5 Tips to Prepare for your Family Session

As a family photographer for the last 7 years and a parent for 3, I feel like I’ve heard and seen all of the craziness that can happen at family photography sessions. I also polled some of my families what they thought the best tips for prepping for a session would be. I hope this blog helps you feel more ready and excited for your session!

1. Bring snacks - nothing too messy (unless that’s your vibe). Snack before the session, snack during the session, snack after the session. All the snacks + plenty of water. A hungry kid is a grumpy kid!

2. Booger wipes! Someone might cry and when they do, it’ll be booger city! These are also great for messy hands and mouths.

3. Bribery can be your friend 😂 Don’t feel bad if it comes out! Kids can feel lots of stress for photos, even when I encourage child-led photos, sometimes there are kiddos who are just hell bent on not being in photos. Bring their favorite candy or toy or talk about their special post photo treat!

4. “If you have uncooperative kids at the shoot, just laugh at it. It’s just a stage and the pics are still 👌🏽” I promise every family, even if you feel like ‘there’s absolutely no way we’re going to get good photographs today’ because the kiddos aren’t cooperating, trust me, I got this! You being upset only makes the kiddos more upset AND then you’ll look upset in photos. When in doubt, laugh, cuddle, and you can always call for a break and snack time! You know your babes best.

5. “Lay your expectations for your family at the door. Just be - that’s where the beauty is”

I couldn’t have said it any better myself. This is truly all I want! No stress, only fun and connection and just being with your family. If you feel stressed, your babes will too, so take a deep breath + remember what we’re here for! I’m like really really good at my job, so you’re safe in my hands <3

5 Small Shops for Your Family Session Wardrobe

My families are often stressed about what to wear for fall sessions and I have a love for shopping, especially with small shops, so I wanted to compile a list of some of my favorite places to shop for family sessions.

Rylee + Cru - Rylee + Cru is one of my favorite shops for my daughter. Their pieces are staples and they have so many options for mamas + kids to coordinate! Who doesn't love that?! Each season there is such a unique + curated collection, I feel like you can’t go wrong! R+C offers a very earthy, organic vibe while also having unique patterns and styles.

Illoura the Label - Illoura is an Aussie brand with a heart for heirloom pieces that are good for us and the environment. Every single piece from Illoura is absolutely stunning and absolutely perfect to keep and pass down to younger babes + the next generation.

August River Co - Similar to Illoura with the organic, muslin vibe, but with tons of options for the teeny babes that makes this a perfect shop for newborn photo wardrobe as well. The organic cotton baby collection is just to die for!

Oat and Co - Oat and Co is amazing for every season but the fall knits are THE BEST. There isn’t much better than sweet babes in chunky sweaters + rompers, so if your session is in the fall or winter, run don’t walk!

SHOP ARQ - ARQ is one of my favorite everyday lifestyle shops for undies, bras, and onesies/tanks for my daughter. I’ve had mamas do maternity sessions in ARQ bras + undies, and then have their kids in matching sets for the newborn session. These pieces would also be amazing for a summertime river session or anything in the summer, really! I really love ARQs relaxed and organic vibe.

I hope this helps on your search for your family’s wardrobe for photos this year! I love to splurge on outfits occasionally, but also truthfully love when my families wear what makes them comfortable and unique. So if none of these are your style, that’s also completely + wonderfully okay! Shop your own closet, shop your friends closets, check out Buy Sell Trade groups for your favorite kids brands, and Mercari. Shopping secondhand is also one of my favorite pastimes, in fact most of my own family’s wardrobes for photos in the last year has been secondhand and borrowing.

Unique and comfortable and what feels most YOU is always best. Always.

Chattanooga Wedding | Howe Farms Polynesian & Boho Wedding

The first thing I noticed about JJ + Erin were that they were so affectionate + bubbly. While they were each getting ready, they were both SO giddy + excited to see each other at the altar. They said their vows on a warm June day overlooking the hillside at Howe Farms in Chattanooga, surrounded by their friends + family.

Shoutout to these incredible vendors:
Venue: Howe Farms
Planning + Coordination: Maggie Walker
Florals: Blue Thistle Design
HMUA: Shaina Ramsey / CopyCat Salon
Cocktails: Tipsy Tin

Midtown Memphis Wedding | Beauty Shop Restaurant | The Okolis

I met Elizabeth a while back because we both volunteered for Streetdog Foundation, a local dog rescue group. She ended up adopting this dog that I was OBSESSED with, Alexandria. So when she and Brandon got engaged & she reached out to inquire about me shooting their wedding, I was ecstatic! I love photographing dog people weddings!! Especially people I know through rescue! It’s such a small world and you just feel super connected with everyone else who rescues dogs. (At least I feel this way, LOL).

Brandon + Elizabeth are such sweet people. They’re super caring and HILARIOUS. Their love story reminds me that life is really all about the love and not the small stuff we worry over. I love these two! Check out their wedding story <3

As always, it takes a team to pull off a gorgeous wedding day, so thankful to have worked alongside these awesome vendors to celebrate Brandon + Elizabeth:
Ceremony: Morning Sun Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Reception + Catering: The Beauty Shop Restaurant
Hair: Cheyenne Harper, Pavo Salon
Makeup Artist: Kasey Acuff
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Groom’s suit: James Davis
Bridal Bouquet: Everbloom Designs
Reception Florals: John Mark Enterprises

// the okolis //

Eurotrip August 2018 | Ireland

In May 2018, I decided I was going to travel for the month of August. A photographer in New Jersey, who had just become facebook friends with me posted about traveling for a few weeks and I responded and the rest is history.

Emely and I met when I landed in New York and she picked me up from the airport. The next day, we were off to Dublin. We spent one week in Ireland, one week in Italy, and one week in France! It was such a blast, the food was amazing! I didn’t end up taking my camera on every adventure we went on throughout the 3 weeks, but here are a handful of images from our week in Ireland! When I go back, I’ll definitely be taking more photos, especially of the food!

The Cliffs of Moher were BY FAR my most favorite part of Ireland. It was beyond gorgeous and I wish I could’ve spent more time sitting on the cliffs.

Enjoy! <3