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Have you ever lived a moment in which you stopped and told yourself, "Man, this moment needs music!"

That intense moment on the freeway when 5 police cars pass you while chasing someone doesn't count.

(Insert the Hollywood action music here...)

No, I mean real moments! Moments like the ones we got to share with Rebecca and Jonathan during this engagement session. There were times when we watched the golden light pour through the trees onto them while they kissed and laughed that it almost seemed unnatural not to have a soundtrack. Alas, we're not John Cusack, and this isn't the film "Say Anything", but had there been music involved, being the hopeless romantics that we are, "In your eyes" would definitely be at the top of the list.

Why is this post so 80's?!?... Good Question. Not sure. Rick's idea.

When we sat down with Rebecca, Jonathan, Rebecca's mom, and Aria, their adorable daughter, the conversation started flowing like musical chords. Like from a country song, R&J met by serendipity and had basically moved heaven and earth to be with each other. Rebecca had moved back from Missouri to be with Jonathan.

Swoon much?!

We moved through subjects like a beautifully written chord progression. Rebecca kept us laughing with her expressive gestures, while Jonathan gave her the cool and collected "Yep! That's my girl, and don't you forget it!" smile.

When R&J talked about where they wanted to shoot their engagement session, we were all extremely excited about the location.


"There's a lake and a barn, oh and we have horses too," Jonathan said as he described the location of our shoot.

He and his family own a farm that cannot be described in writing.

"You have horses?" Rick asked Jonathan to confirm what he'd just said.

"Yep. We have a few."


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Rebooting...

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We've never worked with horses before so you can see where our excitement threw us off of the saddle!

*Giggle*

When we showed up to the farm, it was the most beautiful day we'd seen in January yet. The sun was high, and the temperature also. You can't ask for much more from a January day in TN. We pulled up to the barn and knew that this engagement session was going to be amazing. We started off in the pasture to get some photos of Aria with Jonathon and Rebecca. After we got some adorable family shots it was time for aria to head out with Rebecca's mom while we transitioned into some more intimate photos. We trudged through the muddy fields past the lake and back to the beautiful wooded area. As we arrived the sun was shining through the trees exactly how we had hoped. Where's the music?!

Rebecca and Jonathon took to our instructions brilliantly. They were quick to hug and kiss and Rebecca was full of giggles. As the sun started to set we raced back through the fields up to the barn to get one of the horses out on the pasture to help out with our epic engagement session. Rebecca and Jonathon were in their 4x4 truck while we followed in their ATV. When we came up the hill we could see the barn in the distance, Shelby had us stop and get a few quick shots with the barn in the background. The sun was setting beautifully on the wooden barn and made for the most scenic backdrop. We continued back to the barn where Rebecca and Jonathon grabbed one of the horses. As we walked and took photos with the horse we realized she had quite the personality! When they laughed, so did the horse! We think the horse must be a direct descendant of Mr. Ed, the talking horse!

Overall, the moody and sunny tones of the set give it a really rich and intriguing vibe, and the wildflowers coupled with the sun-drenched tree line makes us want to sing...


"All my instincts, they return

And the grand facade, so soon will burn

Without a noise, without my pride

I reach out from the inside "


Where's my boombox?...

-Shelby and Rick












What do Twain, Hemingway, and Shakespeare all have in common?

C'mon, you know...

Before we begin this blog post on this amazing couple, we have to say that we are photographers, and not necessarily writers. If either of us had been born with the talents to rank amongst the great three we listed above, you'd be in for more of a literary journey here today. But alas, there are limits on our abilities to write, and quite simply, there just aren't enough words in English to describe how amazing this engagement session was.


A December day in Tennessee usually assures two things. One: its cold, and two: its grey.

It's more or less like Seattle in the winter, only in Tennessee, the coffee is A LOT cheaper.

This day was particularly cold. The trees were weighed down by the icicles that had formed on their branches, and the wind kept a steady push against them. The whole morning leading up to our session with Taylor and Brennan was filled with some anxiety, as the weatherman insisted on snow. Snow can be beautiful for a photo shoot, but snow in west Tennessee usually turns into frozen slush that's really not so, umm, pretty. Thankfully when we left our house to meet them, there wasn't a single snowflake in the air.

The meeting place and shooting location was Orion Hill. A brand new wedding venue in Arlington that by all the talk of the town and photos we'd seen was going to be incredible. Engagement sessions are already exciting, but the added suspense and excitement of being honored to shoot at a new venue was almost surreal.


The GPS pinged with its "Your Destination is on the right".

What is it talking about? I don't see a driveway...

You see only trees and road...Until you see it. The Gate. Orion Hill.

As we pulled in, only, and I mean only the word "WOW" comes to mind.

A gravel drive lined with massive cedars that lead to a breathtaking Manor.

Toto, I don't think we're in Memphis anymore.

Once you're on Orion Hill's property, it's hard to think of leaving.


When Taylor and Brennan pulled up, we immediately started boasting about how gorgeous the place was.

" They're not even done remodeling!", she beamed and told us about the gorgeous reception addition they were adding in the back.

How much better could this all be?

Here's how.

A. by Taylor and Brennan being an incredibly adorable couple, and

B. by them being the best sports about our current situation.

Situation = Freezing.

They braved the cold as we started their engagement session on the front porch of Orion Hill’s manor. Even with the weather below 32, they had nothing but smiles and laughs. The blankets we brought along helped keep the smiles rolling in. Between shots, Brennan would wrap his bride to be up in a blanket and we'd all try to warm back up, even for a couple of minutes. As we moved around the massive property, we came across an Osage Orange tree.

Please. For the love of all that is good, google it... or just see the photos below. :)

They are the most elegant and mystical trees and each one seems to be as unique as we humans are.

It's was only natural that all four of us were like kids in a candy store at the prospect of taking photos near and on the tree.


Snap. Beautiful! Snap. Snap. Blanket!! STAT! Taylor is turning blue over here!! Poor Taylor was a warrior through the almost two-hour set. Brennan’s beard helped him brave the harsh frozen wind, so he had no problems helping to Keep Taylor warm.


Back to what was said before, there’s no way to describe how these two interact. Natural, loving and giggly could be one way. Or just head over heels, Madly in love.

Need. More. Words.


The foggy tones coupled with the Cedar and Osage trees give the set a very mystical vibe. We are so in love with the tonality of the photography, the location and the couple that we want to refrain from throwing too many details about their day until it happens.


Too long. Didn’t Read:

3 Things we know, that you should too:


1. Taylor and Brennan are so sweet and in love, that they’ll make you fall in love all over again.

2. Orion Hill is hands down incredible.

3. These photographs are everything a photographer could ask for!



Yours truly,


Shelby and Rick (Not E. Hemingway)






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