zachary turns 28 :: nashville event photographer

september 9

that date has held importance for the last 11 years of my life. why? you ask? well,  z's birthday! and yes, even when we weren't talking for 4 years, i made a mental note on september 9 that it was z's bday. kinda crazy! i can't believe we've been together for 4 years already! this year, i wanted to do something a little different for his birthday. 

our life in nashville would not be nearly as amazing without a few close friends, so of course my plan had to include them! jason & miranda, david and carey, and jarrod & laura . 

ever since we've been here we have heard about kix brooks' (of brooks & dunn) vineyard out in the country. it's about a 30 min drive from nashville, and incredibly beautiful, or so i'd heard!  they have "music in the vines" on friday nights, free wine tasting, and a bunch of picnic tables where you can bring food to enjoy the atmosphere.

so, unbeknownst to z, i raided trader joe's cheese department, put together a bag of supplies and dropped it off at miranda's a couple days before the big event. i really wanted to pull this off without him knowing!  

we spent the morning lazily, in the early afternoon we went the mall, and z bought himself a few birthday presents (he's far too picky these days for me to try to pick out clothes for him...so he gets his own). then we meandered through the farms bewteen franklin and arrington, as we headed toward the vineyard.

these are just a few iphone photos along the way

         

                                                               

              

 here's the spread, the crew, and the memories! enjoy!

...the cone family :: nashville children's photographer

sunday morning. the sun was shining. it was cold, but promised to warm up. or so i thought! after church i had a shoot planned with the ever-amazing cone family. sami (mom) is an incredible blogger, who endeavors to help people follow their passions! the kiddos have so much personality, and rick brings the style and the Starbucks!  we headed to the factory@franklin to make use of some of their colorful windows, textured walls, and unusual architecture. the afternoon turned cold and grey, but the light was beautiful, and their eyes were bright! here are a few of my favorites from the afternoon!

weeds and pigtails...

a couple weeks after we moved here, mandy called and was headed out to shoot her 3 amazing daughters, of course i never turn down the opportunity to hang with these amazing girls, so i grabbed my camera and joined them. i love these girls. don't misunderstand me...their parents are awesome too! Alivia, Claire, and Presley are 3 of the sweet young women i know. i have loved spending time with their family. the way pastor boy and i so easily slid into the rowland family is a true testament to how incredible they are! we moved here, and almost without an instant of loneliness they pulled us in. for movie nights, and dinners, and card games. for grocery store trips, and shopping, and grabbing a birthday card. it was amazing to be brought in to a family so easily. these 3 girls already almost feel like my little sisters. presley is the cutest little thing EV-ER! (although i am constantly reminded by her sisters that i don't have to live with her, and shes equal parts cute and baby sister) alivia and claire have me blown away by their maturity and love for Jesus. they. just. get. it. they aren't afraid to worship in all out surrender to God. they treat people (including each other and their parents, well...most days) as He would. i love them!
















i didn't even mention that they are incredibly talented knot/crochet- ers! :) i love to watch them, and can't wait for them to teach me!

despite the nasty light, this is one of my favorites...