Franklin, TN Family Photographer | The Gasparo Family

Spending the evening with The Gasparo Family was SO much fun. I laughed so hard several times. Between the goats, the dog, the chickens, the 2 younger wild children and their feisty youngest, I have never been more entertained!Brittany really wanted to capture what life was like right now, so she hired me to photograph a typical evening for them. Documentary family photography is such a beautiful genre of capturing REAL life right now. If you can think back to the 80 and 90s and other decades of course, you will remember random photos from a disposable camera. In the age of disposable cameras, we didn't curate the environment or the photo. We just took the photo. So it captured old couches, random stuff on coffee tables, it did not think about composition and light. It just TOOK THE PHOTO. It was RAW and REAL and I pray that we are finally moving back to that. I do see some progress that direction.I am the only photographer in Nashville, that I know of, capturing REAL life. True documentary. True day in the life, doesn't stage set ups. The photographer is JUST a fly on the wall, while the family does what they do. Brittany rocked this session by wearing what they normally wear, and not overly cleaning her home. The mess is apart of the REAL.What I love about documentary is that all the family has to do is spend time together. They don't have to look at the camera. They don't have to wear specific clothing. They get to just BE. Be themselves, be together. and Do their favorite things. and it doesn't have to be without incident. While there were few incidents in this session, I have seen full on tantrums. and that is OKAY! That is real life. I will probably try to capture it, as it is who that child is, it shows their entire personality and not just the cooperative side. Toddler tantrums can be funny later.The better I know a family, the better the session. I try to spend more time the first time I am with a family, because it takes a little bit to know the personalities and to be comfortable with one another. It's new and different. But once I know them, I know that their youngest will probably have a point where he gets really mad, because thats his personality. I know the older one might try to boss the younger ones. I know they might do something random in nature, like catching a frog. I wait for those moments to happen. I anticipate them.To have your family documented, holler at me! 

Franklin, TN Newborn Photographer | Baby Shepherd

Filming and Photographing this family with their FIFTH baby was just such a huge blessing. I have photographed every bump and newborn since the beginning (what an HONOR!). Five boys ranging from newborn to age 12. It felt a tiny bit chaotic, but only because their 2.5 year old has a very strong willed personality. But I can roll with the chaos and willful kiddos. We let him wear his fireman costume and let him just do what he wanted. and eventually he came around for photos ?

But really, being there... the vibe was all about baby Shepherd. Everyone wanted to hold him - even though he was 3 weeks old, they were not sick of it yet! Everyone wanted to show me what to film... even Dad said "He sleeps like this all the time, come capture it!" Because I had gone off to film someone else somewhere else ?

It is so much fun though. I love watching this family be together and play baseball and be the best big brothers I have ever met. They all are SO gentle with him and love him so much. In fact, the black and white photo of the oldest laying next to his baby brother, adoringly touching him might be my favorite.

I pulled up to their home and one of their 5 boys greeted me in the driveway. He could not wait to tell me about his birthday and how they rented a fancy sports car. He was over the moon.

Nothing matters more to me in these sessions than showing families the memories that they might not see. When you're raising 5 boys and are in the thick of motherhood, you may not see the beautiful mundane moments radiating in every scene throughout your day. I want to give families that. Nothing is more important to me than the “mundane”. It’s a practice of being truly grateful for what’s right in front of me and not trying to manufacture a preconceived notion of what society tells us is worthy of documentation.

These are the moments that will feel real and bring you back to this moment, when we look at them decades from now. These are the photographs and videos that your children will cling to, feeling the love and safety they felt as a child.

These are the moments I want to capture forever and for everyone.

I would LOVE to capture your family, let's connect! 

The Lush Family | June 2023 | Short Version from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.

Nashville Family Photographer | Are professional family photos worth it?

Let’s talk about family photos! I feel like family photos have turned into something to check off the list for the year. Check! Family photos for the Christmas card! Social media has driven family photos from being something that told a story to something we just do out of social obligation.

The beautiful thing about documentary family photography (ahem, what I do!) is that you don't have to get a wardrobe together and then get everyone dressed up and drive somewhere and fake a bunch of shots for the camera for an hour. Documentary family sessions are the easiest session of your life. Not only that, but they will leave you with a heart of gratitude because you actually captured your real life.

Life is filled with tiny moments that happen between the time we wake up and fall asleep that we are often too tired and busy to fully appreciate. We completely toss these memories aside when we ask for a formal posed and or lifestyle family session for Christmas Cards.

Your life changes every minute of everyday.... month to month. Six months from now your son might actually outgrow LEGOS. I know, it's hard to imagine. But trust me, it does happen. At times you feel eager for that moment so you can stop stepping on Legos, but I promise you... You will miss this version of him.

None of my clients EVER regrets having photos or family films... They are often SO incredibly grateful for the unique experience and opportunity to have their family life truly captured.

My approach to capturing families is very relaxed and observational as opposed to traditional and directed.

It's not about getting the perfect photos, or everything being just right. It's not about everyone looking happy all the time, or wearing incredible outfits. Plenty of other photographers offer those things.

Documentary Family Photos are worth every penny. They are also worth being vulnerable enough to have them done. It won't matter if your house was midway through a remodel, or you haven't hit your goal weight. Your children just want to connect with you. When they see photos, they want to see their childhood memories, their mother and father and siblings. Just as they were.

In my ten + years in photography, I have learned 3 things: your kids don't care if you haven't lost the baby weight, you deserve to be seen for the amazing parent you are, and you have to make time for the things that matter most in life.

My work consists of real moments. Real life. Real stories. It celebrates both the joys, and the struggles of parenthood.

This session will be relaxed and unforced. You don't even have to look at the camera!

To learn more about a documentary photography experience, start here! I look forward to working with you!

You can also contact me here.

Franklin Tennessee Family Photographer | The Roberts Family

THIS FAMILY, ya'll! The last time I had a session with them (Film + Photos)... they BLEW IT OUT THE WATER. Well of course, they rocked this one too. SUCH a beautiful meaningful session.Alan, the father, really wanted to capture his time working on his Jeep with his 3 sons. This Jeep and this time with his boys means a lot to him. and I mean... A LOT. The way Alan interacts with his children brings me to tears. And after 2 sessions, he sings my praises a lot - and that means the world to me!This family centers around all things music. Their film also had video of them dancing and playing guitar. They come alive when they are dancing and singing. It truly is the coolest thing. and I am 100% here for it.

Nashville Family Photographer | The Howard Family Film

The Howard Family, My Annual Tampa Bay, Florida client... I love Sadiee and her family immensely! We always book her shoot in early October, aiming to miss hurricanes. This year, we were not so lucky. The FIRST hurricane arrived the weekend of our shoot, or actually shortly before. This really made all of October a doozy. I have to move clients from another weekend so I could head down to Florida... lesson learned, from now on we will have 2 weekends booked in case of hurricanes. Between last year and this year, Sadiee had a NEW baby! She now has 3 children, 1 girl and 2 boys. She has home birthed her children and was dreading having another 8 lb baby... but instead gave birth to a WHOPPING 12 LB baby boy!  She says he's basically a toddler. Her film last year can be seen here!It was truly special spending time filming and photographing her family this year. It is fun to escape Nashville for a bit and hit up some beaches while we are down there. A few weeks before her film, her son scraped up his face really badly and 2 nights before their film, their daughter had a fever. So it goes without saying, we were SO grateful this film went off without a hitch, given how many things tried to stop it from happening!Sadiee sell BEAUTIFUL breastmilk jewelry. They are SO amazing and just so lovely!!! She is super talented. See her work on her instagram and her website.

Howard Family | October 2022 from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.  

Franklin, Tennessee Family Photographer | Tucker Family

A few weeks ago, I was honored to spend a morning with The Tuckers. They live on a few acres in Franklin and have 5 beautiful children. They homeschool and garden and tend to their chickens. My favorite sessions usually involve some sort of nature, whether its gardening or chicken tending. (I always have reasons to love my sessions. In reality, I always list something about a session and say "My favorite sessions usually involve.." Because I just adore my clients so much!)

The Tucker Kids range in age from 8 - 16 or so (I do not trust my ability to recall!) and this was their first time having a documentary not-so-posed- session! The weather was truly beautiful and we began the session with some baking in one room while the kids rotated between that and puzzle making. The kids played with their swing, drew, and definitely played with their chickens. OH and they have 4 cats! (clearly they were aiming for one per kid and need another ?

I hope this family loves their photos. I always get excited for clients to see their photos and anxiously await their response! It never gets old or mundane. Doing this work is truly the best.

To book your documentary family session, you can reach me here.

 

Franklin Family Photographer | Day in the life

I have known Sarah and her family for many years now. Sarah always has a smile on her face. She’s pure joy. I’ve known for some time that filming her family would make for an epic film.

It isn’t because they do anything particularly extraordinary. But more so because she has an old soul - like me - I think we get it from living through losing a parent young. We see the world from a different perspective and have a greater appreciation for the moments we have together.

The moments shared at the creek, saying prayers, or rocking out to music - are moments that seem mundane when you’re living them. But when you can freeze them and watch them over and over - that’s when you’re able to see the special in the mundane.

What an incredible honor it was to film them. I’m so grateful for this opportunity. Scroll down to read Alan's (father) reaction in the comments on his family's film after I posted it to Facebook.

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Alan's comment on my Facebook post: "I honestly had no idea what to expect, but I didn't expect this. In the middle of a busy day yesterday, Sarah and the boys wanted me to stop and watch it. I paused briefly, almost annoyed that I had to be still for a second. Sarah hit play and I was

immediately frozen where I stood. Tears started welling up and I was floored. Jennie Pyfferoen, you have a gift. Like Sarah Hilliard Roberts, I'll treasure this always. Thank you so much for capturing these moments so perfectly and reminding us how special the mundane actually is."

There is no greater payment than the testimony of how powerful family films are for the families that see their story told. Capturing Dad with his son, rocking out playing guitar and enjoying music together, momma dancing with her babies... I will never forget this photography and film

session. It will forever be a favorite family film. Especially with our home being in Nashville. If you want to experience what Alan did, book your film today.

What if today was the last day your family spent together? What would you miss and wish you had captured?

I know for my own family, I would not miss cake smashes and posed artificial scenarios of our family on a quilt. Those things have value too, but we have to balance them out with making sure our stories are told for future generations and for ourselves should we not have forever together.

Because if we lose family members, we then crave their voice, their smell, their smiles.... We crave what we saw daily.

The other day I was driving and my 12.5 year old said out of nowhere "Mommy I can't wait to go to college" - Imagine my surprise, I mean he is only in the 6th grade. I did not say anything negative, as I allow my children's thoughts to be expressed without too much meaning. I did ponder how long until he goes to college and that number gave my belly a sinking feeling.

5.5 years. He goes to college in 5.5 years. We have 6 Christmases LEFT before he goes! I cannot even.

I will prioritize video and photos until he leaves (and after, honestly). But Im so sad at how time flies. What does help is being an intentional parent. It helps things feel slower, as slow as they can.

Franklin Family Photographer | Depippa Family Film

Capturing The Depippa Family felt like being wrapped up in a warm blanket on a cold day, sipping hot tea and cuddling by the fire. They have a sweet warm gentle connection that exudes love and determination. It is apparent that they prioritize connection and time together. They have

loads of fun together.

Filming this family was pure joy. The thing I loved most about this family was how you could feel the depth of their bond. I hope when you watch it, that you can feel the sense of togetherness I felt when I was filming them. I am so honored and grateful when a family invites me into their

home to capture them in their raw element.

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I believe that when families slow down and connect, that magic naturally happens.

When I am invited into a family’s life, I am able to capture their unique story and show the world and them that there is so much meaning in the mundane.

A Family’s willingness to be vulnerable allows us to create a film and photos full of honesty and love.

There was a strong sense of unity in this family and hard work. You could sense they often times worked together on things that needed done. But when they have fun, they really exude pure joy! Of course, with 3 boys there are fights. But more often than not, there is love.

Mamma. I want this for you. I want you to have these memories. As you slowly lose your children day by day, I want you to have something sacred to keep. That reminds you. I don’t want that to be posed and perfect. I want them to be real. Real matters.

Now that we’ve covered what I want for you let’s shift to why this is also for them.

I want them to remember you. The way you are. Everyday. Don’t put this off because you have issues with your looks or your body. That won’t matter when you’re 80 and wrinkly. But these memories. The photos. The video. They’ll matter.

Do it for them. And yourself. Book your own family film today.

If you want to watch more of my family films, Check out my Vimeo Profile.