Rachel Williamson Photography

NEW BLOG!

2010-06-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

Hi long lost friends!

I have been working with my friend, Kristin Heather, who's been re-designing my branding and first on our list was a new blog! So...

This blog is officially my OLD blog... go here and see my lovely NEW BLOG!!!
Design by Kristin Heather

I am still making changes, so hang in there with me, but pretty soon this new one will be filled with my past 3 months of work!

Rachel

Erin Underwood

2010-03-08T19:58:00.000-08:00

Erin is a Senior at Belmont University, majoring in Classical Performance. She needed some photos to advertise her Senior recital. She is an Opera singer! How amazing?! Definitely a unique talent that deserved a unique photo session! And that's where I came in. Erin was up for any ideas I had- which I love to hear. We had a lot of fun in the little patch of forest that I found. And with the sun setting, we were able to get that nice, golden glow. Doesn't Erin look stunning?

Erin, thanks for being up for my crazy ideas- you were so easy to work with and so much fun! I know your recital will be amazing!

-Rachel

Nashville, TN Wedding Photographer: Zach & April's Engagement Session

2010-02-18T08:24:00.000-08:00

Zach and April are such a sweet duo. They were constantly smiling and laughing with each other during their whole session. So much fun! I knew that their love must be genuine when at their Wedding Consult, Zach said something like "My favorite way April wears her hair is in a ponytail, she could wear it like that for the wedding and it would be perfect!"

You can see in these images how much joy they bring to each other. I love when I can see that in a couple! Zach and April, I'm so excited to photograph your wedding this June! Enjoy the preview :)

-Rachel

Cadillac Sky

2010-02-17T20:13:00.000-08:00

Cadillac Sky Check these guys out: www.cadillacsky.net

Besides being extremely talented at making music, these guys are incredible people. I had the opportunity to travel up to Ohio this past fall and photograph them recording their new album in Dan Auerbach's studio. They've now used those photos for their new website and NEW ALBUM, Letters In the Deep. I'm shooting a session for them this Saturday actually! Check them out and listen to their free download of the song "Hangman."

Love seeing some of the images featured on this ad, and a preview of the album cover!

Chris Weaver Band

2010-02-15T13:25:00.000-08:00

Meet Chris Weaver and his band, Matt, Reed, Ben, Cornelius and Cade. They are a local rock/blues band here in Nashville. check out their website here! I recently shot a session for them and they were a hoot the whole time. They constantly made each other laugh, you can tell they are truly brothers.

"It’s so hard in a place like Nashville to have a true “band” because a true band usually takes time to evolve. The players get better over time, you write together, fight together, and in the end...you become family.

The key to putting a band together here is work. If you can find steady gigs and write original music that brings you together, that is about the best shot you have to succeed as a group. After two and a half years of steady work and one hell of a sound, we are proud to say we have completed our first record. Plus, we even bought a van...so you know it's real now!

We know that our history is still being written and hopefully we will get to see our dreams realized. The music business makes no sense at all, but we love our fans and firmly believe there is no better way to make a living."

– Chris Weaver

I enjoyed meeting you all! Enjoy the photos.

-Rachel

Sergio & Christine's Wedding Day

2010-02-11T11:22:00.000-08:00

Snow, snow, and more snow gives you an idea of the setting for this January wedding! Christine and Sergio win the award for making the best out of what is beyond our control. They were able to share their day with their loving family and close friends. A few of Christine's close family came up from Florida and were a delight to talk to. They think so much of Sergio and Christine!

I love the way Sergio looks at Christine, he's so genuine and is so attentive to her. So sweet! Somebody at the wedding told me that "Christine married a very patient man!" What a compliment to both of them.

After the ceremony and group photos, we headed to the reception where we were all surprised by a Mariachi band! They were decked out from head to toe with Spanish outfits and instruments. It was so much fun.

Sergio and Christine, thank you so much for letting me be a part of yout sweet, snowy, intimate wedding. Enjoy the photos!

Jon & Tara

2010-02-05T12:06:00.000-08:00

Another snowy day in Nashville! Jon and Tara, being from Ohio, were used to the snow and were totally up for it for their engagement session. They came into town and met with me at Bongo Java where we discussed their wedding. A few days later they decided to book me for their wedding this September at the beautiful Cedarwood! They wanted to go ahead and do their engagement session while they were in town. Since most of their guests are going to be from out of town, they wanted the photos to have that "downtown Nashville" vibe.

Jon and Tara were so much fun to be around! You can see in Tara's face how much she loves him, and how much he makes her laugh. You can also see how much Jon truly cares for her. They did an amazing job, in the snow and all! Afterwards they treated me to some delicious lunch! What a sweet couple. I am SO excited and honored to photograph this fall!

James & Rachel

2010-01-27T13:01:00.000-08:00

Tennessee sees very little snow in the winter.. if ANY. To try and plan a wedding on a day that it would snow would be impossible. Somehow, Rachel and James pulled it off! They probably didn't plan on the snow, but they were planning on a Winter Wedding. What better to help that theme than snow... all day long!?! It was absolutely beautiful. And so was the bride, Rachel was glowing the whole day! I love the first few shots of her and James.. so elegant!

Despite the cold, we headed outside to get some shots in the snow. Rachel and James decided to see each other before the ceremony and take some photos around the square in Murfreesboro. We met up with their Bridal Party and family for some group shots, then headed off to the (warm!) ceremony and reception. James and Rachel are best friends and it shows. It was so sweet to hear their personalized vows to each other. After the ceremony, all of the guests enjoyed a night of dancing, fun, and yes, snow. :)

James & Rachel, thank you for having me be a part of your beautiful day! May you be truly blessed by your new life together.

Rachel

Blake is growing up!

2010-01-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

The Yancey's are back! This time little Blake is 9 months old... almost a year since I did his newborn session! I can't believe it. Dave and Shauna are still some of the coolest parents. Will start you out with a side by side comparison from his newborn session to now. Look at that smile!

Enjoy!

Rachel

I've been featured!

2010-01-22T08:14:00.000-08:00

I've been featured by Clay & Emily of Kennedy Occasions, CLICK HERE to see my interview with them! The wedding photos in the interview feature the McGary & Hilton weddings I shot in 2009.

"After planning our own wedding and at least 50 showers and events, we decided we really enjoyed organizing and helping others with their special events! We are looking forward to this new journey! Feel free to view our website, check out our services and view a few past events at www.KennedyOccasions.com. How can we help with your next event? We would love to hear from you!" -Clay & Emily

Clay & Emily are a husband/ wife wedding planner team in Murfreesboro, TN. I strongly suggest looking into what they offer when planning your wedding! A wedding planner can provide so much help and guidance that is totally beneficial!

Have a lovely weekend!

Rachel

Kellen & Maya

2010-01-20T10:08:00.000-08:00

Check out this sweet duo! You might recognize Kellen, the ultra-talented fiddle player in Apache Relay. Kellen wanted to get a gift certificate for a photo session for his girlfriend, Maya, for Christmas. How creative?! So I typed up a cute certificate and we met up when Maya was in town for the holidays! Isn't Maya beautiful?!

There were SNOW flurries the whole time, which made it so cold.. but we made it fun!

Enjoy!

Rachel

Chris & Lindsey's Wedding

2010-01-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

Lindsey and Chris are an adorable couple who are so in love! Their wedding was an absolute blast and I was honored to photograph it along with my 2nd shooter, Mandy. Lindsey and Chris handmade all of their flowers.. so fun and unique. Chris handmade the flower in Lindsey's hair and also the flower girl's hair. I admire couples who put in the extra effort to make their wedding personalized!

We started out the day at the studio, where the girls helped Lindsey get ready. Lindsey and Chris decided to see each other before the ceremony, and we were able to get some fun shots of the two of them in the studio. It was absolutely freezing outside, but they were troopers!

The ceremony was in this small, quaint church in East Nashville with a red door. The church was filled with beautiful hymns, close friends, and family. After a few quick group shots, we headed off to the reception at Ugly Mug's, a coffee shop that they rented out for the night. It was a great atmosphere with coffee and dessert for everyone! After their last dance, they headed off to their honeymoon in England, and then their new life together in St. Louis. It was an honor Lindsey and Chris, may your marriage be filled with joy!

-Rachel

check this out!

2009-12-27T16:36:00.000-08:00

Just found out I was mentioned on www.monkeywhale.com for my work with the band Apache Relay. "Monkeywhale.com is a North Carolina based new media experiment with a dedicated staff of videographers, audio-engineers, photographers and bloggers" for my work with the band Apache Relay.

Michael Ford, Jr. and the Apache Relay : Behind the Scene

by Carolyn de Berry on Saturday, December 26th, 2009
Love these guys. Their cd, 1988, has been on constant rotation in our house since the morning they dropped by to visit our Kitchen. Also, it features some very hot photography by Nashville-based photographer Rachel Williamson. Smart move, fellas! This album is good stuff, indeed. Sometimes they remind me a bit of Ryan Adams, but without the gut-wrenching desire to end it all. They’ve got their own thing for sure, which you can clearly hear (and see) in their video.

Friendly, polite, funny, and obviously having a good time out on the road, Michael Ford, Jr. and the Apache Relay might just become your newest favorite band. Paste Magazine didn’t name them one of the “Eight Most Auspicious Musicial Debuts of 2009″ for nothin’.

To see the video filmed in Harvey's Kitchen by monkeywhale, click here:

http://www.monkeywhale.com/video/harveys-kitchen-michael-ford-jr-apache-relay/check out the band's myspace here: http://www.myspace.com/mfjrandtheapacherelay

Here's some photos from the most recent photo session I did for the guys. Apache Relay has new managers, Brad and Ed http://www.projectdaybreak.com/ who helped out with the vision of the photo with the bike. The guys were thrilled to see the results and sent it out with their Christmas Newsletter.

Hope you're enjoying your break! I am, this break is MUCH needed!

-Rachel

it's all in the family..

2009-12-21T10:50:00.000-08:00

I recently did a session for three sisters, and their kids. They wanted these photographs to be a gift for their parents, what a sweet idea! It was so fun! We started with individuals of the kids, then the grown-ups ;) then a group shot. And last but not least, some Christmas pj's! These kids were adorable!
-Rachel

sweet little Clayton

2009-12-16T11:59:00.000-08:00

I recently did a session for Martha and Chad Upchurch and their little boy Clayton. They had me into their home and it was so fun! We got some great shots while he was awake and then he fell asleep just in time for us to get some shots of him on the adorable blue and white couch. So cute!
Isn't Martha beautiful? I love the way she's looking at Clayton in this image..
It was great to meet all of you-- enjoy the photos!
-Rachel

Pope Family

2009-12-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

The Pope's had me into their home to photograph their adorable son, Noah. Oh my goodness was he cute! We were able to use the natural light in their home for these photos. Stephanie had a gorgeous home and Christmas tree that worked perfectly! I love photographing in the client's home, it's such a comfortable, personal setting. It's also great to have all of your clothes and props there with you! How cute is Noah's little toboggan hat that he's wearing towards the end?

Stephanie, it was great to meet your sweet family. Thanks for having me into your home!

Rachel

Jared & Heather

2009-12-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

I really enjoyed working with Heather and her sweet mother Brenda as we planned out this special day. A few weeks after I photographed her niece's wedding, I got a call saying that Heather was engaged!

Heather has two sisters (they all look alike!) and they were both her bridesmaids. Jared and his guys were looking "classy" (their word of the day) and so was little Gavin, Heather's son.

It was a lovely wedding on a beautiful day with a slight chill in the air. After the reception, we headed outside for some group shots and Jared's brother handed Heather an old photograph of him as a little boy. Heather loved it.

I love the shot of Jared looking down at Heather, and the one of Gavin laying his head on Jared's shoulder. You can tell they all really love each other and are going to make a beautiful family! Thank you for letting me be a part of your wedding day!

my 2nd shooter Cassie grabbed this shot of Heather's flowers.

what a handful! Cassie also got this shot below.

Chris & Lindsey's Engagement Session

2009-11-24T17:16:00.000-08:00

This was definitely one of my favorite engagement sessions ever. Lindsey and Chris are so hilarious and such a sweet couple. You can just tell how much they think of each other in these photos. I had the hardest time ever just picking this many to put up!

We went all around Scarritt Bennett and Vanderbilt's campus and finished up at the Starbucks where Lindsey and Chris went a lot when they were getting to know each other.
Their wedding is this December and I'm so excited I get to photograph it! Lindsey and Chris- you two are awesome and inspiring and I loved spending the afternoon with you!

-Rachel

This little stool is one of Lindsey's favorite things- so we had to incorporate it in the session!

Holmes Family

2009-11-20T09:36:00.000-08:00

You probably recognize Bonnie and her son Lucas from a session I did for them in their home, but this time Bonnie's husband Brad was able to join us! We met up at a park and were able to get some great shots! I found out that Lucas LOVES grass.. it took us a lot of tricks/distractions/patience to get him to look at me instead of the grass- too funny. vBonnie and Lucas seem like awesome parents. In the very last shot where Lucas is really smiling, Brad found out that if he tickled Lucas while holding him, that was the outcome :)

It was great to hang out with you three- Enjoy!

-Rachel

Boone & Loren Daughdrill

2009-11-13T14:06:00.000-08:00

This was such a beautiful fall wedding at Cedarwood here in Nashville. The scent of hot apple cider lingered in the air during this mid-morning wedding. Loren was so excited the whole morning and so was Boone! It was a tad chilly outside but that did not stop Loren and her bridesmaids from coming out for some photos before the ceremony. Cassie, my 2nd shooter for this wedding, was a great help and you'll see some of her awesome shots below!

So, what's their story? Boone is drummer for a Christian Rock band called December Radio. At a show he asked Loren to come on stage because he was giving out a drum stick to someone in the crowd. She looked at the drumstick and it said "Will you marry me?" and had her wedding ring on the stick. She said yes :) A few of Boone's bandmates played a song during the ceremony, it was a nice touch!

Enjoy the photos!

Rachel

photo by my 2nd shooter, Cassie! Isn't Cedarwood BEAUTIFUL in the Fall?

photo by Cassie

photo by Cassie. How fun?!

Loren is such a gorgeous bride!

photo by Cassie. I love this candid shot of Boone and his brother!

Boone is READY!

How cute are the green dresses?!

How appropriate is the Groom's cake? Perfect.

And here are the actual sticks!

This was without a doubt the sweetest Mother-Son dance I've EVER seen. Boone LOVES his mother with all his heart. It was such a tender moment!

Yancey Family, Blake's 6 months!

2009-11-10T11:20:00.000-08:00

You probably recognize this sweet family from Shauna & Dave's maternity session, Blake's newborn session and their 10 yr anniversary celebration! The Yancey's are awesome clients and it was great to see them again. It's neat to work with couples before they are parents, then when they actually are. They know how to make Blake smile... singing yankee doodle. It was too cute. Blake is still so adorable- check out his little hat!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T08:54:00.000-07:00

This season is SO beautiful in middle Tennessee. I have enjoyed it so very much. Brett took me on an "Autumn Adventure" last week and these are some photos from it. The pretty scenery is from Nachez Trace, the farm photo is from our church retreat and the last lake photo is 2 mins from my family's new house!!

Brett's mom, Mrs. Brenda has been in town the past few days and we had a great time with her! Spontanious field trip to my school's dark room, dressing up like Brett and him as me at church wed night, random Keith Urban show at Verizon, and yummy food at places around town like Mitchell's Deli and Marche in East Nashville. So fun!

October is officially one of my new favorite months. :)

-Rachel

Miss Shelby

2009-10-31T08:29:00.000-07:00

Shelby Young is a senior in high school here in Nashville and came to me for her Senior Portraits! She brought fun dresses, her guitar, her awesome mom and adorable little sister. We started out in and around the studio, then went to Sevier Park to finish up the session. Shelby's little sister told me she wants to be a photographer when she gets older- so I just ate that up and let her take a few shots on my camera. I had fun with you three- enjoy the photos!

-Rachel

Gentry

2009-10-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

Gentry- what a beautiful name! Gentry came into the studio to get some new headshots for a talent agency. Between her mom and a friend who came from out of state, Gentry had it going on! Gentry does every kind of dance imaginable and is a very talented young lady. She was great in front of the camera and has a very sweet, gentle personality. I know she will go far!

-Rachel

Bonnie & little Lucas

2009-10-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

Hey there! Meet beautiful Bonnie and her adorable son, Lucas. Lucas needed some updates photos since he's growing so fast. I loved starting this session in his room, with the bright green walls, and then just in and around his house where he was most comfortable. Bonnie's husband was at work, but they've scheduled a family photo shoot to get some photos of all three of them!

Thanks for having me come out to your home, Bonnie! Looking forward to seeing your family soon.

-Rachel

Bergthold Family

2009-10-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

I've known the Bergthold Family for several years now. Cali Bergthold and I met playing violin in an orchestra when we were in high school and then realized we were both into photography! We've been photo-friends ever since, and take classes together at Nashville State. This is a Family Photo Session trade off, I did Cali's family, and Cali just took photos of my family. Hope to get those up soon!

Cali's family truly shines with joy. They are fun to be around, easy going people.
Their family is very close, too, which is so admirable. The kids of the fam are Caleb, Carly, Cali and Cara. We did this session in little spurts because it was raining!
But it was worth it :)

-Rachel

Noah, Ashly & Abram

2009-10-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

I recently had a chance to photograph this sweet family and their new baby boy, Abram! I've known Ashly and Noah for several years, and its so neat now to see them as parents! Abram has some pretty hip parents :) Noah is in a band Brontosauras, check out his music here! http://www.myspace.com/brontosaurus1980

-Rachel

exciting news!

2009-10-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

So I found out today my blog is featured on my hometown's website! Thank you Smyrna, TN ;)

I'm on the main page, under "Local Blogs"

Here's the link... www.americantowns.com/tn/smyrna

More posts to come soon, finishing up my fall break! From a bonfire in Bell Buckle, to being walking distance from the lake in our new home, it's been a much-needed break.

gone to the lake,

-Rachel

Pete Camiolo

2009-10-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

Pete Camiolo is a chiropractor based out of Murfreesboro, TN. I photographed Pete with his wife Mary and son Noah this past summer. Pete needed some updated head shots for his work. Is it just me or does he look like Ben Stiller?!

Pete said what made him smile was thinking about funny things that Noah did.. what a good dad! They turned out great, Pete. Hope to see your family again soon!

-Rachel

Matt & Tina

2009-10-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

Matt & Tina came to Nashville from Indiana for their 2 year anniversary and contacted me to take some updated photos of them!

These two were so sweet together. I really enjoyed watching them laugh and just have a great time. We did the whole session outside and

Tina was a trooper, wearing super tall high heels the whole time! I don't see how she did it but she did! We went all over the place.

The photos turned out lovely, hope you enjoy :)

-Rachel

Apache Relay shows

2009-10-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

Michael Ford, Jr. & the Apache Relay recently had their CD release show, featuring their new album, 1988.

Click here to hear some of their tunes! Apache Relay's Myspace

In the band is Michael Ford on lead vocals and guitar, Brett Moore (my boyfriend) on mandolin, Michael Harris on guitar and Kellen Wenerich on fiddle.

For this show they also had upright bass, drums, and an extra fiddle and a cello! The show was AMAZING!

The first few are from their cd release show and the last ones are from a Backyard Bonfire show they played.

I'm a pretty big fan to say the least :)

-Rachel

and the Bonfire show...

John and Kristin's Wedding

2009-10-01T12:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a few previews of this couples ADORABLE wedding. You can check out more photos just now added on my website under weddings/love. www.rachelwilliamsonphotography.com

John and Kristin are both web designers, therefore they are both super creative and it definitely shows in their beautiful wedding. Outdoor weddings are my favorite, the temp was perfect, the outfits were adorable and I had the most beautiful backdrop to work with. The combination of the old rustic barn, the chickens running around, kids playing in the garden, lanterns and candles, cupcakes and cup-pies made this backyard wedding so perfect. I met some amazing people and had SO much fun. To tie the night off, we ended with the Virginia Reel- everybody got out there and danced. SO fun! Check out their photos :)

2009-10-01T12:08:00.000-07:00

So, I've been a blogging slacker. I hope to change that soon! I have a lot of recent work to put up, from music promo sessions to an awesome wedding. So don't lose hope! Stay tuned :)

Barnes Family

2009-09-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Barnes Family came to me wanting some up-dated family shots in the studio. Their son Cameron was ADORABLE, look at those eyes! We were able to get some really fun shots outside of the studio and in. They're a sweet trio :) I love how they turned out- enjoy!

-Rachel

Koller Family

2009-09-10T12:01:00.001-07:00

Are these boys cute or what? The Koller Family is a part of my church family and I really enjoyed photographing them! The boys were great and loved getting to play at the water park afterward! Evan was the most laid-back little boy I've ever seen. An Ethan is such a good big-brother :) You have a beautiful family, Heather!

-Rachel

Custom Coffee Table Books

2009-08-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Now introducing...

Custom Coffee Table Books. I've been really excited about offering these, so check 'em out!

Your custom coffee table book can be filled with photos from your wedding, engagement session, bridal session, family or senior session! They also make great gifts :) View below for an example of a book I did of James and Kristin. They did their engagement session, bridal session and wedding with me!

Your book will be custom designed, professionally printed and filled with beautiful photos from your wedding day. These books have a sleek and simple design, making your photos the main focus.

E-mail me if you're interested!

Custom Coffee Table Books (continued)

2009-08-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

Custom Coffee Table Books (continued)

2009-08-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

Custom Coffee Table Books (continued)

2009-08-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

Emma's 1 yr Birthday Party I

2009-08-12T15:00:00.001-07:00

I love the fact that with my job, each session I do is completely different. This session was baby Emma's 1 year Birthday Party! Her Mom, Kami, booked me early this summer for this party. From the cupcake tree to the Emma's bloomers, all the decorations and details were too cute. They had a lot of family in from TX for this party! Emma had all of her little friends there and we all had a great time. Thanks Kami, I enjoyed working with you! Your little girl is adorable!!!

-Rachel

Emma's 1 yr Birthday Party II

2009-08-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

The birthday girl!

Check out this FOUR generation shot! How special!
Some of Emma's adorable little friends at the party..
the end of the party... :)

the Watson Family

2009-08-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

I've known the Watson family for as long as I can remember! They are a part of my church family at First Presbyterian Church of Smyrna. I've enjoyed planning this session with Colleen, who in an email said "you would think I was going to see the Queen of England by the way I'm searching for what to wear!!!" :) Their daughter, Jenna, is a really good friend of mine and my sister. Jenna's actually getting ready to leave for college! So Colleen wanted to get in this family session before she headed out. Had fun with you guys- enjoy!

-Rachel

Wes, Megan & Hans

2009-08-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

Megan and Wes came to me for a session with their new puppy, Hans! I did a session for just the two of them about a year ago, and it was great to see them again! After the crazy Vanderbilt parking, we headed around to some of their favorite locations on Vandy's campus. Hans was so good the whole time and even looked at the camera when I "sang" his name in this certain pitch. Thanks you three! Hope you enjoy the photos!

-Rachel

Elizabeth's Senior Photos

2009-08-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth is going to be a senior this year at Blackman High school and came to me for her senior photos. They turned out beautifully! Doesn't she look awesome?! She was totally up for the locations I scouted out the week before. I found this old white school bus in the middle of this field of little yellow flowers (3rd photo down) and it made for an awesome location for this shoot. Thanks for asking me to do your photos Elizabeth, hope you enjoy!

-Rachel

Chuck & Heather I

2009-08-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

You might recognize this couple from the engagement session I did for them a while back! Chuck and Heather were married on Saturday, July 25th in Murfreesboro and I was honored to be asked to photograph their wedding! Even though it was pretty hot outside, they were troopers and we were able to do most of the photos outside, which turned out beautiful. Check out some of the detail shots below...

It was neat to see my work form their engagement session printed and on their sign-in table!

Lynze Weaver (Heather's Maide of Honor and in my class in high school) made this cake!! Isn't it fabulous? Cassie, my 2nd shooter got this awesome detail shot of the buttons on the back of the cake.
All of the groomsmen and even the pastor wore these red chucks. How appropriate since the color theme was red, black & white?

Chuck & Heather II

2009-08-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

I love this one of Heather! Doesn't she look beautiful?

the car that they drove off in even went with their color theme... how cool is that?

Bryan & Lizzy

2009-07-27T21:26:00.000-07:00

The next few posts are going to be highlighting some of my most recent work, starting out with Bryan & Lizzy's wedding on a beautiful July day at Cedarwood in Nashville. It was such a pleasure photographing this wedding. Thanks to Bryan, Lizzy and Trevor! Enjoy the preview!

Bryan & Lizzy II

2009-07-27T21:18:00.000-07:00

This wedding was held at the beautiful Cedarwood in Nashville. A historic home, barns and rolling hills was the backdrop for this wedding on July 18th. And to top it all off the weather couldn't have been any better. Doesn't Lizzy look fabulous?!

how cute are they?!

Bryan & Lizzy III

2009-07-27T21:15:00.000-07:00

Their ceremony was at 6:30pm which gave us the most gorgeous sun coming in through the trees.

Bryan & Lizzy IV

2009-07-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

I love when people really invest time in the details of their day and decor, it really pays off... look how hip this is!

Cake by Patty Cakes

Their son Trevor with the flower girl, taking it all in..

Brandon & Brittany I

2009-07-27T20:57:00.001-07:00

On July 17th I felt like I was on vacation in Murfreesboro because the weather was SO NICE for this wedding. The last time I photographed a wedding at this church there was SNOW on the ground! So we took advantage of the "vacation weather" and did all of the bridal party/family photos outside. Doesn't Brittany look so cute? Her colors were awesome with the pool blue, chocolate, and a little pop of pink. I had Cassie 2nd shooting on this and she was awesome help! Thanks Brandon, Brittany & Braylen, Enjoy!

Brandon & Brittany II

2009-07-27T20:49:00.001-07:00

There were some ADORABLE kids at this wedding...

Cassie, my 2nd shooter for this wedding got this shot below!

Brandon & Brittany III

2009-07-27T20:44:00.000-07:00

The cakes were so so cute...

matches their brown suits :)

I love this shot of Brittany and "her boys"

Allie & Mike

2009-07-15T17:51:00.000-07:00

Mike and Allie's wedding was held at the Belmont Mansion on July 3rd- a suprisingly cool day for July! Allie's family & friends came in from Colorado and Mike's family from Franklin. I had SO much fun photographing this wedding. Allie was one of my old roomates- I can remember sitting upstairs on her bed talking through her ideas and excitements- so this was very special for me :)

Allie & Mike II

2009-07-15T17:07:00.000-07:00

Check out this gorgeous view during the ceremony... the natural light coming in through the windows was perfect.

All of Mike's groomsmen were his brothers and you could tell they were all close. His groomsmen was his twin brother!

Allie & Mike III

2009-07-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

What a sweet moment between Mike & Allie in the midst of trying to get everyone ready for the group photo!

The ceremony and reception were in the same room in the Belmont Mansion- the transformation was beautiful!
Allie's parents... so adorable!

the Yancey's

2009-07-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

I have worked with Dave and Shauna Yancey on their maternity shoot, Blake's newborn session and now their 10 year anniversary party! It was at the Civic Plaza in Murfreesboro- they had the place glowing with lights and music. It was a really fun event for their friends and family- and little Blake! Shauna re-designed her wedding dress a bit and wore it to the party- everyone looked stunning!

Thanks, Yancey family- hope to see you again soon!

-Rachel

the Stacey Family

2009-07-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Stacey's have been our sweet neighbors for a long, long time. I was thrilled to be able to photograph them. Coleman has grown up so much and has SO much personality, and Tanner is adorable as ever. Shannon & Shana are awesome parents- you can tell by the way they talk to their kids. We went out to "Ma-Ma Lee's Farm" for these photos.. it was a beautiful location!

Enjoy!

-Rachel

Allie.

2009-07-11T10:49:00.001-07:00

I recently had the honor of photographing Allie and Mike's wedding at the Belmont Mansion! (photos coming soon!) Allie was a gorgeous bride and we had a lot of fun with her bridal portraits. Her adorable parents and a few of her best girl friends were in town from Colorado for the wedding, so they came along for the fun too!

Enjoy!

-Rachel

Jessica.

2009-07-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

Jessica and I had fun with her Senior Photo session! We had a full 2 hrs to be creative and get all the shots we wanted. Isn't she beautiful? And plays the violin amazingly well and was recently featured in the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra (my Alma Mater) :)

This first one is one of my favorites from the whole day..

-Rachel

Ashley.

2009-07-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

Ashley and I were on the same page during this whole session. Ashley's going to be a senior this year at the high school I graduated from! She was up for ANYthing creative/crazy and I loved it. We wondered around the square in Murfreesboro and found some really neat areas. Check it out!

-Rachel

Cooper.

2009-07-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

Cooper is also now two! The Holt family is so awesome and are also apart of my church fam. Cooper LOVES cars and brought a yellow school bus with him. His mom Shelley says he's definitely in is "terrible two's!" But they sure are troopers and excellent, excellent parents.

Enjoy!

-Rachel

King Family

2009-07-02T19:56:00.000-07:00

This family is a very precious part of my church family. I would say they are energetic but at the same time super relaxed! Kevin and Donna have a lot to be proud of- they are awesome parents. We did a quick family photo session in the park and I grabbed a few of Brody now that he's TWO! Oh, and don't be fooled by the "I'm too cool to smile faces"... they were having fun!

:) Rachel

Krista's Senior Photos

2009-06-27T08:09:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun with this girl! Krista actually goes to the high school that I graduated from! Krista is a very talented writer and was recently chosen for a conference that only 40 students in the country were chosen for!! She was adorable and brought in this awesome green dress (good eye, Mom!). We were definitely on the same page creatively and she was totally up for anything! Check it out...

-Rachel

We got this shot right as the train was going by, the wind was awesome.

Jason & Jessica's Wedding I

2009-06-24T18:21:00.001-07:00

I recently had the opportunity to photograph this beautiful wedding in Wilmington, North Carolina. My amazing boyfriend Brett and his family the Moore's are also from Wilmington. Jessica is a part of their church family! When they asked me to do this I was SO excited.

Let me give a quick shout out...

Thank you, Mrs. Brenda for driving me around everywhere in downtown Wilmington and Brett for helping me so much! Also for Bill & Susan and Jessica & Jason, thank you for being so fun and for asking me to do this! Hope you enjoy!

-Rachel

Jason & Jessica's Wedding II

2009-06-24T18:12:00.001-07:00

I was really privileged to have Jessica & Jason to myself for some shots around downtown Wilmington!

This las shot is where the reception was held, it used to be a church! Isn't it gorgeous?

Jason & Jessica's Wedding III

2009-06-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

Jessica and Jason chose the beautiful St. Thomas Preservation Hall for their reception. Between the exposed brick, decorations by Salt Harbor, and the floral arrangements, the atmosphere was so perfect.

I love this shot of Jessica and her Dad...

How cool is this lounge area?

Can you tell Jessica is a little excited? ;)

Chuck & Heather's Engagement Session

2009-06-20T20:09:00.000-07:00

Chuck and Heather came to me for their engagement session and we made a whole day out of it! Heather was actually my Chemistry teacher in high school, how cool? For the first half we did some shots in the studio then headed out to Readyville, TN at a friends farm. We got a great variety of shots despite my stepping in a cow-pie! It was so worth it.

-Rachel

James & Kristin Sweeting

2009-06-15T19:08:00.001-07:00

So this was the MOST fun I've ever had at a wedding so far- James and Kristin did an absolutely beautiful job planning their wedding and it really paid off. Kristin was so relaxed and we all just had a great time. And yes, in their full wedding ensemble, they rode a two-seater bike. So awesome.

Enjoy!

-Rachel

James & Kristin Sweeting

2009-06-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

Red door was their requirement for a church... how cute?!

James & Kristin Sweeting

2009-06-15T18:12:00.001-07:00

I love how James can fit Kristin in his arms like this..

James' mother was adorable...
Instead of a guestbook, they had a station set up where you got your polaroid taken, put in a book and then you got to write them a note by it!
James' grandfather led Greek dances! So fun...

Camiolo Family part II

2009-06-10T12:06:00.001-07:00

two more of my favs from the day... isn't Noah too sweet?

-Rachel

The Camiolo Family

2009-06-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

Meet the Camiolo family- Mary, Pete and their son, Noah! They have just lived in the area for about a year and love it. Noah is 1 1/2 years old and is a super relaxed little boy. He LOVES cars and was very entertained by them driving by the whole time. He was seriously the easiest baby to photograph. Enjoy!

-Rachel

more Michael Ford JR. & the Apache Relay

2009-06-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

see post below to hear about these guys...

-Apache fan, Rachel

Michael Ford Jr. & the Apache Relay

2009-06-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

So there's this band, and I'm a big fan.

Partly because my boyfriend Brett is in it and partly because they create amazing music together. The band consists of Michael Ford, lead vocal, Brett Moore, mandolin and tenor guitar, Michael Harris, guitar and Kellen on fiddle. You can check out there music here... http://www.myspace.com/mfjrandtheapacherelay

They just recorded their album 1988 and it will be released by the end of the summer!

I have had the honor of shooting their live shows, their recording demos, press shots in the studio and poster design. So basically, the next few posts are going to be showcasing this incredible foursome.

Enjoy :)

-Rachel

Bryce & Kinsey's Wedding part II

2009-05-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

Check out their fun wedding party and the color scheme! We were blessed with a beautiful day :) The last panorama is one of my favorite shots of the day. The sun was gorgeous.

That's all for tonight!

-Rachel

Bryce & Kinsey Clark

2009-05-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

I've known Kinsey since Kindergarden when we were in class together. Then we were in jr high school, where Kinsey met Bryce! Bryce and Kinsey have been dating ever since then! It was a really neat opportunity to photograph their wedding a few weeks ago. They had it at the Wild Turkey Ranch in Lebanon. Here are a few of just the two of them :) More to come!

-Rachel

Rebekah

2009-05-15T20:30:00.001-07:00

Meet my sweet friend Rebekah. She's a nursing major at Belmont where we met! She really needed some updated photos- so we took care of that! (She's also going to FL next week with Belmont's Reformed University Fellowship group!)

FYI- Rebekah has the biggest eyes and eyelashes ever! ;)

-Rachel

Girl's Day

2009-05-15T20:22:00.001-07:00

Meet my Mom and younger sister. We decided that we needed a girl's day. I probably get a pedicure once a year, so we treated ourselves! Besides, I'm going to get some FL sunshine next week! :)

Andie Lee Mom (Phoebe)

Love Affair Workshop

2009-05-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

SO- there's this photography workshop for women that's going to be held in Atlanta, GA this summer! Four amazingly talented women are leading it this year- Millie Holloman, Davina, Kelly Moore and Lauren Clark. Its a three day workshop where they guide you through tips in business, work flow, creativity, clients, business management and tons of other helpful advice. I'm in the process of applying for the scholarship to go. My business has picked up quite a bit and I want to continue improving my work. Cool opportunity, right?

Check it out! http://www.loveaffairworkshop.com/

-Rachel

get ready for several more posts :)

King, Summer & Alexander

2009-05-14T15:10:00.001-07:00

The Rice family is SUCH a sweet family. Summer is gorgeous, King was smiling the whole time, and Alexander is the most mature 2nd-grader I've ever met! I enjoyed having them in the studio- and the relatives from NY! I feel like we were able to get a great variety. :)

-Rachel

(stay tuned- I have several posts to add!)

Kristin Shelton

2009-04-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

Kristin and her fiance James are getting married this May at this cute little church in the country with a RED DOOR!! Their colors are red, grey, black & white, so I went for those colors with her bridal portraits! Kristin & James are an adorable couple that smiles non-stop.

Isn't Kristin too cute?! We had fun with these- enjoy!

-Rachel

Alex & Janell

2009-03-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

Meet Alex and Janell. They are going to be married on June 6 of this year! They are such a sweet couple and very dear to my family and my church family. I got to spend a little time with them right before their bridal shower. We didn't have too much time but we were actually able to do 2 different locations and get some fun shots. The sun came out and was beautiful coming through the pear trees. They had so much fun.. as you can see in the last photo!

Enjoy!

-Rachel

Jennie

2009-03-19T21:23:00.001-07:00

Meet my dear friend Jennie Dunn. She is a certified hair stylist that recently graduated from Paul Mitchell Hair School. She is one of the most encouraging and positive people that I know and I am so blessed by her friendship. The last one is one of my favorites :)

-Rachel

Happy Birthday Brett!

2009-03-15T20:22:00.000-07:00

Today, March 15th, is my best friend/ boyfriend's 20th Birthday! Thought I would give him a shout out and a post of his own.

Brett Moore is from Wilmington, North Carolina and is an amazingly talented mandolin player. He plays in Belmont's Bluegrass Ensemble and is playing with a group of guys (Apache Relay & Michael Ford) that will be recording this summer! Brett is passionately and independently studying luthiery and is in the process of building his first mandolin.

Brett is a joy-filled but patient person, who pays attention and appreciates detail. He has a tender heart but strong passions. He loves my family and I love his. We enjoy cooking together, playing music, watching Jon & Kate plus 8, going on walks, mini-bagels, our church family, learning more about God and more about each other.

Love you, B!

Here's some photos... some serious and some goofy ;)

...this last one is just for fun ;) he just got his teeth cleaned, can't you tell?!

A Winter Wedding

2009-02-17T21:57:00.000-08:00

Hey all! Welcome to my new blog. This is a place where I'm going to start posting what I've been up to and what I've been shooting! This weekend I have a Maternity session and a family session so check back soon!

This is a wedding I shot back in December.. there was SNOW on the ground! Emily and Jason Crabtree are a beautiful couple and I really enjoyed photographing their wedding. They had everything from bubbles after the ceremony to sparklers after the reception.

I'm already booked for several weddings this summer, so if you're interested shoot me an e-mail at rachelwphotography@gmail.com and I'll send you some info!

enjoy :)

-Rachel