Photography by Shea

ciao blogger...

2009-05-06T21:01:00.000-07:00

Shea's got a brand new blog! {insert applause here!} www.byshea.com/blog
I know it's been awhile since my last post, and I'm pumped to finally show why! I've been dying to work on a fancy new blog (among a new website and hundreds of other things), but until now, just haven't had the time! I'm excited (and admittedly a tiny bit nervous) to announce that I'm now a full time photographer! whew... Getting kicked out of the "day job nest" was a God send–perhaps time to take the other fork in the road, hmm? On top of leaving Birmingham, moving back home with mom & dad, soon becoming an aunt, and recently becoming a victim of corporate consolidation–I hope I have reached my quota on life changes so far this year! So look around and get ready for lots and lots of new things coming up! You'll see my old posts down below and a few new ones showing off the supersize photos! Watch for session and package info, and FAQ sections coming soon, as well. Definitely leave comments and suggestions... I love feedback! Next on the list: finish the website that has been under construction for over a year. {sorry!}

Welcome to the world, Mason Charles...

2009-04-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to get the call that little Mason had arrived... and on the way back from Birmingham, I stopped by their farm in Winchester, Tennessee. You know how I love a gorgeous field and wide open spaces... so wide that my gps lost me on the way... but it was worth the trip to capture this special time in JoCarole and Justin's lives.

I loved this crib that has been in the Mobley's family for generations...

And my favorite image of the day... Mason christening my baby backdrop. :)
I love his hand over his face... pretty sure he knew what he was doing.

Congrats to the new family! See more of the Woodall's photoshoot here.

Avery's big ONE

2009-04-10T08:45:00.000-07:00

We finally made it... little Avery's first birthday! After being invited to the big party, I decided to document the event: cake, presents... all her buddies were there to celebrate!

Then Mary Beth and I dressed her up for her 1yr photos... we even snagged a few of her in her birthday tu-tu before she got too fed up with my camera. Hope to try for a few more this summer, too. Now we'll start working on her one-year-book! So excited!

Susie + Travis

2009-04-10T08:21:00.001-07:00

I met these two while photographing a friend's wedding last year... and can't wait to be there for their big day in August. We walked around Samford's campus for a few of the picks...then on to downtown Birmingham to some of my favorite go-to spots. This photo shoot turned out just like the couple: laid back and fun. :) I got to use one of my favorite new songs, too, for their slideshow... by the Plain White T's.

Hay Hay little Hayes!

2009-04-03T15:22:00.000-07:00

I've been documenting little Hayes Hogue since his first few days and it's been so neat to see him grow into in mini-man! :) We just finished his 8 month session and soon we'll start on his One-year book! I think these are my favorites of him so far....

Who doesnt love baby drool... and I'm pretty sure he's going to get us back for these Easter basket shots. :)

my favorite of the day... (Hayes' dad happens to coach baseball. so sweet!)

Once upon a time, Amy and Mitch...

2009-04-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

got married on a farm. :) And I got to be there to cover the rehearsal and dinner in a barn! This has always been my dream locale... gorgeous old barn, dripping with chandeliers, candles and light... only all our barns are full of junk, mud and cow 'patties' :) Amy's parents have gorgeous land in Clayton, AL near Eufaula complete with rolling hills, white fences and a pecan orchard. Every detail was so special, personal and totally THEM. My favorite part might be that they brought their dinning room table down from the house, placed on a rug, and covered in mix-matched family china.

a sweet moment for a dad and a grandaddy...

Many details were imprinted with their custom logo...
and a quick shot off a plate at the oyster bar.

See the slideshow for coverage of the evening and view gorgeous photos from Jason Wallis (one of my fav photogs) of the wedding day and tent reception. Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Holland... it was a beautiful weekend.

Moon phases

2009-03-31T22:48:00.000-07:00

You might remember my good friend's belly shots from awhile back... Shannon the yoga-mama. :) I've been waiting to photograph little Samara Moon for awhile and finally we squeezed in some time between shoots at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. You can tell she's already full o' sass, and how cute is her tutu?! Just ridiculously cute. Shannon made this precious thing + headband and I can't wait for her to make me a few of my own... (for babies, that is). Check out Miss Samara Moon Skipper!

Audrey Anna

2009-03-31T22:28:00.000-07:00

I finally got to photograph my new little cousin! She's so darn cute that I'll just ignore that they stole my baby name... :) This little one has had a rough start spending lots of time in the hosptial because of unexplained seizures, tons of tests and more spinal taps than one should endure... but she's back home now with mom & dad and doing much better! We had a fun afternoon posing and propping... such a good little sport. Bless this little girl. It's not hard to see how much she's loved. See her slideshow here.

Seeing double...

2009-03-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

I've been dying to photograph these two little ones... Riley and Kate Rutherford... almost 3 years old and full of sass, personality and energy! whew! With the help of giant lollipops, a bag of M'Ms, and a promised trip to the Jump Zone, we had a fun filled afternoon! My dad even let the girls feed a baby calf... and I love catching the buttercup field at it's prime. :) There are too many cute ones to post, so be sure to watch their slideshow for more! www.byshea.com/rileyandkate

Meesh + Croak

2009-03-02T15:11:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Melissa and Andy, or as their friends call them: Meesh and Croak! We played all over downtown Birmingham and a few other spots in English Village to capture their laid back personalities and love for one another. Be sure to view their slideshow with a song by one of their favorites, Michael Buble.

Maggie

2009-03-02T14:49:00.000-08:00

My first baby pics of 2009... little Maggie Ward.

Her nursery was the perfect location for the photo session. I just loved her room and all the little details. My favorite was the drawing Alana made when she was small that was framed to display in Maggie's room.

My favorite shot of the day might have been the most difficult... putting Maggie in the 'baby bowl'... which she quickly expressed her dislike and took a tiny pee. :)

I can't wait to document this little one as she grows! Be sure to view all of Maggie's session and her slideshow here.

whew... Happy New Year!

2009-01-04T20:28:00.000-08:00

I spent the day catching up on the last of my work for 2008 and whew... it's been quite a year! After looking back on every wedding and photo session finished, all while keeping a full time job (and squeezing in a little ole' house remodel), I can't help but be proud! ... and I can't go without thanking everyone who has supported me so far. To all my 'big fans' who have more confidence in me than I deserve and have patted me on the back and spread the word... I couldn't have had one drop of success if it wasn't for you! To all my assistants who help keep my sanity and captured so many great shots in mean time! :) Thank you, Will for your patience and support while I fill up half of our weekends! I'll try to control myself in 09 and learn to say 'no'. haha.

Thank you God for blessing me with a gift, and on top of that, turning it into such a FUN and rewarding job! A dream job really... and I can't take one bit of credit on my own.

Happy New Year, my precious ones! (insert mushiness here)
I'm so excited about 09 and all the changes to come!

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel

2009-01-04T13:49:00.000-08:00

Amanda and Brad's wedding was a very special day for so many. I was so honored to be there for their engagement photos, Amanda's gorgeous bridal session and of course their big day (and wedding #25 for me!) ... I've seen her grow up next to my sister and turn into a beautiful woman! Brad couldn't have been a better match for her. A very precious couple. :)

I guess I can finally post Amanda's bridal photos! Mrs. Cooksey and I dragged the poor girl from Strawberry Alley to Madison Street Methodist to a farm in Sango... in her dress! :) But it was so worth it!

The light was so yummy in this last shot, and with such a beautiful bride?! ugh ... my favorite of the day.

THEN, we started the wedding day at Prodigy Salon where little sis, Lindsey, broke wedding hair poof records...

and my other also super talented sister, Sara, followed with makeup on Amanda and the bridesmaids. This was the first wedding that all three of us got to work on and it was just so fun! Nothing like the Halliburton VIP wedding package, eh? ;)

I LOVED the flowers... peacock feathers were tucked in the girls' boquets and many of the arrangements... complimenting all the turquoise accents.

Brad requested this one above... a favorite of mine.
and I loved this one below of the flower girls during prayer...

I love this shot Margo snatched up during the father-daughter dance. :)

Yes, we can even squeeze in a little participation in the wedding activities... good job, Poohead.

It's always good to see the parents having a blast.:)
Be sure to view more wedding moments here. Best wishes to Amanda and Brad!

Hannah and Will

2009-01-04T12:50:00.000-08:00

My little buddy is getting married! :) I met Hannah when she moved in... and have loved her ever since! I was pumped to get to photograph their engagement session and after lunch and a few drinks (to get Will loosened up for photos) we had THE best time running around downtown Birmingham. My cheeks hurt after spending the afternoon cracking up with these two. Hannah and Will were so fun to watch together and compliment each other so well. They couldn't keep a straight face all day and you can tell their marriage will be no different. Watching their slideshow is a must. Congrats to both of you! I can't wait for the wedding!

The Metcalf-Hopson Wedding

2009-01-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Rebecca and Dale! It was such a fun morning photographing the wedding party at the beautiful Wallace home... and on to the Madison Street Methodist Church and Riverview Inn for a fun reception. It was very special to photograph their wedding after knowing Dr. Hopson since I was small. The day couldn't have been more perfect! View more of the Metcalf-Hopson Wedding photos in their slideshow here...

and thanks to Margo Keene, who captured this gorgeous angle of Rebecca (and tons others) for all your help throughout the day! I couldn't have done it without you! :)

Santa Babies...

2009-01-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

Many of you may have already received these Christmas cards in the mail, but I was so excited about how they turned out, I just have to share my shots from such a fun day!

Avery was such a little trooper while we shot the Russell's first Christmas family photos. These are just a few of my favorites... be sure to watch their slideshow to see all her precious shots!

Just a couple of hours later the Balthrops showed up for their Christmas session.
Little Charlie thought he was so big up in the hay bales and wanted to do everything his cousin Grayden did, making my photo direction alot easier! I love this series we did on an old scale in front of our barn... so many goodies hanging everywhere.

This one is just so precious to me. :) See all of Charlie and Grayden's Christmas session here. For their cards, I came across this GREAT site for photo cards, announcements, etc... 'In a Baby Carriage' ... the quality was great, I'll definitely be using them again!

I must post 'The Jackson Five' Christmas quick session, too! Ashley and Steven are good friends of mine, and I actually shot some coverage of their wedding weekend... but for this session: second time's a charm. :) We did one pretty tricky shoot with the help of Ashley's mom. (ever tried getting 2 people + 3 dogs to look at you, much less sit still and face the same direction? and not step in poo in the process?) But my hard drive crashed after our first session (SCARY!) and we lost all our efforts. Ashley and Steven are troopers, though, and so understanding! So with the help of the neighboring girls holding treats above my head, we finally got it! :)

Holly and Taylor

2009-01-04T09:23:00.001-08:00

Mr. and Mrs. Britton were married at Mathews Manor outside of Birmingham on the perfect fall day. Here are just a few moments captured that day, but be sure to view their slideshow (featuring some of the best family dancing I've seen in awhile!)

My favorite shot of the day...
before Mr. Allen walked Holly down the aisle.

Thanks to Brian Murphy for assisting me on their big day! Visit my super talented friend's site: http://www.t-photographic.com/

When Bill met Sallie...

2008-11-27T17:28:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Jobe! I'm so excited for these guys and even more excited to share a few of their wedding moments with everyone! What a special day... you MUST watch their slideshow to view my favorite moment of the day, when Sallie and Bill first got to see each other... a tearjearker... and later at the reception when Bill belted out a song just for her.... and all the guests! :) And a special thanks to Lauren Baumgartner, my second hand for the day, who helped me capture so many fun shots!

Mr & Mrs Etheredge

2008-11-26T15:14:00.000-08:00

What a gorgeous day for celebrating such a fun couple! A peek at a few moments of the day... be sure to check out Jessica and Adam's slideshow here, featuring the song from their first dance and a tribute to the bride's love for the eighties. :) How fun was all that confetti at the end?!

Jessi + Troy

2008-11-16T16:09:00.000-08:00

...are getting married! :) I had such a fun Sunday morning shooting this cute couple all over Birmingham. We started off at the Alabama Theatre, where they had their first date... a blind date, in fact! Jessi's sweet parents made the long drive with their other baby, a model-A Ford, to show off in a few shots, too. Jessi was the MOH for one of my previous brides, Casey Lassiter, and I'm so excited to be shooting them both, again! Congrats Jessi and Troy... you make such a precious couple. See their 'love-show' and more photos here.

these boots were made for...

2008-11-09T18:50:00.000-08:00

being BEHIND a camera.

My good friend and awesome photographer, Jessica Wright, and I played a fun little game... put ourselves in FRONT of a lens for once, to see what it really feels like. um... akward! Actually it was really beneficial to see what my clients experience while I'm shouting out commands to 'be yourself' and 'stand like you always do' and 'throw your head back and laugh out loud with your mouth open, duh!' errr... sorry guys! :) I now realize how paralyzing it is to be in front of a camera... how you forget how to stand and blink (or not blink) and where to put your hands? haha. Jessica did such a great job as we stumbled through our little 'me-sessions' and she actually came out with some cute shots (as cute as you find photos of yourself to be). Thanks Jess... it was a fun afternoon, a great learning experience and I'm glad we don't have to do this again soon. Haha.

a love shoot.

2008-11-09T17:55:00.001-08:00

Jackie and Rick wanted some fun photos... just for fun... and that's exactly what they were! On a perfect fall afternoon, we got to try out a new spot I've been eyeing and dying to shoot... along with my 'old faithful' farm shots. :) They've been married for years, but I would have guessed months. Their chemistry was precious! I wish I could take credit for all their great 'poses'... they were just so natural in front of the camera... like I wasn't even there. :) Be sure to check out their slideshow... there are seriously too many cute ones to post (and Jackie happened to pick one of my FAVORITE songs for her show)! Good luck choosing guys... I loved them all. :)

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

Couldn't resist. Check out two of my costume babies...
Harry Sessoms as Curious George (with his and his dad's 'buddies' by his side) and Hayes Hogue as the Little Stinker (and a nakey pumpkin, we'll call it). So precious!

The Balthrops...

2008-10-31T14:47:00.000-07:00

More photos and posting to come... but thought I would go ahead and post the link for Elizabeth Wyatt and Charlie Balthrop's Wedding! I know some of you guys have been anxious to see this one! :) It was quite a memorable event... everything was beautiful and I know everyone had THE BEST time! View their slideshow to see moments captured from the entire day.... www.byshea.com/wyattbalthropwedding. It was so special to be there to photograph my cousin's wedding... We're so excited to have Elizabeth as part of the family! Congrats, guys!

Back where I come from...

2008-10-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

I recently photographed a few Clarksville landmarks for my buddy's new Orthodontics website. It brought me back to the ole class project days... strolling around town with my camera, for fun... a nice change to be shooting buildings instead of faces for an afternoon. :) I used my precious Horizon panoramic for a unique perspective. It works great for architecture, but I've found it's fun for weddings and group shots. Thought I'd share a few of my favorites, but you can view the series here. The photo above features a shot of Franklin Street, home of my favorite restaurant -The Blackhorse Brewery- and the Roxy Theatre... featured in Sheryl Crow's music video, 'All I Wanna Do'.

The Customs House Museum.

Clarksville's new Courthouse building, rebuilt after a tornado ripped through our downtown in 1999.

One of our gorgeous downtown churches, Madison Street Methodist. The steeples were rebuilt after that same tornado damaged over half of the church building.

Dunbar Cave. Fun local spot for hikers and fishermen these days, but they used to hold dances here years and years ago. I can imagine it was nice with the cold air coming from the cave.

aww... my little alma mater. :) Let's go Peay!

Brooke + Cleve's Wedding

2008-10-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

I ventured to Southport, NC to photograph two of my favorite folks get married. The 10 hour drive was so worth the trip to be there for Brooke and Cleve's big day!

I love this moment where Brooke helped Cleve with his tie... he didnt sneak one peak.

Every detail was covered, from flowers designed by Brooke's grandmother to the GORGEOUS letterpress invites and programs designed by the couple themselves, to the custom recipe Jelly Belly party favors.

It was so special to be there to capture each moment... Everyone was having a blast... check out the slideshow for more wedding photos and reception pics... you can tell that I had a pretty good time, too. ;)
I just love you two.

Bridal Portraits

2008-10-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to catch up posting on the blog... but while you wait on the latest weddings and portraits, thought I would share a few bridal portrait sessions shot recently. These sessions were both so much fun.

I posted Mary Alice and Seth's wedding photos previously, but her bridal session was just too fun not to share! We started at a florist boutique, Flower Stems, in downtown Birmingham, then a few shots on Morris Ave and on to the Botanical Gardens. She was such a gorgeous bride.

I'm currently working on Elizabeth Wyatt and Charlie Balthrop's wedding photos, too, but want to share her bridals we shot in Nashville at the Scarritt-Bennett Center.

There were so many gorgeous backdrops in the gothic chapel and under all the arched doorways... just a preview of how beautiful she was on the big day! Stay tuned for shots of the wedding... coming soon, I promise.

a fun fact: can you believe these flowers are rubber? I borrowed these from Mrs. Keene who had them made for her daughter, Rebecca's bridal portraits... they worked just perfectly. We didn't have to worry about wilting flowers or having a bouqet made. I learn something new with each shoot.

Lawson McKnight

2008-10-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about photographing babies is coming back every few months to catch a few shots of their growth. I got to capture a few more shots of little nine month old Lawson McKnight. Here are some of my favorites, but be sure to check out his nine month slideshow and our first photo session a few months ago.

Lauren + Adam!

2008-09-08T17:22:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love photographing my bestest of friends... and oh how I love these two. :) Southern Living Magazine brought Lauren and I together over three years ago and we quickly became bffs, then roomies (she likes to tell folks how she lived on our porch), then sadly another long distance relationship in my life -sigh- when Lauren moved back to her home and her man (and an awesome job... can I brag that she's the editor of two local magazines?! We're so proud). Lauren and Adam have been together for years, thanks to boy scouts. Yes, Adam, boy scout, was led by Lauren's dad, boy scout leader. The rest is history.

We started the shoot in their hometown of Winston-Salem, NC. Then we ran all over Old Salem... I couldn't resist all the precious spots and stopped at pretty much every single one... including the bakery! yum.

Then we took a small break from our 2nd Annual Lakeapalooza trip at Smith Mountain Lake, VA to finish up the photo shoot... this spot couldn't be missed. For Adam's sweet proposal, Memorial Day Weekend, they boated out to a favorite cove. We just had to preform a re-enactment. :)

You can see how much they love and adore each other... and how perfectly God brought them together. This is why I love photography... I get to capture all the sweet moments of all these special people in my life... and then share! View more of their engagement session here.

The Kings...

2008-09-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

When I first met with Mary Alice, I was amazed by the story of her relationship with Seth... How they met and the way God brought them together... I'm so excited to see what He has in store for them. The entire wedding day was beautiful... and even though it stormed during the ceremony, the sun came out just in time for a few photos on the golf course before the party began. Thanks for letting me photograph your wedding, Mary Alice & Seth. It was such a special day! View their wedding slideshow here... and stay tuned for Mary Alice's bridal session, to be posted soon.

The Fleenors

2008-08-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Mary Catherine and Dustin!
Just wanted to share a few moments from their wedding in July...

I thought this was a precious shot of Mary Catherine and her MOH, Rebecca Weakley Nolan.

A visual of the benefits of a second photographer: As I was capturing this photo on the left, my awesome assistant, Margo Keene, caught this great angle of the same shot. Love when this happens!

A sweet moment when Mary Catherine and Dustin first saw each other...

A quick stop at the golf course for some fun shots before the reception...

And ending with a bang... fireworks as they head out for their honeymoon! Be sure to view their wedding slideshow here!

Engagements...

2008-08-19T18:53:00.000-07:00

Whew. Okay, I know I've been waaaay behind lately. I've finally got caught up with my week o' photos back in July! Along with all the babies (and weddings to come!) I got to shoot two engagement sessions while home in Clarksville.

The first session was for Amanda... who I've watched grow up running around with my sister since they were little. Amanda & Brad seemed so excited about photography plans for their wedding and couldn't wait for the engagement session. We hopped all over downtown and then out to my favorite farm for some more. I'm so happy to be their wedding photographer in November! See all of their engagement session here .

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Next e-session was Sallie and Bill... I'm so excited to be shooting their wedding, and of course we had to do some engagement photos beforehand! We decided on Bill's parents' farm in Kentucky. I had no idea of what to expect and was so excited to see a gorgeous old home sitting in the middle of acres and acres of open fields. It was perfect. We ventured to the busy downtown Trenton and came across these great old gutted buildings, an old grocery and my favorite new spot: an old Coke advertisement painted on a brick wall. 'It's the real thing.' Very fitting. View more of Sallie and Bill's engagement session here.

Babies!

2008-08-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

I've been photographing a lot of little ones lately...
and just have to share.

Little chunk #1: Harry Sessoms...the nephew of my buddy Laura Bonds Trillizio (shot her engagement photos this spring before her and Dominic jetted off to Vegas to get hitched!) I love Harry's smile and precious little old man expressions. He seemed to be in deep thought the whole time, until he fell asleep at the end. So funny. This photoshoot was at his grandma's house in Clarksville... she had the best props! I'll definitely be back for more. :) View all of Harry's photoshoot here.

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Little chunk #2: Avery Russell. She makes the funniest faces I have ever seen. She's such a happy little girl. I've photographed Avery before, at one month old, and came back for her 4 month photos... She wore the same little cross necklace and blue dress that her mama wore when she was a baby, and a gold bracelet from her grandma. We plan on doing several sessions and create an album for Avery's first year. I'm so excited! View more of 'fat & happy' Avery here.

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And a double shoot: My cousins Charlie Balthrop and Adalynn Head. We started with Charlie at the train station (what 2 year old doesnt love trains?)... he jumped around like crazy for the first 20 mins... so excited, he didn't know what to look at first! (but he knew that wasn't going to be a camera. haha) It's always a challenge chasing curious little boys around, but rewarding when you end up with a few great shots. :) The mamas, Brandy and Kelly, had great expectations of cute cuddly cousin photos at my grandmother's old farm. Charlie wouldn't have it. Just days ago he was kissing and hugging all over the new baby, but would have nothing to do with her when a camera was around. We did get a couple shots of him trying to feed the baby, and then a forced 'hold him down' shot at the end. You just never know what you'll end up capturing with kids...but that's the fun of it. View their session here.

The Lassiters

2008-08-01T13:19:00.001-07:00

I guess I should ask Casey if I can reveal that we chatted about wedding photography before she was even engaged... :) to get the point across that she and I have been waiting for this day for what seems like years! I knew when I photographed their engagement photos this winter, they were a special couple. Blake is charming, patient, easy going and Casey's laugh is a photographers dream. I don't think I ever had to tell them to laugh or be themselves... they just naturally were so sweet together and so easy to capture. Their day was perfect, from the weather, to the FUN wedding party, to the gorgeous bride...

my favorite shot of the day: Casey and her dad before the ceremony.

the trolley was so great. and the drivers: part-time clowns. seriously.

Casey and Blake's band was incredible. My favorite part of the reception was when the lead singer, we'll call him 'Usher', pulled the bride up on stage... and got low.

Congrats Casey & Blake! View more of Mr & Mrs Lassiters' big day here.

I must give a shout out to my second shooter for the day, Jessica... who captured this shot above of the rings (among over 1,000 other shots of the day). She's such a dream to work with. I'm blessed to have her as a friend. It's really so neat how God drops special people into your life. See more of this talented woman's work on her new site Jessica Wright Photography.

The Fountains

2008-07-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Carlton & Will! Just wanted to share some of my favorite moments of their wedding day... everything was gorgeous, from the church to the cake, but especially the bride. Everyone involved was having a great time... It was my first time to shoot a reception at Vulcan and it's now one of my favorite venues... but it did help that the weather was perfect. View more of the Fountains' wedding day and the night before here.

Hey there little Hayes...

2008-07-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world, Hayes! I love photographing newborns and was so excited to squeeze in a photoshoot during his first little week with us. If you photograph babies in their first 2 weeks, they'll still curl up in a ball... and sleep most of the time. Which is easier than chasing a 2 yr old, for sure. :) Their dog, Kirby, got to be in a few photos, too... in his 'big brother' t-shirt. Kristin and David actually revealed to the grandparents that they were expecting by having Kirby sport a little shirt that read: "I'm going to be a big brother." So fun. View more of Hayes debut here.

Jonathan Wyatt Golf Tournament

2008-07-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

It was an honor to help capture a few candid shots for the Jonathan Wyatt Golf Tournament in Clarksville. This was their 5th year to raise money for local youth in memory and honor of Jonathan and they had a great turnout with over 140 golfers and tons of volunteers. Thought I would post a few snapshots and the link to Facebook and Pictage, where all the photos can be viewed and ordered.

The funniest moment of the day: pushing our dead golf cart up hill from the back of the course. We could barely push from laughing so hard. Luckily, while inching our way past a few guys working on a roof, they took pity on us and towed us back. Everyone involved was having a great time... which is just what Jonathan would have wanted.

Audra Grace

2008-07-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

I thought it was the sweetest idea when DANIEL emailed me about surprising Abby for mother's day... with a photo session of their little girl, Audra Grace. I grew up with Abby and it's so fun to watch her as a mother now and get to know her all over again. We started with a few photos at their home in Clarksville, in her little pink room, then headed to my parents farm for a few shots in her Christening gown and of course my favorite yellow baby bucket. :) They're a very precious family and I look forward to following her around with my camera as she grows! See more of the photo session here.

Abby + Olivia

2008-06-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

These two girls remind me how much I miss carefree summers, running around barefoot and sporting tu-tu's and princess dresses. They remind me of how thankful I am to have sisters, and how I should have soaked up all that fun time when we were little, and too busy fighting over every single thing. :) It's definitely a special bond like no other, and you can see that in little Abby and Olivia. They're too cute for words... I work with Abby and Olivia's mom at Portico and was SO excited to finally photograph girls! Seems like I've been shooting a lot of little boys lately and wasn't always sure what to do with them! But girls... I get... spinning, posing, being super-model princesses... and how it makes you giggle to say 'boo-tay'. Definitely have to watch the slideshow, there are just too many cute ones to post.

Yoga Belly...

2008-06-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

A first for me: belly shots. No, not drink shots off a belly, havent tried that either, thank goodness, but photos of my preggo buddy, Shannon. We worked at Parisian together and have all kept in touch since then. We threw her a baby shower that morning (check out the cool yellow t-shirt I got the baby, in the slideshow) and out in the heat for belly shots that afternoon. Trooper! She happens to teach yoga and had the cutest little bod... all dressed in black, against a white wall, she practiced all her favorite yoga posses.

Her husband Todd joined us in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens where I photographed their engagement portraits... we thought it would be cool to go back to the same spot in the bamboo forrest.

Then... she let me paint her belly... which I have been dying to do! Tiny Dancer and Mini Sweet, they call her... and her little room worked as the perfect backdrop. Can't wait for her to get here for more and more baby glamour shots!

Adalynn Ray

2008-06-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

A gerber baby if I've ever seen one... my cousin, Kelly Lynn, brought home her 2 day old baby on Sunday... Adalynn Ray Head... with quite the head of hair! (Speaking of... fun fact: did you know you can 'glue' a bow to a babies head with KY Jelly?... yeah...hmm...)

Poor thing was born on Friday the 13th, as much as her mother tried to avoid it. But she seems like a pretty luck little lady... her cousin, Charlie, came to visit (notice he's wearing a t-shirt and diaper... his dad was in charge of dressing him... so funny). I've now photographed pretty much the whole side of the family with little Charlie's one year portraits, big Charlie's engagement portraits and now little Adalynn's debut... guess it's good to have a photographer in the family?

And of course, a few shots of her new little room... The doll house was built by our Pap-pal when we were small... I'm glad we saved these for our barbie crazy girls one day...

The Weyandts

2008-06-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Alyssa and Mitchell! It was so fun to work with such a sweet couple starting with their engagement photos last winter to their precious wedding in May... you can tell they are so in love and definitely have a happy future ahead of them...

Beau's Big Birthday!

2008-06-02T08:21:00.000-07:00

Meet Beau Bryant...
I was so excited to capture little Beau's first birthday party a couple of weeks ago. Bubble machines, balls, blow up bouncy things... and all your best friends...what more does a birthday boy need?

Laura + David

2008-05-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

I just love this couple, and love when you can look back at the photos and SEE how much they love each other! :) Laura and David got married May 3 in Clarksville, TN and I finally finished their wedding slideshow! I went to highschool with Laura and most of the bridesmaids... so it was SO much fun to be there and capture every moment of the big day! It was so neat to shoot their engagement pictures last fall and get to know the couple before the wedding... The most memorable moment of the wedding, hands down: the bride and groom jumped behind the mic to sing a couple of songs with the band. Laura performed her usual requested reception song, 'Me and Bobby McGee' and then Patsy Cline's 'Crazy' and sweet David closed down the party with 'Dixieland Delight' (hence the song choices for the slideshow)... classic. :)

Elizabeth + Charlie

2008-05-12T21:16:00.000-07:00

My cousin is getting married! :) So happy to soon welcome Elizabeth to our family! She's such a sweetheart and was just beautiful in every shot! I had such a great time shooting their engagement pictures in downtown Clarksville, the historic L&N train station (famous for The Monkee's 'Last Train to Clarksville') and on our family farm. It was so strange to watch what seemed like my dad standing there... They've always looked just alike and have so many of the same mannerisms. Elizabeth and Charlie are getting married in September, and I'll be there with my camera, too!

Carter Day

2008-05-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

At what age did we start caring about a little sucker juice running down our bellies? Recently, I photographed my good friend's little man... Cater Day. It's always quite the adventure chasing around toddlers, trying to focus, meter the light, and think about composition all at once... but it's so rewarding when you get that one great shot out of 50! I wasn't sure how many we would even be able to shoot when I arrived... at first sight of my giant frame (his parents are a good half foot shorter than me)... he screamed and ran out of the room. He couldn't even look at me for a good 20 minutes, even after I removed my shoes and crawled around on my knees. It was hilarious. You would have thought I came in his room and punched him. Ha ha... After a little playtime and his dad showing up with a big bundle of red balloons, he didn't care much about the giant photographer anymore and we went outside to play...

This one cracks me up... we were just playing in his room and his mom turned on the dancing spider-man... he immediately ran to the wall and glued himself there, staring at spidey in fear. It was so funny... I couldn't quit laughing, poor thing was horrified. And of course, after lots of playing outside, we needed a cartoon break. Typical guy. You can tell I was standing in the way of his favorite show. Ha.

And then a little dinner... and bath time. (How cute is his little blow-up ducky bath tub?!) Whew. After over 700 photos, Carter and I were both worn out. :)

Brooke + Cleve

2008-05-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

One of my best buddies, Brooke, and her fiancé, Cleve...
They recently moved to Cincinnati... boo... but came back to Birmingham for their engagement photo shoot on Morris Ave. I'm also shooting their wedding in Southport, NC this fall. SO excited! View their slideshow here. Just love these two. :)

Meg + Brian

2008-04-30T18:45:00.000-07:00

Just shot some engagement pics for one of my good friends, Meg and her PRECIOUS fiance, Brian. :) They have SO much fun together, as you can tell by the photos... I barely had to prompt them to laugh! haha. See more of their e-session here.

Rebecca + Brian

2008-04-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

I got the pleasure of shooting Rebecca Keene and Brian McClure's rehearsal dinner and luncheon for their wedding weekend... She was possibly the most laid back bride I've ever been around! Everyone was having a great time... See more of their photos here.

Avery Russell

2008-04-16T20:15:00.000-07:00

took photos of little avery russell this past sunday...
on her one month birthday!
view her slideshow here.

Lawson McKnight

2008-04-15T18:15:00.001-07:00

Shot my first baby portraits last week...
so excited to debut little Lawson.
http://www.byshea.com/lawson/

new WEBSITE coming soon!

2008-04-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the confusion!
Working on my new site, and www.byshea.com is currently under construction!
YAY... finally...
All the slideshows should still be up, though...
To view my recent work watch these below, or shoot me an email for more:

Stephanie & Sam Gentry:
http://www.byshea.com/stamweddingweekend/
http://www.byshea.com/stephanie&sam/

Laura & Dominic:
http://www.byshea.com/lauraanddominic/

Kayla & Billy LeVan:
http://www.byshea.com/levanreception/
http://www.byshea.com/kaylaandbilly/

Nathan Peek Band:
http://www.byshea.com/nathanpeekband/

Alyssa & Mitchell:
http://www.byshea.com/alyssa&mitchell/

Casey & Blake:
http://www.byshea.com/casey&blake/

Shannon & Price:
http://www.byshea.com/shannonandprice/