A Windy Meadow

This past Saturday we had an all too rare, warm January day. Headed over to my Aunt's property for some portraits for my cousin's kids. He is in Iraq and hasn't seen them much lately and won't return home until June. Matthew is almost 2 years old and Austin is a teenager. Great boys. While we were there I went ahead and did some of my crew as well. It was a lot of fun running around my Aunt's 10 acres with my camera. I could've stayed out there all day.

Bailee Reese

Here's our baby girl. Hard to believe that in just a few short months she'll be turning six.

Christmas Day 2009

Nerf...thanks for the memories.

This Christmas morning was brought to you by the makers of Starbuck's Coffee

Christmas day in the Burtnett house was a good one. Woke up around 7am grabbed some coffee and stumbled upstairs to watch our kiddo's open up their gifts. The Kimmel family came over later that day for Christmas dinner, some Titan football and a raging game of dart tag. Ann and I got pinned down in the bathroom while Bailee and Inessa tried unsuccessfully to distract our enemies. Good times.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve in the Burtnett house started out with a little two hand touch in the front yard a little hike around the greenway where we skipped rocks across Drakes Creek. Then home where we delivered cookies & fudge to the neighbors and in turn they delivered them to us too.

Watched the Nativity Story and then dinner and presents at Grammy & Papa's house. Good day.

I'm an Insecure Photographer...

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE what I do. But, there are times when I'm on my way to a shoot that I start to FREAK out! "What if I can't get a shot they love?"... "What if I can't develop a repoire with them?" ... "What if I have technical problems?" (Ha! ...IF?) ... "What if the lighting is bad?"

I've had a camera stuck to my face since I had my first child over 10 years ago. But I still stress that I don't have enough experience, education, equipment to get THE shot. (The three E's) It never fails to amaze me when I get home, calm down and start to go through the pics and am amazed that I got some good ones. Then I chalk it up to good luck or GREAT clients.

Fellow 'togs' does this still happen to you?

Help-Portrait 2009

Those of you who have spent any time around me the last few weeks know how stoked I am about Jeremy Cowart's project called Help-Portrait. This past Saturday I was blessed with an opportunity to contribute to this movement. My church hosts an event each December called "The Gift". It is for single moms. The church calls all stylists, manicurists, pedicurists, massage therapists and mechanics among it's members to volunteer to help these women out. We pamper them, feed them, play with their kids, offer counseling and all the men and teens wash their cars and change their oil. This year I was inspired by the Help-Portrait movement and my sweet friend and fellow "tog" Gay to contribute what I could. (Trust me you don't want me anywhere near your hair.) So after some planning we concocted a plan to make it happen.

Shortly after the women arrived on campus they started to filter into my section and .... they rocked my world! They shared their stories and we cried together, laughed together and every once in a while one of them would grab me and throw their arms around me and thank me profusely. I was just taking a simple headshot for their resume perhaps or maybe for a social networking sight, I don't know. But most of them shared with me that they have never had a portrait done. Couldn't afford it or like most mom's we are the ones behind the lens. I realized that that simple interaction that meant so much to them had changed me, blessed me and humbled me.

I've been asked by my friend Jenn Cady to join another group on 12/12 at the Shalom Zone in Gallatin and I cannot wait to get there. A lot of you who frequent this blog are also photographers and I'm challenging you to get involved. I promise you won't regret it.

Schlarb Family

I had the honor of shooting this sweet family last weekend. They have recently added a new 'baby' to their home. His name is Riley and he is SO precious and such a good puppy. Every time I called his name he looked right at the camera with those sweet puppy dog eyes. And Morgan and those killer blue eyes! What a gorgeous crew you have, thanks for the privilege of working with you all.

Hey You...Yeah YOU!

...update your blog. You know who you are. Let me give you a hint... if you look over to your right and scroll down a little you'll see your blog posted in one of two sections. I rely on you people to entertain me when my kids are monopolizing the TV. You MUST update it! I need to be all up in your business. Friends, fellow photogs a little help please.

P.S. I love you ALL!

Madison Grace

Last month my dear cousin Maria added her third child to her quiver and she is just heavenly. Congratulations Chris, Maria, Cody and Asher, you are so blessed!

Morris Family

Met up with the gorgeous Morris Family for some portrait's. A good time was had by all...LOTS of laughs. We narrowly escaped arrest as the cops showed up to shew all the crazy people of the railroad tracks. Well worth the risk I'd say...

It was hard to keep Annabelle out of the shot. She loves the camera (and the camera loves her)

Kimmel Family Session

Last weekend I had the opportunity to photograph the Kimmel Family. They are a riot and super fun, especially the mischievious Calvin. The Kimmels are hosting an orphan from Latvia this christmas and these shots will be sent to her so she can get to know her host family a little.

Mischief Personified

Giving Back

What I'll be doing December 12. Who's in?

Words...

Landing somewhere in the top 10 of things you should NEVER say to a photographer...

"Wow, your camera takes really great pictures! What kind of camera is that?"

On the Farm

Acre's of Pumpkin's!

Picking the perfect pumpkin

In the Corn Crib

The Sheriff's Pistol and Boots

We almost made a run for it

Remember these things?

Last week was fall break and all the kids were out of school. On Tuesday we took a trip up to Bottomview Farms in Portland, TN to pick pumpkins and let em run around. We had a great time and for only $5 you get full access to the farm, a hayride out to the pumpkin patch, a pumpkin of your choosing, a ride on the train, ice cream and a tour of the old west town by local Sheriff Upshaw (bank, prison, barber shop, saloon and blacksmith). The Sheriff, or "Papa" as we affectionately referred to him as, was wonderful! He toted a real six shooter, gator skin boots, a cowboy hat and of course his badge. Papa enchanted the boys with stories about the local outlaw's that he shared with us in one of the thickest accents I've heard since we moved down south. All our crew was completely mesmerized.

After we got our pumpkins all picked out we headed back to the farm and played on the giant corrugated slide, fed the donkey's, goats and chickens, ran through the hay bale maze, romped in the corn crib, climbed on the tractors, stuck our kids heads in the stocks, locked em up in the jail, spun around on the merry go round and had some yummy ice cream.

A good time was had by all and Ann and I decided we're DEFINITELY making this a tradition and will return next year and hopefully this summer too because they have acres of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and peaches.

Love...Renewed

Our Sweet Curt Campbell praying with us before

Lots of tears. This hanky was with me during our first wedding and my first communion when I was only 9 years old.

Grinning at our babies

Aunt Patti

The sexiest man on earth!

Our Darling Princess

Our new rings

We transformed our living room. It was supposed to be outside but it rained all morning & two weeks prior.

It was a very special day for us, a new beginning. We had 35 of our closest and dearest friends and family join us from across the country and literally right next door. We felt so honored by each one of them as they came to support us.

The day started off a little shaky with the pouring rain washing away all my plans of a backyard event. But right after I left the salon where I was having my hair done the clouds parted and revealed the most sparkling blue sky for the first time in almost 2 weeks. Unfortunately, the ground was way too saturated to set up outdoors so we moved around some furniture and squeezed everybody into our living room. It was truly beautiful and bug free.

There were lots of tears as Ann read an excerpt from the Velveteen Rabbit and I barely made it through my vows without going into the ugly cry. Curt Campbell did a beautiful job officiating and Deb from My Secret Chef did a fantastic job on the vittles.....mmmmmm.

We wish you all could have been there to celebrate with us and those of you who made it to our wedding 12 and a half years ago were on our mind. (Although 350 people crammed into my home wouldn't have been very comfy for anybody)

As promised here's a few selections from the nearly 600 images that Lori Quarles shot for us. Thanks Lori, you captured all those special moments beautifully and thanks for being so willing on such short notice.