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September 18, 2015

Tennessee Waterfall Engagement Session

Engagement

I keep looking at these images with this huge smile. Jen walked into the office this morning and asked while laughing at me, “Are you looking at Evan and Elyse’s images again?”

Guilty.

Sure, Elyse and Evan are beautiful people, but more than that, their energy and joy is almost palpable… it radiates from them as if it were this force to be reckoned with…and when we see love like this we think…Everyone should have this! This is what genuine love looks like. But these images are just a small reflection of a deeper truth and to fully grasp what we experienced at the foot of a waterfall, you have to hear it from straight from them…

“I think what is great about me and Evan, is that I’ve learned we COULD live without each other if we had to. But we choose not to, every day. I’ve learned that sharing things with him and hearing his perspective on everything in my life is so much better than anything else. But some qualities I love? He is super goofy and random, he really takes care of me and wants me to be happy, equal or more than his happiness, and he has really opened me up to new experiences and takes on the world…like being able to let things go, change my life, move, etc. I always respect his opinion on everything more than anyone else’s, he is so intelligent and practical and real”

“I knew Elyse was different from anyone I had ever met from the first time we interacted. She completely impressed me with her confidence, intuition, presence, and her ability to get the things she wants. I was immediately attracted to her and everything about her. She challenged me and blew me away with how smart, compassionate, and insightful she was. We developed a relationship where most others would have failed as it was based on deep conversations and yearning for our next trip together. I couldn’t imagine a partner as enthusiastic, passionate, and well organized as Elyse :) She’s supportive, funny, and real.”

“…and real.”

What a compelling, confident, and sincere statement. This relationship that Even and Elyse share isn’t a facade or a love dependent on the other… it’s a love grown from respect, compassion, conversation, and trust.

And THAT is what we’re celebrating. THAT is why we make images during this time of engagement…to reflect the work that is being done, the foundation being built, and the love that inevitably inspires others.

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The Helton Family, 2023 — I was sitting around The Helton Family, 2023

—

I was sitting around a fire last week with a handful of men who all, in one way or another, spoke to how each of their families had been inspired by Josh & Jess.

As one guy shared, I quickly noticed all of us nodding in silent agreement as his story echoed so many of our thoughts.

The Heltons leave a wake without even trying.

It’s just a ripple effect of how they live their lives.

They've made choices that defy our fast paced culture — slowing down, making family their priority, sharing meals, fiercely seeking truth, and prioritizing connection - a true commitment to values ❤️

When the Heltons invite you over, you don't walk, you run! Because what awaits is not only incredible food, but an incredible community experience and a kind reminder of what truly matters in life.

This time with them was no different.

Walks along the creek
Chasing chickens
Hopping fences to roll the grass
Running through the clotheslines

And it’s not just for the photos. This is how they live their everyday. And documenting their family was not only an honor but a challenge - embracing simplicity, enjoying a slower pace, and diving deeper into what we truly value.

Thank you for sharing your lives with us Heltons! You’re truly loved!
I sat with Jen last night and asked her, “what d I sat with Jen last night and asked her, “what do you think has grown us as photographers the most?”

Her answer? Our children.

I mean this not only for the actual photography skills themselves but for the soft skills too….like empathy, creativity, innovation, and genuinely listening. 

Every day, these little souls teach us something new…

How it feels to be alive
to be human
to be vulnerable and in need
to have questions
to love unconditionally
to voice truths
to find wonder in the littlest moments
to worry less
to express joy more freely

As we’ve arrived on countless wedding days, we’ve grown in our empathy - understanding more than ever that time is fleeting, people are often carrying way more than you can imagine, and there are more people to be aware of than just the couple getting married.

We’ve learned the different kinds of listening - and how it’s not always about what you see or what is spoken… but sometimes about what is unseen or unsaid.

We’ve learned how to capture the feel of the moment in a deeper way, even when our subject is moving faster than our lens.

We’ve learned to marvel more at the simple things - like the way the drape of a dress hits the ground or how the sun peeks through the clouds at the most breathtaking moment.

We’ve grown in our curiosity - like wondering what will happen when we step back further with our camera and let a moment unfold. And what will happen when we step toward a moment with gentle attentiveness?

Our kids teach us daily - shaping who we are as people, photographers, and storytellers. And the more we lean into the gratitude, presence, and personalities of who THEY are becoming, the more we become who we were created to be, and the more we can give to this incredible craft. 

—

Here are a few favorite moments from a quiet week in Connecticut taking walks, managing allergies, and soaking in the fleeting time with our kids ❤️

Scans by the best team, @rewindfilmlab 🎞️
Our friends moved into a new home in Oak Hill and Our friends moved into a new home in Oak Hill and commissioned Jen and I to create a photo of the water for their living room.

They wanted it to be big and embody how it felt to be on their boat in the summer time….and of course… they thought it’d be awesome if it was captured on film 🎞️ 

We took the opportunity to make a boat day out of it and headed to Percy Priest with the kids and the Mamiya 7 and shot 2-3 rolls of the water on @kodak and @cinestill film and finally narrowed it down to just a handful for a final selection.

Then…

We sent the single negative BACK to @thefindlab for a high-resolution scan on their drum scanner. They sent the digital scan off to @mymusea for printing on fine-art Baryta paper and prepped for framing in a museum-grade frame with anti-glare glass.

Not only was there a person behind every step of the process, but nearly everything was analog…made, scanned, assembled, and delivered by hand 🫶

I’m not sure we’ve had a more fulfilling experience creating a print and we cannot wait to do it again!
They rented an Airbnb on the east side. After sha They rented an Airbnb on the east side.

After sharing breakfast and baking their own celebratory cake, Niloo picked out Harry’s socks while he buttoned up the back of her dress. While they thought of their wedding in France last year, this day wasn’t for anyone else.

They called a judge in on his day off, partnered with a stylist, florist, and photographer they loved, and said the most important words any couple can share:

“I love Harry, and we trust you”

*Exhale*

When love and trust are at the center of any relationship, freedom is born. 

To love
To feel
To experience days genuinely
To see every moment with gratitude knowing you’ll never get it back

Whether it’s a courthouse elopement or a sailcloth tent covering 150 of your closest friends, isn’t that what weddings are about?

Love your spouse. Trust your team. 

Everything else will fall into place.

FLORALS: @bygossamer 
HMU: @alex.smith.hair 
CUSTOM GOWN: @tatyanakochnova_bridal 

#bradandjenweddings #blackandwhite #weddingsonfilm #nashvilleelopement #presentoverperfect
We can only help our couples live into their stori We can only help our couples live into their stories to the degree that we have lived into our own. Our gift to you is our own life experience.

Couples: Don’t overlook this when searching for a your wedding photographer.

And to you, dear photographer friends: put down this app, unfollow your “inspirations”, pick up a book, look in the eyes of your parents, bake some bread, dig in the dirt, pray on your knees, eat with your friends, help someone in need. If you want to serve your couples and grow your impact, seek a rich life ❤️
A moment for the cocktail with @aperitifnashville A moment for the cocktail with @aperitifnashville 
⁠
@theneweclectic @lma__designs @officialcmhof⁠

MIXING DIGITAL & FILM IN A DOCUMENTARY APPROACH TO CREATE GENUINE IMAGES THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME.

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