard. I'd give anything to live inside their world for a whole day.

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Baileigh / Styled Shoot

I recently wanted to update some portraits for my website/portfolio and found the perfect group of girls to do it! One of them was the ever so stunning, Baileigh Bennington. We did a simple boho/glam look and stopped on the side of the road somewhere in Hernando, MS. It was incredibly windy that day but that's almost my favorite time to shoot because what is more raw and beautiful than something you can't control? Thanks so much for hanging out with me to create these beautiful images! <3