April 17, 2012

The Crabtree Family

I am so thankful to say that the Crabtree family are returning clients! Each Spring they have family photos made and I am blessed to have done their photos for the past 2 years. One of my favorite parts of my business is watching all these kids grow up. Like I had said, it has been a year since I saw the Crabtree girls (other than on their Mom's Facebook page) and I was shocked at how much they had grown. Especially Miss Harley! There is so much growing up done between 1 and 2 years old. She wasn't a baby anymore - she was an adorable little girl.

I have gotten to know Laura a little bit through her ThirtyOne business, which was featured on the Tuesday Around Town section of the blog, and by reading her testimony which was featured in this month's Memories & Blessings' newsletter. If you didn't get a chance to read both of those features, you missed out! Don't worry you can read the stories by clicking HERE to read the Tuesday Around Town and then click HERE to read this month's newsletter.

Thank-you Chad and Laura for entrusting me with the honor of taking your family's photos. See you next Spring!











*As always, 20 comments = a FREE 5x7 photo!


Jackson

This little guy was too cute for words! He was just like any other little boy at first - he didn't want to smile! But after a few times of prying a smile out of him, he found out it was kind of fun and began smiling all on his own! He was so cute and so well behaved. He did exactly what I asked him and didn't complain a bit :)

Thank-you Sarah and Daniel for allowing me to photograph your sweet little man! Here are a few of my favorites of Jackson from his Spring mini-session.





He thought it was pretty cool that this street shared his last name!







*20 Comments = a FREE 5x7 Photo*


April 16, 2012

Happy Mother's Day!

Thank-you to everyone who entered this year's Mother's Day contest. I enjoyed so much reading all your stories and looking at your photos of your beautiful children. There truly is nothing better than being a Mommy!

The contest had three ways to win. The first way was by sending a photo of you and your child for all your Friends and Family to vote for. The second way was to write about becoming a mother or something you have learned about being a mother. The third and final way was to honor your own mother by telling something you appreciate about her. My mother picked the winner of the two story categories and then everyone will vote for their favorite photo.

To vote for your favorite photo, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the blog. You'll see a poll on the right side. Simply click the circle beside the name you want to vote for. Voting will end this Friday at midnight. Remember, the only way to vote is by clicking the name of the photo you want in the poll at the bottom of the blog. So, share this blog post to everyone you know so you can get as many votes as you can!

All winners will receive a FREE Mommy and Me mini-session (on Sunday, May 6th) or 50% off a full session that can only be used before August 1, 2012.

Drumroll please ..........................

Winner #1 ~ Susan Peacock


I knew I always wanted to become a mother. After trying for almost 13 years and having 10 miscarriages I had almost given up. Then I was pregnant again . I held my breath everyday I was pregnant scared to dream afraid to hope this might be the one. The day I had her was the happiest of my life. She has taught me so many things. You never really know how much you can love a child until you have one of your own. She loves me unconditionally. The most important thing she has taught me is to never give up hope. God has a plan for everyone. He does things on his terms and his time. If I had given up hope I would have never had this miracle in my life named Peyton.


Winner # 2 ~ Tammy Crowe

I am sending this in honor of my Mom, Ruth Lafferty. I know most people say they have the most selfless Mom in the world and that their mother is the best ever. But I remember as a kid and young adult looking into my Mom's closet and asking her why she only has a few things to wear ... why her closet wasn't full like mine and my brother's. Where was all of her pretty shoes because I had pretty shoes. Her answer was always the same ..  I just don't find such pretty things for me like I do you. Once I was grown and out on my own I remember looking in her closet one day and realizing it had nothing to do with finding pretty things ... she was spending every penny she had trying to keep my brother and me clothed. She worked every day in a factory and then moved on to a local hospital where she worked just as hard. She never gives up even after having two major heart attacks in 1998 (while on the job) and both knees replaced last summer. She says she is afraid hard times will fall on on of her kids and she will need to be able to help us. Her reason's never made sense to me until too became a Mom. I only pray that I can be as selfless as her while my children are growing up. I love you Mom and all that you do for us never goes unrecognized. Happy Mother's Day!


Here are the photos you get to vote for!! Remember, voting starts now and ends at Friday, April 20th at midnight. The poll will automatically close. Don't forget to share this blog post and have all your friends and family vote and "like" Memories & Blessings Photography on Facebook!

1. Ashley with Alexander & Benjamin


2. Laura with Abby, Shelby & Harley


3. Samantha with Sidney & Sayde


4. Jennifer with Hayley & Hannah


5. Kara with Madison & Makaylin


6. Diane with Clay


7. Kayla with Aaliyah


8. Tiffany with Mallory & Trevor


9. Katy with Emily


Happy Voting and Happy Mother's Day!

April 14, 2012

The Jenkins Family

It has been a year since I photographed sweet Ellie so I was so excited when Haven contacted me about doing a Spring mini-session. Haven and I met through mutual friends while we were younger and I loved being able to meet her sweet family and see her again.

The Jenkins family was my first session on the second day of Spring minis at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens. Ellie had grown so much since I last saw her and she was ready to model and smile! The quote of the day still makes me laugh. I was setting up a pose and Haven said "man, I should've shaved" and Ellie said "I should've shaved too". Too funny! Thank-you Josh and Haven for giving me the opportunity to photograph your sweet family.

Here are a few of my favorites from their family mini-session!














*Remember, 20 Comments = a FREE 5x7 Photo!*


April 13, 2012

Mr. and Mrs. David Edwards

On a cloudy, rainy day in March something beautiful occured. Two people stood before God and their friends and family and took sacred vowes to love and cherish each other forever. March 17, 2012 was the day that David and Mary became one. The day they forever became Mr. and Mrs. David Edwards.

It started out raining but by time to do pictures the sun began peaking through and we were able to shoot outside for a majority of the time. The couple exchanged rings at North Rockwood Baptist Church in a spring colored themed ceremony. The wedding party each wore different bright colored attire and the auditorium was covered with beautiful gerber daisies, of the same colors.

David and Mary were wonderful to work with and I pray that God blesses them with a beautiful and happy marriage for many years to come. Thank you David and Mary for allowing me the opportunity and priviledge to photograph your special day.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from their big day.

The Ceremony







The Wedding Party













The Bride and Groom








Leah Price of Leah Nicole Photo second shot the wedding with me. She was in charge of all the little details and did a fantastic job capturing them as well as other memories of the day. Thank-you Leah for your hard work and beautiful images! Here are some of her detail shots from the day.