Nashville Documentary Photographer | Our 1980's Summer

This year, I didn't set myself up for feelings of inadequacy.Every year, Based on what is happening on social media, I make a huge summer bucket list. You know the one, its everywhere. We have to camp, fish, look at the stars, catch fireflies, hike every week, swim at the pool 9 days a week, see all the splash pads, zoos and farms in the area.... its unreal.This year, I decided I would plan nothing. Remembering what it was like to be a child in the 80's, I don't recall ever having a list for summer activities. After the summer bucket list comes the Fall Bucket List, then the Christmas Bucket List.... we do it YEAR round. Things were not subconsciously pressured onto us via what everyone else was doing on instagram. We just lived, without much thought. So this year, I did that. I gave my children a 1980's childhood. There were times when we did nothing. We just lived in the moment. In my opinion, were becoming a culture constantly chasing something, never fully content with what life is. We seem to need to be taking on more work, another project, or being on a boat, then the beach, then a big shopping trip - but it almost never seems to end. We seem to be unfulfilled just living in the moment. If we have a summer bucket list, what were creating are high expectations for ourselves, extra stress to be the best parent ever, and so much added pressure. We are also teaching our children that life isn't fulfilling unless you're on a wild adventure 24/7. Also, if there is no predetermined list of things, you can look back at the amazing job you did with zero plans.... rather than feel like some failure :)  So, we had days like this, just laying at sunset on a hammock. Appreciating life. Seeing shapes out of clouds and just living and breathing.We homeschool  year roundUnfortunately, we were behind on homeschool. Yes we homeschool year round, but usually we are not so far behind. So that did add some stress that I didn't love. Because my husband traveled for his job a ton between December and April, we fell 1-2 months behind on school. Unfortunately, my rational side and irrational side do not always see eye to eye, so I felt stressed keeping up with some arbitrary school calendar that we don't even follow. Its now August and we have about 2 weeks of school left before we start our new year's curriculum. Whew.I did love watching my youngest, Greyson, gain his confidence this summer. At the beginning, he was scared of swimming (terrified) despite a few years of lessons. He is learning to read and ride a bike without training wheels. I have said to many, that kindergarten is really a year of teaching confidence. I don't overly correct his errors and just work on building him up. He now LOVES going under water and is slowly gaining confidence on his bike. His reading is amazing! It makes me so proud!I took my childhood for granted.I really did. I mean, I could bike ALL over my little city. I jump roped, I would go to the park at dusk and swing my heart out on the swings. I want my children to have that, as much as possible. Which means not signing them up for every single sport out there, making sure they have free play time in their schedule, vs a jam packed schedule of activities, parties, and responsibilities. Childhood is sacred and short. I want them to become adults who know how to balance work and home life, who are okay with less and don't have to chase every adventure or job or exciting opportunity that comes their way. I want them to have contentment. I hope they can become adults who can say no to events and be okay resting and relaxing on a porch in the summer evening, listening to the bugs and frogs. I want them to be happy with less.So this summer, we did end up catching some lightning bugs. Greyson found frogs literally almost every single day. He would play with them ALL day. They spent a lot of time in the sun and dirt. We had swim lessons and a few summer camps. We went to the pool a handful of times. We spent some time crafting. Between Boxes being cut into robotic outfits and painting, the kids sure spent a lot of time creating.  We spent some time at the playground next to our property. And climbing trees barefoot. Jumping on the trampoline and eating yellow watermelon. My kids even played in the rain.

Nashville Family Photographer

Cultural Shift?In 2018, more people are seeing that life is short. Raising children is a blurry short time in life. Pregnancy goes slowly and then, its like you wake up 5 years later. You have a hard time remembering all the precious details in between the chaos. If you're having a hard time remembering at 5 years post newborn stage, how will you remember every important moment 20 years later? It wont come in the form of Christmas photos. (By all means, get christmas photos!). But what are we really investing in? We invest in our cars, so they last. We invest in our homes, so they last. We invest in things. But what about the most important thing for the 80 year old us? Memories. We must invest in our memories. I could even turn this conversation into talking about elderly dementia. What if thats us? and Our children could have a film to remember when we remembered?You never know...In 2007, I last saw my mother on my wedding day. Someone that day took video as a last minute offer. I had no idea this was going to matter SO much. So much more than photos. I have video of her walking me down the aisle. This was before having your wedding filmed was a thing. But, images or film, what would I miss about her? It would not come in the form of a posed image. It would be her hands. The veins in them, and how they showed the years of life she had lived. It would be her hearty laugh. I miss the looks she gave, which would only be caught on video. I miss her hugs and kisses. Her words of love. I miss the ways in which she embarrassed me. I miss the way she loved me.I wish I could go back.Im so grateful that at the very least, we have raised our children with instagram and iPhone videos. You don't need fancy cameras to capture our lives. Anything will do. I have so many little clips from even when my oldest was little in 2009. They may never become anything though - whereas a professional live video telling the story of who we are - if we can commit to doing this (investing in it) every year or two - THOSE will be keepsakes we can pass down for generations. I wish I could go back and have captured that type of film and video of our family over the years. During the first years, were so tired and stressed - wondering if were parenting right or the baby is sleeping well or eating well - that we miss the littlest things. We blink and literally six months is gone - POOF. Gone. Never to return. Another birthday comes and we do not even know where the year went. Its a societal cultural issue, that time goes fast. We do more and take on more than any other generation before us. Which also means, we miss out on more. And if both parents are working? It goes by even faster.Lets wrap this up...Life is unpredictable.We have ZERO guarantees of what tomorrow brings.What will we truly miss?The way the 5 year old put his socks on upside down? How he never took life seriously?The way the littlest always had dirt on her feet and hands?The way daddy wrestled with the boys....or maybe how he put her hair in a pony tail everyday.It will be the little things. The movements. They connection between each other, that matters. And how can we capture that?Film. Get yours now.Jennie Pyfferoen Films + Photography from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo. 

Nashville Family Film Photographer | A Day with the Meseck's

Filming this family was such a dream. They really embrace life and have such a deep connection with one another. Capturing them was just plain easy. Their sweet Baby, Willow, slept in half of the shoot HA! But we had so much fun waiting on her to wake up. My favorite parts of this film are when Willow and Mommy are on the swing, when daddy and willow are snuggled together at the end. Also, when they laugh reading the book at the end. They have an amazing property out in Fairview, in williamson county in Tennessee... about 30  minutes outside of Nashville. They have lots of chickens which were so fun to film! Jake (daddy), made the entire play set. They garden and rinse their veggies in the creek - this was all their typical day. When you have land, life is far more interesting! HAHAHA!

Capturing families or babies on film, is a whole other level of capturing memories. There is nothing like it, I promise you! I had ours done a year ago, and what a treasure! I watch it every so often and it really brings me back to what matters most: family. There are quirks and snuggles and movements you just cannot capture in photos.

Please enjoy this beautiful story of the day in the life of the Meseck's!

If you want your family filmed, contact me here! 

Warmly,

Meseck Family Film 2018 from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.

Nashville Child Photographer | Avalee's Toddlerhood

Avalee is a typical 18 month old girl, but with more determination and will than most. She wanted to explore and run, and do what SHE wanted to do the entire session. Which works for me, since I don't do forced shoots. I just followed her around and found ways to capture her purely. It was so fun, and partially a hot mess. But we loved it regardless. I got some amazing shots, but wanted to show that her curly head is the predominate part of her body and from my perspective, plays a role in her personality.

If you want your family filmed, contact me here! 

Warmly,

Nashville Maternity Photographer | Awaiting Baby Aspen

Betty has been a client for nearly 3 years now. I photographed her maternity session for her first child, followed by the first year journey, and into toddlerhood. Since then, my style has changed dramatically. That happens when you're artsy fartsy ;)

When she told me she was pregnant and wanted a maternity session, I told her that my style was totally different. That I had not yet shot a maternity session since the big change (it feels like artsy menopause) and that I had a vision for how I would love to capture maternity! Because Betty is a rock star, she was all over it. She gave me all of her trust, and when that happens ---- well its pure MAGIC. I wanted to capture what it was like during pregnancy along with a toddler. What Betty's days are like. I wanted to capture how daddy interacted with his wife and toddler while awaiting baby Aspen. I also wanted to capture the conversation between the parents and their toddler about a new baby coming, preparing for this new big change in their lives! I love how it all turned out, capturing film (videography) for them. Betty cried and loves her film, which makes me joyfully happy.

Now, we really do wait for baby Aspen to come, to shoot more photos + film during their newborn session.

If you want your family filmed, contact me here! 

Warmly,

Awaiting Baby Aspen from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.

Nashville documentary family photographer | Ruthie + Lucy

Jenn, a mother of 6, wanted some images to capture the time of her two youngest girls - as they are today, in all their raw glory. and we did just that! 3 year old Lucy really showed her true colors, and I laughed, a lot!  Baby Ruthie is a super cute chunk who rolls with whatever is happening. I loved capturing these two.

If you want your family filmed, contact me here! 

Warmly,

Nashville Photographer | Grey's Goat Birthday Surprise

My son Grey is turning 6 and we surprised him with a trip to Noble Springs Farm to cuddle and feed baby goats. Grey is the biggest animal lover Ive ever seen. He wants to own a baby Goat so badly. So we did what we could :) He LOVED every minute. The farm was so accommodating and kind. They were laid back and it was SO fun. He was in absolute heaven for a good hour and a half. He said it was "the best birthday ever" - parenting win!

If you want your family filmed, contact me here! 

Warmly,

Nashville Family Photographer | Avalee's 1 year session

I spent a lovely morning with Avalee and her parents, capturing her in her everyday - playing and snuggling, stealing the remote control, reading a book... you know - typical day in the life of a toddler. I love these sessions, capturing their true spirit. In my opinion, it is what you would really miss. Babies don't keep. and their little personalities have so many little quirks, easily forgotten as the years pass.

If you want your family filmed, contact me here! 

Warmly,