Kyndal :: Maternity Session

Kyndal and I used to work together. So when she contacted me for a maternity session before she had even announced it on Facebook I was ecstatic.
Maternity sessions are kind of my pride and joy. I love them. I love everything about a bump. And I especially loved this session because we shot at Lake Gaston (a first for me) and the sunset was oh so perfect and Kyndal was oh so beautiful. It just worked. EVERYTHING about this session just worked.
We had originally planned to shoot the first weekend in October - but hurricane Joaquin ruined our plans and we ended up shooting the following Tuesday. My husband actually works (and fishes) in the Clarksville area so I spent days grilling him looking for the perfect spot for our session. Knowing that we wanted the lake in the background we had originally planned to shoot on a beach. Unfortunately - again thanks to Joaquin - most of the beaches were flooded. So I started to look for a dock. My husband was the first to throw in his two cents about a dock located behind the Sonoco where the sunset would be perfect. Seriously.
I was skeptical, until we arrived and I realized he was 100% correct.
This dock, the sunset, the reschedule, the weather - it was perfect.
I'm looking forward to meeting the little princess residing in that bump in another two months!

xo

Justyn

Otto Family Session

 

 

Meet the Otto Family.

I know - they're pretty much the most gorgeous family ever. When I first talked to Jen and she said she wanted a family session, I was like "yeah absolutely". And then I met them and I was like, "wait you want ME to take pictures of these mini models?"  What?

I'm all about Stonewall Farm this week - in honor of my fall mini sessions there this weekend - and this was the most recent family session I did there. If you can't tell from the pictures (try not to get distracted by the beautiful family) the farm itself is the most perfect place to take pictures. Especially at sunset/late afternoon - which you all know if my favorite time to take pictures.

We had the venue to ourselves, and the girls were so well behaved. One of the things about shooting bigger families (5 or more) is to make sure that you pay attention to each and every child. They're all different, they each have their own personalities, and each and everyone of them (whether they'll admit it or not) wants to be the center of attention. So I gave them each a chance to let out their inner diva once or twice. I asked them each "What do you think if we sit like this?" or "Who wants to jump on Daddy this time?" - that's the trick. And I LOVE - I mean L. O. V. E. these pictures.

Obviously I'm a little bias because it's my work.

What do you think? Am I crazy or are you loving this family session as much as I am?

 

xo

Justyn

Alexis :: Bridal Session

This session was totally a last minute opportunity before my two week hiatus. Alexis's mother actually contacted me to set up a bridal session as a surprise/graduation gift for her daughter. She was coming up from Georgia for to visit and wanted to do a vintage bridal shoot at Stonewall Farm (where Alexis had her engagement session). How could I say no? There was a lot more to this shoot than I've shown in the above images, but I felt they were personal to the family and didn't feel comfortable sharing them.
She showed up with several wedding gowns and props of all kinds and told Alexis to pick what she wanted to use. We shot in the courtyard of the farm (the same place my minis will be held this weekend) and in the afternoon light it was really a special and whimsical session. The dress shown in these pictures is not the dress Alexis will be wearing down the aisle.
This whole session just made me excited about my future in photography. With five weddings currently on my calendar (my first being next month) I can't wait to capture more brides in their beautiful gowns. And then of course there are my fall mini's this upcoming weekend, the courtyard at Stonewall is really a magical setting. I can't think of a better place to take family pictures!

xo

Justyn 

Nicole :: Senior Portraits

I spent a lot of time last month really focusing on my style as a photographer. I wanted my images to be crisper and cleaner while still maintaining that dreamy feeling that I love so much. I wanted my skies to be more defined and not blown out like they have been in the past. By the time Nicoles senior portrait session rolled around, I really felt like I knew where I wanted to go with my techniques and this shoot was a turning point for my photography.

We shot at the ever beautiful Stone Wall Farm, a venue that I have several upcoming sessions at. There is such a variety at this venue and each setting is picturesque. Nicole wanted that golden hour, which happens to be my favorite (and probably every other photographers) time to shoot. We started in the courtyard which had bench swings, tire swings, and this awesome old truck. We ventured around the property and ran across not one, not two, but six peacocks. We climbed a fence and dared to shoot in a field full of horses. And then we climbed another fence and found the most peaceful and serene lake.

It really was an adventure.

Oh and that floral crown? I  made that. My client wants a floral crown, my client gets a floral crown.

xo

Justyn