Engagement Archives - Michelle Christine Photography

Waterfall Engagement Session | Nashville, Tennessee Photographer

September 6, 2017 | 3 Comments

Janessa and I go way back – all the way back to 2008. We’ve truly been friends since the moment we first met. So when she started talking about her dream of having engagement photos at a waterfall, I couldn’t help but jump in with suggestions. It’s no secret that Tennessee has some of the most beautiful waterfalls around!

After extensive research, we settled on Carmac Falls at Evins Mill (please note this is private property and you will need to contact the linked venue 24 hours in advance for permission to access the falls). The waterfall is gorgeous and the lure of having basically a private waterfall (for a fee, of course) was too good to pass down. Of course, there was a bit of hike to get to the falls. I, for one, was not prepared for how physically demanding that hike would be (…or maybe I’m just out of shape.)

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Hello, gorgeous!

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Williamson County Fair Couples Session | Franklin, Tennessee Photographer

August 29, 2017 | Leave a Comment

A few months ago, Steph had posted in a photography group on Facebook that she would be in Nashville in early August and was looking for someone to exchange a photo session with. I responded, and a beautiful friendship was born. The day we were to meet and take photos finally arrived. We had yet to decide on location, but we had decided to drag our significant others into our shenanigans.

That same week, the Williamson County Fair was going on. It’s basically just down the road from our little house, making it impossible to miss! I had been wanting to create portraits at a county fair for a while, but my attempts were not playing out. I have to give credit to Dan, my husband, for suggesting the fair as the setting for this session. Not only did I finally get to take my fair photos, but we also got some amazing portraits taken of us by Steph/Hazel Lining Photography!

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Elaine + Will: Morgan-Monroe Forestry Engagement | Franklin, TN Engagement Photographer

June 30, 2017 | 1 Comment

Originally, Elaine and Will had planned on traveling down to Nashville, Tennessee for their engagement photos. Of course I was perfectly okay with this because it’s local to me! However, when Elaine found out I was traveling up to Indiana for a week, we ended up moving her session up! She’s my favorite kind of client – too excited to wait for her photos!!

We met on a Saturday morning in the Morgan-Monroe Forestry at Bryant Creek Lake. The forestry is one of my favorite locations in my hometown. It seems no matter how many sessions I have here, I always find new areas within the forestry perfect for photos!

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Joy + Tim: Bloomington, Indiana Engagement Session

June 25, 2017 | 1 Comment

Home can be a confusing word for me. It can mean “home” as in where I live, or it can also be referring to Indiana. Most of my childhood was spent in Indiana and it’s where my parents currently live. It truly feels like home when I visit, so of course I love when I have clients in Indiana! This photo session was one such occasion.

Joy and Tim wanted their engagement photos to be taken on the Indiana University campus. Joy and I brainstormed tons of ideas over e-mail months before the photo shoot. I love when my clients bring new ideas to the table!

Joy was a leasing tenant when she and Tim first met. They flirted back and forth for months, sometimes for nearly an hour while he was paying his rent! One afternoon Joy went for a stroll in the park and they crossed paths. Kismet!

We spent the evening much like that “meet cute,” strolling around Indiana University’s campus looking for little nooks to create the perfect, romantic story through their engagement photos. I just love the way their outfits complimented one another’s!

I think every one of my photo sessions I find a way to get my clients super close to trees. In this location we were both next to the tree, and then later inside of the tree! It sure makes for some beautiful photos.

We stopped here briefly because I loved the way the light was looking here!

Before Joy changed dresses, we took a few photos in the creeks. If I have couples willing to get in a creek, you better believe I’m going to find a way to make it happen! Luckily IU’s campus has very easily accessible waterways.

Both Joy and Tim were wearing brand new shoes for this photo session! I had to get a photo of them – so cute!

Tim and Joy’s first date was at an outdoor concert at IU’s art museum. Joy had the creative idea to incorporate the light totem outside of the museum in their engagement photos. The installation casts beautiful, moving colors against the limestone museum building. It is almost reminiscent of the Northern Lights!

We also used the dramatic, curving red sculpture for a nice pop of color for some photos outside of the museum. Who doesn’t love a dramatic, leaning kiss?

You can truly see their love in the way they look at each other. I imagine a love like theirs his hard to hide! It radiates from them!

We ended the evening in a cozy corner with some copper string lights. I took some inspiration from photographer Brandon Woelfel who is known for his use of light strands in photos, but with my own spin. I fashioned a heart out of the wire string and, well, you can see the results! I’m so glad Tim and Joy were on board with this idea, as I’m sure it looked a little crazy from their point of view!

I’m very excited for Joy and Tim’s December wedding this year! I can’t wait to see what photo magic we create for their love story.

Cierra & Remus: Forestry Engagement Part 3

January 26, 2017

In Part 1 of this Autumn Engagement session, Cierra and Remus were photographed in a golden field. In Part 2, our engaged couple found a scenic backdrop on a gravel path. Part 3, which happens to be this post, may be my favorite location I’ve ever found. Finding it at all was a happy accident!

While driving through the Morgan-Monroe forestry, looking for the path, we found ourselves driving around what I think is Lake Lemon. There were lots of little houses across from or backing up to this lake. In front of one house, across the road, we spotted a crooked little dock. There wasn’t much to it, but it was just perfect for what we needed!

I had packed in the trunk of the car a few items, including a step stool (I’m short) and a green, plaid blanket. I bought this blanket for my parents during my time in Peru – it’s made from alpaca wool! The green palette of the blanket was stunning against the blue-green of the lake. I wrapped Cierra and Remus in the blanket together (with no complaints) and started snapping away!

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Cierra & Remus: Forestry Engagement Part 2

January 20, 2017

In Part 1 of this Autumn Engagement session, Cierra and Remus were photographed in a golden field. I love the warm colors the change in season brings. At least in my eyes, the world just looks more magical! Don’t get me wrong, I also have a place in my heart for the natural greens we see for about half of the year here in our temperate forests! Perhaps it’s that the fall season is with us so briefly; or maybe it’s just that change makes us feel excited.

I had one spot in mind already for these engagement photos: a path a friend and I had stopped at briefly. At the time I was feeling too nervous to so brazenly step out into someone’s driveway for a photo-op. This day was different – I was on a mission! The only issue was that I had no idea where it was! We just drove aimlessly until we hopefully would happen upon it.

My sister, who was assisting/driving for us, probably had a heart attack when I shouted “THERE IT IS!” She’d already passed it so we quickly pulled over for a wardrobe change, then backtracked to the path. This magical path.

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