Engagement Portraits at Centennial Park and the Old Spaghetti Factory

Courtney and Wesley will be married on October 16th.  I've photographed engagement portraits in Centennial Park at least a dozen times and yet we still found locations that I've never used before.  I always try a few things that have worked in the past but also try to stretch myself to get something unique.  It was great hanging out with them on a beautiful day and I'm looking forward to the wedding.

View the rest of their images at the following proof site:
http://pictage.com/848000

Michael and Miranda

It has been a few weeks since I have had a chance to update my blog so I will be brief in my comments about the next 10 posts.  I hate to be so cliche' but I will have to let the images speak for themselves.

This engagement session couldn't have landed on a more beautiful day.  I believe it was the first of 5 e-sessions in one weekend.  I loved the way the shot in the Tulips came out.  I posted it to Flickr and was asked whose flower bed we ruined.  It was a spot that had already been pretty warn down at Centennial Park, I had them put their feet on the outside and had Miranda lay on top of Michael in an attempt to cause as little collateral damage possible.  We may have killed one or two flowers but this photo will last so much longer than they would have anyway.

Amanda & Hugh Engagement Portraits

Amanda and Hugh agreed to meet me downtown for their engagement photos last weekend.  The first spot I took them to was an overlook with the bi-centennial mall in the background and Germantown just behind that.  They informed me that they are building their house in Germantown and should be able to move in shortly after the wedding.  I love that I get to spend such amazing two on one personal, get-to-know-you time with so many couples during what is sure to be one of the more action packed years of their lives. 

This was the first engagement portrait session that I've held so far this year in which it was sunny.  You would have thought a tornado was about to suck us into the sky at both of my e-sessions the week before and the two I had before that were both ankle deep in snow.  It was great to see the sun!  It is officially wedding season!!

Sun & Snow

Jacob and Miranda have had a long engagement but their big date is just around the corner on March 27 at West End United Methodist Church.  I first met with them to discuss the possibility of being their wedding photographer over beers at Bosco's over a year ago. 

Fortunately Jacob drives a Jeep Wrangler so we had no trouble driving around Spring Hill finding snowy spots for their photos.  Rippavilla made a beautiful backdrop for their engagement shots.  One other photographer showed up for some landscape shots while we were there and I think he had the right idea.

It was doppleganger week on Facebook and I told Jacob that he reminded me of Jude Law but he said he usually gets Bradley Cooper and I can definitely see that.  You be the judge.  He and Miranda make a cute couple and I had fun hanging out with them.  

Marina & Will - 15 Minutes

I got together with Marina and Will last weekend for engagement photos and we were able to shoot for only 15 minutes before we had to stop due to rain.  I usually spend 2 to 3 hours for engagement photos and get 200-300 images but this time I was only able to grab about 40 shots.  It was disappointing to have to call it quits but I didn't want to risk my equipment.  I had lots of great ideas for locations and we were only able to fit in one spot.  We plan to get together again in the summer to make up the rest of the shoot.  Hopefully they'll enjoy the few shots we were able to snag before the bottom fell out.  For now, I tried to make up for the lack of variety by offering a little more photoshop editing than usual.

Jason & Jessica Engagement

I met Jason & Jessica at the Nashville Zoo for a set of engagement photos on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. It was a fun shoot! I tried a shot of a couple on a carousel once before but I'm happier with the way this one came out. I think they were laughing at how hard it was to kiss a moving target like that. I'm looking forward to photographing their wedding next summer at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville.

Joe & Dana Engagement

Dana met up with me at Legend's in Columbia so that I could follow her out to Joe's farm in Lynnville, TN where we planned to shoot their engagement portraits. The farm was amazing with beautiful fields, old barns, and a cabin that sat in the back with an amazing view over Lynnville. I was really excited about the rocking chair silhouette shots that we took but there were lots of great non-silhouette shots with that great view! Before we called it a day we also drove into town for some variety. I loved Lynnville's square! What a great place for photography. I'm definitely hoping to make it back for some more photos sometime soon. Congratulations to Joe and Dana.... we are going to get some beautiful wedding photos next May 15th!

Ashley & James - Engagement Portraits

Ashley and James will be married at Cheekwood on October 10, 2009. We met at the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show at the Frist Center in February so this shoot has been in the works for a long time. We started out at the zoo and decided to do a few extra shots downtown for a change of scenery. It was great getting to know them and I'm looking forward to the wedding in October!

Jason & Erin - Nov. 8th Wedding at Cedarvine Manor

I arrived at Cedarvine at 10:00am to catch some photos of the set-up for Jason & Erin's November 8th Wedding. I was surprised to find, not only Jason and Erin, but the whole wedding party and both sets of parents pitching in to set-up and decorate. Not only was it a fun morning, but they made the place beautiful in record time. They hung linens, set up the altar, and there must have been 30 pumpkins carved with everything from hearts, to the the bride and grooms initials for centerpieces and just to hold flowers. They did a great job. Also, it didn't hurt that they picked the perfect day for a fall themed wedding because the leaves peaked this weekend and Saturday may have been our last warm day for some time.

I already have their photos touched-up and should have them uploaded to the proofing site in the next couple of days. Be sure to check out the groomsman cake and the pre-ceremony bridal portraits! Also, I attached a photo of the groomsman walking away from some smokebombs that I set off!

Enjoy!
-Matt