Summertime...and the Livin' Is Easy!

Does it really get any cuter? How adorable! We just wrapped up the proofing for little Judd's last session, and he really turned on the personality for us while he was here. These babies just make you want to take them home! Check out the sparkle in those baby blues...and the warm golden sun-kissed tone of his sweet smooth skin.

It's SUMMER, and things are still busy with weddings and portraits. We have unfortunately gone too long again without blogging. The studio is staying busy, and we are excited to present two brides with their wedding proofs this week and next. Maybe we will blog next time with some awesome wedding shots, so stay tuned!

What's coming up? A CRAZEEEE August is on the agenda. The TN Professional Photographer's Convention is this weekend and part of next week, then we will start to get ready for our fair display for this year. It is going to rock as always! Look for us in the Turner Evans building again this year...you never know what faces will be there on display! The dates are Aug 21-29...be there!

c-ya!

It's A Busy Season!

Good grief! It has been almost two months since our last blog entry! We promise that we have not been slackers; in fact, just the opposite. We have been so busy trying to keep all of our clients sessions, orders, weddings, family portraits, and baby portraits juggled! It has been a great year for us, and we are very, very thankful...

Above you see Jennifer...our last bride who married Spencer on June 6th. It was a beautiful church wedding followed by a horse and carriage ride to a separate reception location. Both the bride and the groom looked fantastic last Saturday! We wish them nothing but the best in their new lives together.

We promise to do better on all of the blog entries...so stay tuned!

c ya!

Take a look at a rockin' image that we took a few weeks ago of one of our wedding couples - Kristen and Matt! Kristen wanted to go all out and have some images that were true to them and definitely different. We had a fantastic time jaunting around the city while getting some images that are really over the top! You'd never know that Kristen had a sprained ankle and hopped around on crutches the entire session...the girl has some MUSCLE! We are scheduled for a bridal portrait soon so everything will be perfect when the wedding day arrives!!!

Everything is rolling along quickly at the studio. We did our first 2009 family outdoor session last Saturday as part of a 50th Anniversary celebration! Bring on the warm weather!

c ya!

Believe It or Not!

What do you get when you photograph a one-year-old AND a nine-month-old at the same time? You get Carsyn and Cooper! And they were unbelievably fantastic the day their moms brought them in for portraits. When we were told initially that it would be nice to get images of these two cousins together, we have to admit that we really felt like it would be a huge challenge! As you can see, they were super that morning...and they are so, so comfortable with one another. Carsyn walked right over in the middle of Cooper's session and just started posing perfectly...a photographer's dream! We could not have asked for the morning to have gone any better; each mom has ordered a pink or blue mini-album from the sessions! Too much fun!!! We hope they decide to visit Harper Photography again as they continue to grow!

Fun with Bunnies went off so easily last week, and we had the best bunnies - AND kids - on the planet! Everyone looked beautiful in spring attire. As soon as some of the images are ready, we will post a few to the blog!

c ya!

It's time again for Fun with Bunnies! We are booking very quickly for this annual special just in time for Spring! We offer package pricing on Fun with Bunnies meaning there is NO sitting fee! Call 444.6322 today to book your session for March 19 - 21... It is so much fun seeing all of our clients dressed in their Sunday best!

The beautiful weather is getting everyone excited about outdoor portraiture again; our Saturdays are filling fast with children and family sessions...and of course weddings! If you'd like to book an outdoor session, the best bet will be a week day afternoon.

As always - remember if you refer a friend, we will send you an awesome studio credit for your referral. We appreciate your referrals as they are the ultimate compliment!

c ya!

Isn't She Lovely?

Wow! Little Avery stole my heart from the first second! She has the sweetest disposition; this had to be the easiest 2-year-old studio session in history! Don't you love her dress? So beautiful and feminine...

Things are still jumping at Harper Photography! Yesterday we participated in a bridal fair at Belk in Providence. It was cool to meet some of the other vendors and say hello again to the ones we already knew. And - we have several studio sessions scheduled for this week plus we get to show a bride and her family wedding images on Thursday. It is always an exciting time during the first viewing; any bride knows how quickly her big day goes by...and many times the professional images are all that is left after the cake is gone.

Our spring Saturdays are booking fast for outdoor portaits. If you are interested in something outdoor and a weekday won't work, make sure you call early!

c ya!

It Had to Be You!

I was checking emails late one afternoon last week, and I noticed a message from Olivia Haley. I met Olivia last March during the Ms. Senior Tennessee pageant held in Lebanon at Cumberland University. Olivia's unbelievably kind heart, beautiful spirit, and gorgeous appearance quickly boosted her to the top of the group as she was crowned at the end of the evening. Two things about the night I met Olivia that I will never forget -1) the stunning evening dress she chose - black and ultra elegant on her slim figure (the photo above shows her cocktail dress she wore for the beginning number) and 2) the truly touching moment when her sweet granddaughters ran up to her giving hugs and kisses after she walked across the stage in her crown...

Anyway - the reason I am writing about Olivia goes back to the email. We have chatted here or there about photography and her granddaughters since then a few times, so it wasn't a big surprise to see a message from her. When I read the message, she had included a link from the national Ms. Senior America pageant - which was featured on CNN Headline. As I watched the clip, I was so proud to see Olivia Haley from Tennessee crowned as Ms. Senior America out of 48 contestants!!! How awesome!!! She is so deserving of this accolade; I wish her the very best year as she tours our beautiful country representing all the ladies! Congratulations, Olivia, on bringing it home to TENNESSEE!

c ya!

February has arrived, and the cold weather still lingers. However, the sunshine has been wonderful today and especially last Sunday afternoon when it was warm enough to leave the house without a jacket. Maybe we will have more days like that soon!

We were pleased yesterday to present the proofing to the parents and grandparents of little Maggie. Maggie's grandmother was a kindergarten teacher when I was starting school, and now Maggie's mother is a teacher as well. I could tell that both of them had the patience of Job when they visited the studio recently...it was a real calming effect even for me...and I know Maggie can feel it, too. She was such a peaceful baby while they were here, and I think the image above shows that she is very content. And the blanket she is wrapped in is super soft, snuggly, and best of all - warm! I know she is surrounded with lots of love from every direction...

This week we have had some great sessions already, and we look forward to seeing folks coming in for photo delivery toward the end of the week. It is always so fun delivering the printed products and seeing the excitement of it all!

c-ya!

Ribbons and Lace

January has really flown by in 2009! We are trying to get proofing done for all the babies that have been coming into the studio this month, not to mention some wedding catch up work. Miss Mia came by a few weeks ago with her big brothers, and they were sure to entertain her while we got some terrific smiles in her beautiful, beautiful, beautiful white smocked dress and bonnet. Babies like Mia make it easy for us! LOL!

We just closed on our house last Friday, so right now our family is in a lot of transition/chaos and still trying to find the basics - like GLOVES! Brrrr - when is spring again?

c ya!

Giddy Up!

Right before Christmas we finished Luka's 6-month session, and he is such an adorable sweetie pie! He is always such a happy baby. Luka's parents were looking for something different in photography when they came upon us - Harper Photography! And we certainly hope that we have fulfilled their needs - we are heading toward finishing a panel that will feature darker and earthier tones for his first year. Another cool thing is that Luka is always decked out in the latest fashion trends for his casual outfits - usually something with a western edge like his blue-and-white print shirt, jeans, and COWBOY hat! We totally love, love, love when someone brings in something special for the photo sessions!

January has been steady with photo sessions - but there is more big news on the Harper homefront! Most of our clients know that we have been trying to sell our house for quite a while; it finally sold! This weekend and next week we will be moving. So thanks for all the well wishes and prayers that have been sent up for us. While we will take a short break next week from full concentration on studio sessions, we promise to do our very best to keep up with proofing and orders! Until next time...

c-ya!

Still Happily Ever After

We were recently honored to photograph the Marriage Renewal Ceremony of Claire and Kendall in Murfreesboro! Here you see a gorgeous image that we took before the activities and celebrations began - a beautiful couple who are obviously still in love after 20 years together! In today's society, these two are something to be admired and congratulated on for sticking it out during all the good times and the tough times and loving one another through it all. Claire did a fantastic job of coordinating all the details for the event...including her dress that happened to be made just for this! The floor-length deep green velvet with lace sleeves was so striking and appropriate for the occasion; the fresh ivory bouquet was exquisite just the same. After the church ceremony, their guests enjoyed cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing at B. McNeel's. Another really, really fun touch was the live band - Cissy Crutcher provided the vocals in front of a smoother than smooth jazz ensemble. Thanks, Claire and Kendall, for asking us to be a part of this celebration!

January continues to bloom with excitement...this week has oddly been the week for several 3 and 4-month-old sessions! Spring and summer brides are starting to wrap up their planning, and we look forward to discussing and finalizing plans with each one of them...

c-ya!