Franklin TN Documentary Film and Photos | Real is the new perfect
If I asked you to think of your favorite people and the memories you most treasure with them, would you say it was when you were posed on a quilt in a field for your annual check list family session?
No. you wouldn't.
So why are we investing in just this type of photography? Im not saying no to posed or lifestyle sessions, but I am saying we need to say yes more to real life memories. Meaningful sessions with the purpose behind them to preserve our memories.
I have been a photographer for almost 10 years. Its been trend after trend after trend. and at some point around year 7-8, I subconsciously became sick of it. I didn't know why. I didn't know what happened exactly, other than my own family had our own documentary shoot.
I had hired a photographer from Australia, who was visiting the area, to film my family. She said the session came with photos, but initially, I didn't care much about those.
But then, I received the images before the film. and the images had me breaking down in tears. This moment changed my heart forever. I entered into a transition of finding my own authentic self as an artist. and never looked back.
It all makes sense in hindsight. My degree is Psychology. Im excellent at reading people and moments. at Feeling what people are feeling. I just allowed trendy photography to deter me from my true inner self for far too long. I still love capturing families outside in lifestyle sessions, but it doesn't feed my soul like documentary.
My theory is, is that inside all of us, particularly mothers.... there is this part of us that wants raw real photographs and videos of our everyday. As mothers, we can see that the boo-boos, the sick days, the stories that are being told to our children, the quick hugs, the long snuggles, and the giggles, are the real moments that make our hearts go pitter patter. I just think we are too afraid of something way off in left field, to fully invest and jump into it.
I hear it all the time .... "Our lives are not that interesting" and Im here to tell you, thats a lie you're telling yourself. Your life is interesting. Because it is your family's story. and that is the most interesting life that there is. Photos and film of your family - that goes above and beyond any staged session that there is.
I met with a momma the other day, as she is hiring me to capture her life with a 3 year and 1 year old twins. I asked her why she wanted a film. I wish I could have videoed her long answer. I will try to paraphrase what she said. It made my heart soar.
"I look back at photos of my 3 year old as a baby and I already find that I forgot things that I didn't realize I would forget. I have always wanted a big family and I feel so blessed to already have 3 kids. Its absolute chaos, but I love our chaos and I want that story to be told"
Y'all, I nearly cried listening to this mommas heart!
One final thing. Preserving these memories, isn't just about what momma wants to remember. It is also about documenting the childhood of her children. Capturing life as it happened - so that your children can look back and remember their LIVES and how they LIVED in YOUR family.
So lets get back to the heart of photography. Preserving our real raw memories, so we can look back and truly remember.
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Jennie
Franklin, TN Family Documentary Photographer | Collinsworth Family Film
I have had the honor of photographing this family's babies when they were little. I know their story. Its a story of many mothers out there, a struggle to have a healthy pregnancy or a pregnancy at all. Investing into IVF and freezing embryos. I work with a lot of these families, as they seem to treasure their motherhood journey that much more. Check out their family film here:
Shooting underwater was beyond fun! They have a pool and swim ALL the time. So this was very typical of them. I love entering the homes of families and filming and photographing a part of their typical, real life. We get to know each other well before hand, so I can understand how they think and what they do. We choose the best parts of their day that they want to remember.
If you want your family captured, contact me here! 
Warmly,
Jennie
Franklin TN Family Photographer | Hause Family
The weather has been unreal - very little humidity and just glorious abundant sunny days in the Nashville area. Very un seasonal, as usually the sweat is endless this time of year.Im grateful though, for the less sweaty sessions and equally lovely days that bring sessions like these. This session was overflowing with love, connection, laughter, and JOY!If you want your family captured, contact me here! 
The children left saying "this was SO fun!" and really - thats all the Award I need! Its the best feeling when we leave a session, the kids had fun and think photo sessions are the best thing ever! (there may or may not be gummy bears in my camera bag too).
We started off the session with a few looking at the camera shots, then headed off for pure fun. They were all about exploring nature - and I love capturing it!
I hope they remember this, always - the smiles, and laughs - the open mouth hysterical laughter - how they looked at each other with admiration and love so deep....
Always make room in the budget for memories. This is the most important investment we can make - investing in our memories - that are so fleeting.
Warmly,
Nashville Family Photographer | Blanton's Spring Session
This family. They are incredible. Sarah (mom) does an amazing job on her wardrobe - a hard task to do - particularly with 3 daughters. But she kills it time after time. Even at photography sessions where we have been eaten by mosquitos, the family and I always come through with a top notch photo session full of emotive images telling their own story. We played and laughed and some of us cried. Nashville gave us that perfect gorgeous spring day with lots of flowers, perfect temperatures and most importantly - no rain.I find that there is one theme centered in all of my work: Motherhood.Im sure its partially because I am a mother. But honestly, Ive been attracted to babies and pregnant women since childhood (was that creepy?)....I knew I wanted to be a mother when I was a young child. And pregnancy and breastfeeding were natural to me. I know some women struggle there, and thats okay, I just didn't. I recall thinking I wouldn't know what to do with a child after about age 5 (thats pretty true, but now my boys are 6 & 9 and I guess Im figuring it out... or so I hope).I find my best work, is capturing mothers in their moment. Fathers too, because I can see that through the mother's eyes. But seeing a mother in her raw element, mothering her child in any way - even if its a moment of tears, a scraped knee, or wiping snot - that tugs at my artistic and mothering heart strings. Because its those in between moments, that we take for granted at times. That will go away one day and we will miss and crave the most.Some of my favorite times as a mother, are taking care of sick children. Don't get me wrong, its rough - but somewhere along the way, I started to see the beauty in illness. Calmer, slower days. Filled with rest and snuggles. It brings us closer, every time. The older they get, the more I treasure this. (Definitely was not a fan of sickness under the age of 3 when you worried they would never get well again).Here are my favorite images from this day with this precious family.If you want your family captured, contact me here! Xoxo
Nashville Family Filmmaker and Photographer | Why you should get a family film
Some people are adults, who now have family movies from their childhood. They watch them and recall their childhood. This is especially wonderful if a family member has passed away. To be able to go back in time, quite literally. Maybe on the video, we see how mom would snuggle little Ethan, or kiss Hannah's boo-boos. We see how Dad would play catch in the front yard on Thanksgiving with Tony, or how the cousins would always have pie fights.
But now, in 2018, we are lacking this, a lot. Unless its a video that comes up from years passed on Facebook, we don't have these videos of childhood to recall in the future. Having the annual Christmas Card or Fall family shoot is great and all, but is this truly capturing time? Is this really meaningful? Is it the actual meaning behind what photography was intended for?
I got married in 2006, so it was not a common thing to video the wedding. At the last minute, someone asked to take a candid video with a handheld camcorder. and I said yes, absolutely. That day was the last day I saw my mother. My mother died 3 weeks after my wedding.
When the end happens, I want to have as few regrets as possible. And when social media is gone and all of life's chaos is stripped away, when were saying our goodbyes, I know that what will truly be missed, is the moments. Not the posed ones in the field for the annual family shoot, but the everyday boo-boos and games, the naughty child who sprayed the sink with shaving cream, the way little Roman would giggle every single time his daddy played peek-a-boo. The way daddy would blow raspberries at bed time, or the teeth brushing chaos of having 5 children. The TRUE purpose behind photography is to remember THE MOMENTS. To capture the facial expression, the emotional connection, and the personalities. To tell YOUR FAMILY'S Story of today.
Some people think their family isn't interesting enough for a film. That could not be further from the truth. EVERY family is worthy of being honored with film and photos of their true selves! Everyone is beautifully IMPERFECT. Just as we were made. Just as we are.
In the end, it wont be the posed yearly photo we grab at. It will be the videos, so we can hear his laughter that we haven't heard in years. It will be our favorite image capturing a moment in time that told the story of love and connection.
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Documentary Family Photographer | 6 Reasons You Need A Documentary Session
6 REASONS WHY YOU NEED NEED A DOCUMENTARY FAMILY SESSION
6 Reasons why you need a Documentary Family Session
I have been photographing families for many years now. And its always so stressful on them. They have to collaborate wardrobe, pray no one gets sick, everyone is happy, at the same time and get their hair and everything done. Some of the family members don't want to be told what to do, or they don't like being put on display for the camera. (My husband and oldest son are this way). Some members of the family might feel awkward. I want to share my top reasons why a documentary family photo and or film session make more sense than lifestyle and or posed sessions. It lessens the pressure and stress ten fold. Its is also a really fun experience.
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
1. You get to be YOU. The REAL you. Raw and beautiful as you are. I never ask you to look at the camera and I definitely never say "say cheese!"
2. You don’t have to worry about buying a new outfit. I prefer you to wear something that represents your normal attire, and something that is you!
3. Its SO much less stress. Mom and Dad don't have to spend all the hours getting the kids to cooperate with bribes and talks. We don't have to parent during the session. Your children can be their unique selves and run wild and free. I let them be CHILDREN. Because that is what we truly want to capture isn't it? Their childhood? The actual memories? Rather than a mock up of a family image? I love families who have weird family members, fun pets, and messes everywhere. I welcome the chaos and cannot wait to tell YOUR STORY. And no two stories are identical ;)
4. Its SO easy. I cannot express this enough. You get to do whatever your normal routine is. Or capture certain parts of your day you LOVE most. Bedtime routine, snuggles in bed, breakfast, baking cookies. The list is endless. We can even go hiking or fishing!
5. The best compliment I get, is that sessions don't feel like photo sessions. They felt like a break from the everyday stresses, a fun hour or two with family. Everyone laughs and has fun.
6. When we die or age, we will miss the REAL moments. We will want to revisit the goofy faces the 5 year old made, or the endless books he demanded. How Daddy would rough house with the boys.
Nashville Family Documentary Photographer | The Hartsfield's
This family is one of my favorites. They are so laid back and easy going. They have the most adorable laid back little girl. Im so blessed to have worked with them since she was pregnant with baby Kennedy. From her Maternity session, through the first year, and now into my film work, its been one big fun ride.The day was looking like it might rain and have lots of overcast. But it really brightened up and did not rain. It was so great spending a few hours watching them do their normal day to day activities, capturing the simple details of life that we often forget or take for granted.Many people feel their families are too boring for a day in the life photos+film session, but that is literally never true. Each family has its uniqueness and that is what is beautiful about these sessions. You can see that this family did nothing out of the ordinary, nothing extraordinary. They cooked, they ate, they played, they read, they nursed.I am booking 2019 Family Films and would love to film yours!Warmly,Hartsfield Family Film:Hartfsfield Family Film 2018 from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.Sneak Peek of images from their session :)
Franklin Documentary Family Photographer | A Day With The Lush Boys
I say it a lot, but that is because its true. Photographing a family for MANY years, its SO special. These boys, I have photographed when their momma was pregnant with them. We did 3 maternity sessions and 3 first year photo sessions - newborn and up! This year we did something different. An in-home day in the life type session. I have seen them move a few times in the franklin area. Their new Tennessee home is an amazing modern farm house, so a session there was just wonderful. We spent a few hours capturing the kiddos catching tadpoles, riding bikes, working on activities, and even dancing. I love documentary because it captures their personalities naturally. In every family, there is a muse. The youngest boy in this family is for sure suffering from 3rd child syndrome, being all kinds of naughty, which made for an excellent session. HAHAH!
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Enjoy!Warmly,
