A Garden Sunrise Anniversary Session | Meagen + Mike | Memphis Tennessee Wedding Photographer

Meagen + Mike | A Garden Sunrise Anniversary

MEMPHIS TENNESSEE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

 

I honestly don't even know where to begin on this post. It's probably why it has taken me so long to write it. 

Rewind back to 2013 when Meagen Montgomery sent me a message filled with questions she had found from an article on Pinterest. I answered each one as best as I could and even though I had no idea at the time, we would become best friends. Not to mention the second time I ever met her, was for her boudoir session as her wedding gift to Mike so we got pretty comfortable with each other fairly quickly LOL. We spent a lot of time talking and it later became about things other than wedding related activities. We were on the road to sisterhood (Mrs. Lisa, Meagen's mom, calls us something different haha) that would later develop into one of the most genuine friendships, I've ever encountered. Meagen and I have way more in common than most people think and it's quite hilarious to watch us act similarly without even knowing it. Just ask our husbands LOL. Meagen has taught me what true friendship is and how you can't get a good friend until you become a good friend, yourself. Who knew, right? ;)

Meagen and Mike own a small business, Alexander's Mobile Pet Grooming Service and are actually the very reason we have both of our dogs! Meagen, on the side of working at her parent's medical office in our hometown The Cockrell Family Medical Center, helps immensely with the process of rescuing and fostering dogs in the Mid South area. She has three pit bull dogs of her own and two of those beautiful beings gave me my sweet, brindled Pitbull/Mastiff BABY. Because that's what he is, one big baby. Meagen has one of the BIGGEST hearts I've ever seen when it comes to these precious animals and I am forever grateful to say that I am friends with her gentle soul. 

Fast forward to now, 2016. They've been married for 2 years now and are expecting a baby girl in December. You'd never know in the images because Meagen just has a rockin bod. ;) These two people, Meagen and Mike Alexander, have been one of the greatest blessings to my husband and I. I don't know how we grew up in the same town, lived DOWN THE STREET from each other and didn't even meet until we were in our 20's. Heck, our parents went to school with each other! So much for the small town life, huh? HAHA. I love her parents dearly and I am so thankful to be considered part of their family, The Cockrell Family, and continue to watch them grow. 

WE LOVE YOU! Of course we had to end the session with a tasty treat because what pregnant lady doesn't want cupcakes? Happy Be-Lated Anniversary! <3

Haley and Joe | Day After Session - Holly Springs, MS

HALEY & JOE

MAY SIXTEENTH TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEEN

I first met Haley years and years ago, probably 20 in fact, and found it fun that Haley had contacted me for photographs after all this time! We both grew up in the same small town and went to the same small town school. We even went to the same small town daycare when we were kids! Another fun fact, we were both married to the love of our lives on May 16, 2015. Haley had contacted me about a Day After Session after explaining the disappointment in her recent experience with wedding photography. There were tons of images she loved but was just a little bummed over certain ones missed. It can happen. Timelines are so important in wedding planning that often we get caught up in the mix of things and lose track from time to time. 

I wanted to give Haley and Joe that awesome feeling again. I wanted them to have someone to look back on later so I helped them recreate moments from the day of by getting them to interact in different ways that would pour through their photographs. What I was feeling from them was coming to life on my camera screen. 

I heard a friend once quote "You can spend $10,000 on a wedding and hire a $100 photographer and it will look like a $100 wedding. Or you can spend $100 on a wedding and $2000 on a wedding photographer and it will look like a $10,000 wedding." 

This is metaphorically speaking, of course, but you get the gist right? Don't hire someone based on their price. Hire someone based on their style. Their personality. Their relationship with their clients. Hire them for the images that drew you to them in the first place. You won't regret it. 

For a list of things to look for when hiring your perfect wedding photographer click here for the article, 10 Tips When Searching For Your Perfect Wedding Photographer! 

 

These are some of my favorites from Haley and Joe's session! I hope you guys enjoy them!

"June 28th, 2014 the journey of a lifetime began. I remember this date specifically because it is the day a charmingly outgoing young man approached me at the gym. After some flirting and conversation, he asked for my number and went on with his work out. I remember leaving that night thinking I would never see or talk to this guy again. What a “player” he must be to hit on me at the gym. Little did I know the same man would get down on one knee and ask me to be his wife a little over a year later. Throughout out the beginning of our journey, there were many times I tried to find a reason for it not to work but what some believe as fate, kept bringing us back together; running into each other, hanging out with the same group of friends, obvious signs we could not ignore. Maybe it was fate, but I believe it was God’s plan showing through. I had found the love of my life, the man you read about in fairy tales, and dream about as a little girl, in Joey. And the best part, he wanted to marry ME! Joey is selfless in every way, gives me butterflies with every kiss, and makes me laugh until I physically can’t laugh anymore but then somehow makes me laugh again.

Once I came back down to reality after all the excitement, all the crazy wedding plans began. I found “THE DRESS”. Bridesmaids dresses and the guys suits were done. We were booking the venue, food, reception hall, and the pictures. I thought I was doing everything right; finding the best prices and asking around for opinions of the people I had chosen to help with the big day. I made extra sure about the photographer because pictures are so important to us. We take pictures of EVERYTHING!!! What I soon learned was that other people's opinions are great but they are not your own. What some thought was a great experience, I saw very differently. The day of the wedding, we spent more time looking for the photographer than we did taking pictures. When the photographer did come around, she was yelling at everyone and even had me crying at one point in the day. The pictures we did take were very posed and I did not feel like we were getting any meaningful shots. But I told myself it would be okay because at least the pictures would turn out good. I was wrong again. Once we received the pictures, most were blurry, had shadows over the picture, or the photographer's equipment was in the background. There were so many special moments missed, such as; Joey seeing me for the first time or my daddy and grandaddy seeing me. Sadly, I will never get these moments back. With our one year anniversary approaching, I would still look back at our wedding and emotions would take over. Not the butterfly happy emotions but the disappointed and bitter emotions. I struggled to get past how one person had affected so much of the day.

We decided to retake pictures in my dress and try to recapture some of those special moments missed. This time I did not care about the price, I wanted the best and I fully believe we got the BEST with Emily Hatch. From the first e-mail, I knew this time would be better. She asked questions about the set up of pictures, the time of day we would want, and things we were interested in. We sent pictures back and forth to give her a clear idea of what we wanted and hoped for. With the first photographer, I did not know what to expect, so I did not realize how much she did not get to know us as people or a couple, or care about what WE wanted captured. Emily cared and wanted us to get exactly what we invisioned. It was finally time to retake our pictures. I was so nervous on the way there. I felt confident the pictures would be great because I had already talked to Emily so much about it and had seen her work before, but with the last experience, I wanted it to be perfect. AND IT WAS!!!!! She immediately had us laughing at one another and in the moment. Real emotion was captured with each click of the camera. I remembered our wedding day in a positive light for the first time, with each picture she showed us. No, it wasn’t the real day and no it wasn’t him seeing me for the first time, but it was picture after picture of the love we share for one another and the happiness we bring to each other. Literal tears filled my eyes, knowing that because of Emily and her passion for photography and capturing moments, I would now be able to look at a wedding picture and smile, laugh, and remember it as I should.

My advice, ALWAYS talk to the photographer for yourself. Allow him/her to get to know you and see if your ideas are the same. NEVER let the price determine who you choose for such a special and important job. Photographers will work with you if you really want them. Emily was a complete joy to work with. Contacting her was always easy and she replied quickly each time. The price was by all means doable and WORTH IT!!! She not only wanted to take great pictures but meaningful and emotional pictures as well. My love for Joey and His love for me can be seen so evidently. That’s all you can ask for."

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

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!!