Katee | Murfreesboro Fashion Photographer

I recently worked with model Katee Stephens on a fabulous sunrise shoot in Murfreesboro. The shoot was three hours of pure creativity, playing with light and allowing myself the freedom to try some of the things I've been wanting to lately. To create art. Completely worth it, even for a night owl like me.

Model: Katee Stephens

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Laura Joy | Franklin Portrait Photography

There are just some people you meet and you instantly know that your life will never be the same. Laura Joy and I met at the airport before we embarked on one of the greatest adventures of our lives. Almost six years ago now (and I can't believe it's been that long ago already), she and I traveled with a number of other Belmont students to Spain for six months. In the 8-hour plane ride to Madrid, Laura Joy and I discovered just how much we had in common, right down to the annoyingly unique bumps on our noses. 

So for six weeks, we traveled together, discovered new foods together, stepped back into history together, shopped together, cried together - even lived in the same flat together. With our awesome host mother - a cute little old lady with pink hair. Seriously. Upon returning to the States, we decided that we didn't want to lose the friendship we'd made.

Here she is, one of my dearest friends:

Laura Joy is a fabulous teacher, fiercely dedicated to her students. She's also a model (uh, can you tell?) and owns her own business, Building Perceptions, that offers things like media production, Web design and computer repair (PC-only, which makes Mac people like myself very, very sad). 

So going along with her passion for videography and modeling, it's no surprise that LJ has a closet full of costumes. The gloves in the photos above got her a gig in Lady Antebellum's music video for "Lookin' for a Good Time". (Front and center in the crowd). And the 60's dress in the photos below? Owned, worn and preserved by Joy Palma, LJ's equally-as-beautiful mother. My mom got rid of anything this cool, including those knee-high boots that she would never have let me leave the house wearing.

 

I should mention that the butterfly ring LJ's wearing in the photo above is one of the many souvenirs we brought back with us from our trip to Spain. The trip was one giant adventure, but this little baby had us speaking with the Spanish police. It's a long story, but let's just say that we were incredibly thankful for a sweet shop lady who befriended us and bridged the language gap.

I'm thankful for this friendship. I just have to think....where would we be if we hadn't sat next to each other on that flight to Spain?

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Leah | Franklin Fashion Photographer

My friend Leah recently mentioned her desire to have some headshots taken. And I had to hold myself back from jumping up and down with my hand in the air, shouting, "Me! Me! Me! Pick me!" 

You see, not only is she a wonderful friend, but she is absolutely one of the most gorgeous girls I know. And she also has one of the best wardrobes around. So she and I (and a fabulous Betsey Johnson dress) spent a lovely morning together a few weeks ago. Paired with a little Jane Austen - Leah's a lover of great literature, particularly Pride & Prejudice - and one of her favorite teacups, we had a blast at what I have to say is one of my favorite shoots yet.

Leah has a bucket list on the side of her refrigerator. On it, she vows to do things like go to England and drink tea and to do a voice-over for Disney (which she'd be great at). She also has a desire to use her life to impact others by becoming a Big Sister and volunteering for Meals on Wheels. She really does love deeply. Leah's a true beauty, by all accounts. And I'm so glad we were destined to be friends.

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