We had an absolute blast doing Lydia’s Senior Portraits at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin,TN. Wow doesn’t she look absolutely stunning like out of a magazine. Her hair and makeup is flawless.

Lydia has been homeschooled and goes to a tutorial at West Christian Harpeth and will graduate as a senior this upcoming year. Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin TN about 20 mins south of Nashville was the perfection location for this shoot!

Wow, Lydia, you are an absolute natural and crushed absolutely every pose.

Tip for our seniors, a bouquet of fresh flowers is the perfect prop to freshen up the shoot.

Wow would you look at how gorgeous these florals turned out!? just the perfect pop of color & prop to brighten this shoot. These flowers were from the Brentwood Floral Shop.

Congratulations Lydia and we’re so excited for your beautiful future!

Wow what a fun shoot we had in the middle of fall at Sevier Park in 12th south in Nashville, Tennessee. Right before it started to get a tad chilly around here.

Look at how radiant she is with the sunlight just beaming behind her!

Ah and the iconic flower mural - honestly one of the best murals in Nashville is located right in 12th south across the street from Burger Up my favorite burger joints in all of Nashville. It’s also behind this delicious Lebanese restaurant called Epice - definitely worth checking out.

As far as wardrobe styling went, we stayed away from darker colors such as black and navy to really make her pop and glow in this beautiful sunlight. She’s so classy!

Absolutely love this jean jacket look for such an urban shoot. Really captures the 12th south vibes!

She carries such sweet pure innocence in her eyes, truly a beautiful soul.

Wow, Laila you truly shine!! Look at that glorious smile. We had the privilege of being her photographers and capturing her beauty! After she graduates high school she plans to go on and major in criminal psychology. You will do amazing at that, Laila. We had so much fun with you!

Just the dreamiest sun filled happiest engagement portrait session of Brian & Sue Ann on the iconic Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, TN.

It’s all in the details- look at the sequence of her gorgeous outfit - the wardrobe selection was perfect and look at that beautiful engagement diamond.

Sue Ann competed for Ms. North Carolina pageant and am absolutely not surprised. She is stunning inside and out. Brian, you are one blessed man. :)

We danced our way through this session with our own personal band serenading us right on the riverfront. What a fun birthday surprise for Brian!

Model couple, much?! This downtown location was the PERFECT location for these couple photos.

I don’t think there’s much sweeter than forehead kisses.

Brian & Sue Ann are just out of a movie. Absolutely adored this downtown nashville photoshoot.

Exploring all the best parts of Downtown Franklin, Aubrey Diefenthal’s senior portraits came out beautifully! This sweet Battle Ground Academy senior stole our hearts as we got to know her and had the pleasure of capturing this special time in her life. That precious smile could light up a whole room!

Aubrey is heavily involved with her cheer team and with her church. When she graduates college, her dream is to not only help people, but to help animals. She hopes to purse veterinary school and work with large animals in that field. “I want to help every person and animal I can.” The kindness in Aubrey’s heart is truly beautiful. Is this girl not a real life Disney princess?!

“Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic.”

— Cinderella

It was such a pleasure to get to know this beauty! Congratulations on your senior year, Aubrey! We know you’ll do such amazing things!

Harlinsdale Farm was the perfect location for this lovely Good Pasture senior, Abby Whitworth. The rustic vibe and large fields made getting photos easy, but Abby’s beauty made them come alive!

Abby dreams of studying exercise science in college and becoming a physical therapist. She also dreams of traveling more than she already has in doing missions with City of Children in Mexico. Her hopes are for missions in different countries in future!

Abby is such a lovely person and we were so thrilled to get to work with her. She is so real and fun!

“...I am who I am, and that doesn’t change...”

— Hailey Steinfeld

Congratulations on your senior year, Abby! We believe in you and your dreams for the future!

On a gorgeous day in May, Mandy + Carter vowed to spend the rest of their lives together surrounded by loved ones at enchanting venue, Battle Mountain Farm. Mandy + Carter started out as just friends from church, but they weren’t destined to stay there! Mandy tells us about Carter’s determined pursuit, and how she was eventually convinced to give him a chance:

…Carter began persistently pursuing me, and I began persistently suggesting we go out with a group of friends instead. Despite my efforts, Carter was determined. After friends, family, and other respected adults strongly and frequently suggested that I at least consider going on a date with Carter... Carter finally escaped the friend zone.

Is she ever glad he did! These two celebrated 4 years of dating before taking the step of faith into marriage. The love between these two high school sweethearts is nothing short of a fairytale!

From the beginning, all of Carter’s plans were intentional. The story of their engagement is just as sweet as the story of their coming together. After dining where they had their very first date in high school, he took her to Radnor Lake- the scene of the moment he first told her he loved her. Mandy only then began to suspect something. After reading her a letter, Carter popped the question, to which Mandy gave a resounding YES!

Look at these gorgeous smiles! Mandy’s girls were all happiness to spend this special day with their dear friend.

We can’t get enough of these gorgeous flowers from Creations by Debbie! They added the perfect touch to such a beautiful day!

Before the ceremony and officially becoming Mrs. Carter Greene, Mandy’s father Art got to see his beautiful daughter for the first time as a bride.

Congratulations, Mandy + Carter!! We wish you all happiness for years to come!

Mandy + Carter’s Vendors list:

Battle Mountain Farms in College Grove - Venue

Creations by Debbie - Florist

String Quartet - The College Grove Strings

Maggiano’s - Caterer

Erin Moffat - Videographer

Paul Gibson - DJ

Southern Events - Rental Company

Love at First Bite - Cake

Battle Ground Academy senior Laura Abbott blew us away during her senior portrait session with her fierce poses and fabulous style! Downtown Franklin was the perfect location to photograph this green eyed beauty with all it’s cozy corners! Just look at this gorgeous gal!

When she’s not killing it in front of the camera, Laura loves to sing and to act! It’s not surprising that she thrives on film with hobbies like that! On her off time, one of Laura’s favorite spots is Pure Barre for a good workout. Her hair and makeup looked absolutely gorgeous as the style completely complemented and accentuated her natural beauty.

We just can’t get enough of this sweet Southern belle- her outer and inner beauty is so captivating! Her beauty is classic + timeless, like past Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn.

“The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.”

— Audrey Hepburn

Congratulations on your senior year, Laura!! She was such an incredible Battle Ground Academy senior class president. We can’t wait to see the glorious things you’ll do!

Madison + Jeff wed on a gorgeous October day at rustic venue The Barn at Allenbrooke Farms. Though they are both from different corners of the States, they met shortly after both had moved to Nashville. Tennessee was the perfect place to make their vows on their special day. Madison was a beautiful Bohemian bride and looked absolutely stunning in her soft, romantic gown. This couple are a match made in heaven! Allenbrooke Farms did a phenomenal job hosting + coordinating for this gorgeous couple, and helped make their simple + natural wedding dreams come true!

Madison wore a fitted, short sleeve lace wedding gown by Claire Pettibone. The Bohemian design complimented Madison’s free-spirit and looked absolutely glamorous on her! 931 Beauty Co and Go Gorgeous tag teamed her hair and make up to complete the look- so elegant!

The Ladies

The ladies in Madison’s bridal party looked elegant in mismatched muted bridesmaid dresses. Their gorgeous bouquets by Belles Fleurs tied the whole ensemble together with an autumn flair. These florals are the perfect finishing touch!

The Gents

Jeff and his guys looked pretty dapper in their navy suits and maroon ties. ZZ Top definitely had it right- “Every girl’s crazy ‘bout a sharp dressed man”!

The Details

Invitation by Minted.

The Final Touches

The Ceremony

The Reception

“Dance like you just got a dance partner for life!”

Congratulations Madison + Jeff!! May you have many happy years to come!

Here is a lovely sneak peek of Steven & McKenzie’s stunning classic wedding at the gorgeous rustic venue Allenbrooke Farms in Spring Hill Tennessee. Doesn’t it look like something straight out of Pride and Prejudice with the foggy overcast soft tones?! I most certainly think so!

“I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh.
”

— Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Isn’t this cake just purely decadent!? I absolutely love it!! <3 And the flowers add such an elegant yet soft classic touch to the cream cheese frosting.

Beautiful Mckenzie, isn’t she absolutely a radiant bride!? Positively glowing ready to marry the love of her life!

I absolutely this trendy wedding color scheme —- the dark rich reds and blues along with vibrants and shades of neutral greens and earthy wood are timeless.

Downtown Franklin was the best location for this gorgeous photo shoot with senior Skiles! We had so much fun finding the top nooks and crannies to create the most beautiful portraits. Skiles’ did an excellent job and the photos turned out AMAZING. I mean, just look at this natural model!

Skiles’ Waggener is a senior at Ravenwood High School in the Nashville area. When she’s not killing it on the volleyball court, she’s involved in her church theatre group! It’s no wonder she’s great behind a camera!

Skiles’ shoot was absolutely breathtaking, with gorgeous sunlight and textured walls, making it an urban + nature blend success!

Portrait Photographer Emily Anne uses natural lighting in her photography style, creating an authentic and life-like image. Skiles’ was absolutely radiant in the this natural setting- look at her glow!

As Estée Lauder said, “Confidence breeds beauty”. Skiles’ floored us with her confidence and ability to be truly herself on camera. She was such a joy to photography, and we are so excited for all that she will set out to do!

Montserrat  is a multi-peaked rocky mountain range located near the city of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. The largest most beautiful peaks are Sant Jeroni, Montgrós, and Miranda de les Agulles. The largest peak is where this beautiful abbey called Santa Maria de Montserrat that has the most well known boy's choir & the well known statue of the Black Virgin Mary. 

Look at these lovely pics of the gorgeous Rhea who attends Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee and is studying through the liberal arts program in Spain! 

Seeing the boy's choir of Montserrat- el coro de ninos de Montserrat was a really special treat. If you go, try to go during the weekdays and they perform at 1 PM Monday through Friday. It truly felt like listening to the voices of angels. 

Fun fact, the most famous architect in all of Barcelona, Antoni Gaudi, modeled his famous Sagrada Familia based off this mountainous range with the unique curved shapes. I wonder if anyone has had a wedding up here? The mountain range is so beautiful it would photograph perfectly. However, since it is quite the hassle to get up so high, I would assume that this would be a better place for a more intimate ceremony or elopement. 

Honestly one of my favorite parts about the entire experience was getting to sample all the fresh cheeses (goat, sheep too so I could it them), honey & tourrons from the local vendors! And we got to try fresh honeycomb- SO delicious. That along with candied pecans made a wonderful snack on the mountain. :) 

There are a couple of gorgeous hiking paths & if you take the "easier" one you can walk over to this beautiful view of the mountains and viewpoint of Catalonia, you can even walk up until the cross to get the best advantage point. 

“Adventure is worthwhile”

— Aesop

If you are in Barcelona for at least 3 days, I would highly recommend making this easy day trip to Montserrat from the city! The view is 1000% worth it. Thank you, CIEE for this experience. 

Absolutely loved this moody portrait shoot on the shores of Candelarias, Tenerife in the Canary Islands. It's so beautiful!! If you need a destination vacation spot in Europe - go to the Canary Islands. 

Look at this gorgeous beauty on the beach - she's got that relaxed beauty glow! 

A little flip of the camera - on the other side for a change haha :) 

Andrea is seriously such a natural in front of the camera. Also, the beaches are different on each island and since Tenerife is volcanic, most of the beaches are black rock. However, you can find sandy beaches black & white in the south and further in the northern part of the island. 

Forever in love with this view of palm trees & the beach & constant warm weather. 

“Happiness comes in waves. ”

— Anonymous

We had such a lovely time photographing the beautiful Clara! ;) She came from Knoxville to get her portraits done and she is absolutely radiant inside & out! 

Her outfits were super fun & she had a perfect variety of elegant, classy & urban and fun! 

Clara is about to graduate from West High School in Knoxville this year. Not only is she graduating Class of 2018 but she also is AMAZING and will be graduating with her IB diploma. I know how much hard work and dedication it takes to be an IB student so it is a really big deal!

So fun doing her some of her images inside Frothy Monkey in Downtown Franklin. She's the absolute cutest. Congratulations Clara on graduating and I'm so excited to see what all you do in the future - whatever you do you will excel!! 

Valencia is known for their paella- Spanish paella originated here, so you know they know what they're doing. This paella was honestly the best I have ever had- I don't think any other place in Europe, or in the world, for that matter could compare. 

Our Liberal Arts Program at CIEE had the privilege of attending the official Paella Escuela in Valencia, Spain to learn the art of cooking paella. Even though you can find paella in just about any part of the country of Spain and even around the world now, there is really an art to cooking it that the Valencians have mastered. 

Yes it's really as fun as it looks! Making paella is not just about the final product, it is an excuse to get friends and family together to have a great time cooking, snacking, laughing and just being together and the final product is a wonderful bonus. :) 

We were given wooden spoons to be able to make our own paella one day. I do plan to attempt making Paella when I get back to Nashville but I doubt it will turn out the same. I will give it my best try though. Thank you, CIEE for this amazing opportunity! 

We had the privilege of going on a weekend trip to Valencia Spain through CIEE Study Abroad Program. The weekend our group went we ended up having perfect weather (as you can see) and were also able to see the Las Fallas. 

Everyday at 2 PM as part of the festival tradition for a month, fireworks went off in the city center plaza- some of the loudest fireworks I've ever heard, or for that matter, felt. 

We had a small but fantastic group all from the CIEE Liberal Arts Program for the weekend! 

Valencia is well known for their oranges and mandarines - driving through the countryside you can see acres of orange tree groves. 

The architecture in Valencia is beautiful & the guided tour of Valencia was so interesting to learn the history of this popular city. 

If you didn't know, Valencia is the home of the Paella. We had the privilege of going to a paella school where they taught us the art of making paella - if you would like to see how to make paella- click HERE. 

I don't think I could ever get tired of these calming colors together: blues, whites & greens. 

We were walking through the streets of roses and then I had a crazy idea to photograph Elliot in the middle of the street- little did I know he was going to run in the middle and lie down on the ground haha but it looked great and we snapped them just in time. 

Elena is the amazing program director of the Liberal Arts Program at CIEE Barcelona and she & lovely Irene lead us on the tour of Valencia for the weekend. Muchismas gracias, Elena y Irene por todo!!  

We had a great day exploring the beautiful park of Valencia. Will and Victor who also go to Vanderbilt University in Nashville TN- what a small world! 

Take a look at gorgeous Alli, Emily & Megan- we had so much fun exploring the beauty Valencia.

The walking street art graffiti tour was really interesting - so many murals with different artists who have made their mark & branded themselves in the city. The street art really does make the city vibrant. Also, if you live in Barcelona, Valencia is the perfect weekend getaway because it is only 3.5 hours away by car or bus. 

Thank you CIEE for an amazing weekend trip to Valencia, Spain! 

The central plaza is worth seeing alone in Brussels - absolutely gorgeous with all the gold intricate designs of the town halls. 

If you visit during the winter, there are plenty of coffee shops & cozy restaurants all along the plaza to keep you warm & cozy. Also, there are more chocolate shops than you can even imagine. 

Possibly the best-known non-chocolate Belgian sweet is this cone-shaped, purplish candy with a firm shell, called Cuberdon which shoots a burst of syrup in your mouth when you bite into it. The flavour is referred to as raspberry, but in reality the cuberdon has a taste all its own- very delicious and you must try. :) 

Grand Plaza in Belgium is super beautiful & you must go and visit when you have the chance if you're there. However, of all of Belgium, I would say that my favorite city is probably Bruges, but next time I would love to see Ghent and Antwerp.  Well, there you have it! There's a little tour of Belgium for ya and hope you enjoyed! 

Love & light forever!

Emily 

Had the privilege of exploring this beautiful Library of Leuven Catholic University. If you are visiting Leuven, it is well worth it to stop by this gorgeous tower and take the audio guided tour in your preferred language of this historical landmark. 

You can also climb up to the tallest bell tower for a stunning view if the city of Leuven, especially at sunset- it is the perfect place for gorgeous photos - almost reminds me of Notre Dame. 

This beautiful library built in 1834 was burned by German soldiers at the beginning of the First World War and ever since has been restored bit by bit. 

If I lived here, I would certainly put this gorgeous natural light room filled with knowledge to use-- one of the most beautiful libraries I have seen. 

Ok, so what do you know about Belgium? Waffes, fries & chocolate. -- You're not wrong! Belgium is filled with these delicious things so if you have a sweet tooth & like chocolate it might be heaven or even a bit dangerous to go to Belgium. But what I am about to tell you about are 4 important reasons why you should give this country a chance. 

Brussels, Belgium and especially Leuven are majorly underrated compared to bigger cities in Europe like London, UK, Paris, France, Barcelona, Spain, Rome, Italy or Amsterdam in the Netherlands but it does have a lot to offer for less price. 

1. Since Belgium is so small, it is very easy to get around. Public transportation such as the trains and metro stations run smoothly and on time. You can easily explore some of the best of Belgium in a small amount of time: Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges, some of the biggest tourist attractions are all within 1 hour by train. Also Brussels was chosen as the location that hosts the official seats of the European Commission Union for a reason. This small little country is centrally located and is less than 4 hours train ride to all the main European cities including Amsterdam, London, Paris & many other parts of Germany and others. 

2. The chocolate really is as good as they say it is. Enough said. Almost a little too good. Be prepared to walk down the streets and every other shop to be a chocolatier. Also tip- pralines aren't the same in the United States as in Belgium. In Belgium they aren't nut filled chocolates but rather some sort of soft creamy inside- they can be addicting- can't say I didn't warn you. Also, Leonidas is one of the chain chocolatiers on the lower end, very delicious but while you're there try some of the artisan handmade chocolates from the local shops and it will be well worth it. :) 

“When you walk into a chocolate store, suddenly the most difficult decision you will ever have to make in your life, is which chocolates to pick! It is pure torture! Especially when you are in Belgium surrounded by Belgian chocolates!
”

— C. JoyBell C.

3. Belgium, Leuven in particular is a brilliant blend of both German and Dutch culture. The best of both worlds. In Leuven, they speak Flemmish which sounds like a mixture of both German and Dutch & the architecture is very similar to homes in the Netherlands like in Amsterdam. And the people are so very friendly- everyone walks or bikes everywhere, are well dressed & smile and have a positive countenance as you walk down the street- a bit different than the culture in Barcelona where people are friendly but not "street friendly" you may say. 

Although it does get quite cold in the winters, I can absolutely see how this sweet town would be a lovely place to retire for elderly couples - it is so peaceful and honestly felt like I was in another world - maybe the world of Frozen for a day. 

4. The street markets are fantastic. You can find both old & young at the street market in Leuven- not only fresh produce, cheeses, meats are available but also many different practical necessities - including mops being sold on the street haha. That was interesting! 

5. The architecture is fantastic. For a small little town, Leuven has a lot to offer as far as visual sights go. The historic city town hall looks like THIS. 

Each street is so immaculate and unique in its own way - I can imagine shooting a gorgeous winter engagement session in the middle of these darling streets or photographing an elaborate classic wedding on the steps of the city hall and it would look FANTASTIC-- any takers!? 

One of the cutest gardening stores in all of Belgium - Dille & Kamille. I pretty much wanted to buy everything in that store but somehow my little Easy Jet backpack wouldn't permit it. 

Have you ever explored the little hidden secret of Leuven, Belgium? I'd say it's for sure underrated and for me personally one of the top cities if not my favorite in all of Belgium. If you have been comment below & tell me your favorite part about it! I want to know :) 

What a super fun model photoshoot in the heart of Barcelona- otherwise known as Las Ramblas on a perfectly sunny day with beautiful Heloisa. 

Las Ramblas is a street in central Barcelona, popular with tourists and well known to the locals of Barcelona Spain. A tree-lined pedestrian mall, connecting Plaça de Catalunya in the centre with the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell & was the perfect location for our sun drenched shoot! :) 

Heloisa is absolutely stunning inside & out. Originally from Brazil, she moved here to Barcelona to study Spanish and work on business & design. She is extremely talented at all that she does & I cannot wait for what the future has in store for her as she continues to pursue her dreams. If you need any sort of business strategy/branding techniques- she's your gal!!

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

— Proverbs 31:5

One thing you won't find as much in Nashville as here in Barcelona is the tremendous amount of street art & graffiti. It really does photograph well though because it add more depth & dimension to the shots & that's one of the best things about Barcelona in my opinion- the street art. 

Heloisa, you are beautiful & I am so excited to see what you accomplish all in your future!