5/13/21 5/13/21

Nashville Family Photographer | Why Video Matters

How and Why I began making filmsIt's funny to me because my why was discovered in hindsight. Like my soul always knew and when I look back, the evidence was there. First, lets talk about my childhood proof that I would become a photographer.... I ALWAYS had a disposable camera. and was always the one taking photos and couldn't wait to have them developed. That part isn't too special, but it is part of my journey.Then at the age of 25, my mother died. No only that, but I last saw her on my wedding day. Everyone says we should live today as if it is our last, but I actually LIVED that. and the sad part is that this was before wedding videography was a thing - by only a few years. Someone, ironically last minute took some footage with their camcorder. I saved the CD for years and left it tucked in its sleeve. But it got damaged still and doesn't work.Am I glad I have the photos? Absolutely. But I would probably trade those in a heartbeat for video. I mean photos just DONT compare to her movements, her expressions, her laughter.... her live smile.How my world shifted from Newborn Posing to FilmsWhen I started in the photography world, I didn't know myself. Not my true self, my genuine self. I fell in love with newborn posing, because I have always loved babies. It was easy because ALL I had to do was follow a list of instructions, copy other's work and create my own from that. There wasn't much art in it at all. Not true creativity that comes from within.As my children grew, something began to shift in me. I didn't know what it was at the time, I only understand it in hindsight. I was changing. I was evolving as a person. Discovering the real me. I stopped posing newborns and shifted into lifestyle photography, but even that was leaving me restless. I eventually took a big hiatus. I needed to take a break and step away and find myself again - as a person, a mother, and as an artist.Come to find out, I was a creative my entire life. and never knew it. I was the child who stood out in School. I never fit in and had an eclectic group of friends. I was a creative being shoved into a box and never quite fitting. I attended a photography workshop in 2014, where she told me I was a creative - and I recall being shocked - my jaw dropped! It took a few years to figure this out. But this workshop was pivotal in my discovery.Then in 2017, I saw the first family film created by Courtney Holmes in AU. I haven't been the same since. She was coming to Nashville to teach a filming life workshop and I hired her to film my family. All films come with photos as well. I received the photos and sobbed. I have NEVER sobbed over my family's photos. But I realized the image of my Greyson putting his shoes on in the silliest way, would be what I would miss if he died, or when he grows into a man and I look back on his childhood.What I would not miss, is him in a polished outfit from H&M intentionally purchased for a sunset field family photo shoot. Not even a little bit.I would miss his normal silly self that I see every day. The boy who cant resist being goofy and funny.Anyway, back to what I was saying :)The film came a few weeks later and I literally have no been the same since. I will never return to my former self. No matter how hard it is to attempt to grow a business that does not exist in 99% of people's minds (or google searches for that matter) I will never give up on this. Its too important. And I think 2020 solidified that.The Photography Industry has changedThe photography industry has changed in several ways. Everyone can see that. Between phones that gloriously capture anything we want at any moment and photographers on every corner... its become a way of life and a convenience. The issue is that its also become something we take for granted, something on our to-do list, akin to our pile of dirty dishes. We have lost sight of the real intention behind using photography and video to capture our memories. We have lost the intention of what we want to capture, to hold on to, for someday....When I am filming a family. I am thinking about them when they are 60 years old and able to watch their films and look at their photos and remember as much as possible about their parenting journey, their children and their personalities. Their bonds as families, their laughter, their time spent together. The goal here goes far beyond checking off the to-do list and is aiming to literally freeze time and create a time capsule for the future. Talk to anyone who has lost their child or spouse, they will back me up on this. Talk to anyone over the age of 60 who has lived a lot of life. and they will tell you this is the most important investment.Here are a few films to check out.Roberts Family Film:Roberts Family | Franklin, Tennessee | 2020 from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.2021 Show Reel2021 Show Reel final.mp4 from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.Warmly,Jennie

3/29/21 3/29/21

Nashville Newborn Photographer | Baby Emmett

I have been a photographer since 2010. I initially fell in love with newborn posing and quickly mastered it. For years I posed newborns, but after a while, something shifted for me.I realized I was just copying other’s work. I wasn’t actually becoming me - Jennie Pyfferoen the creative artist. I didn’t know I was creative. People would look at my work and say I Was creative and I would reply “no I just copy work”It wasn’t until the fall of 2014 when I went to a Jinky Art Workshop where she told me I was creative and an artist. I dont know how she saw that. Thats when my perspective began to shift.I stopped posing newborns and began transitioning to lifestyle - but that was just a middle place, on my journey. In the summer of 2017, I found @Courtney and haven’t been the same since. I had this realization of “What am I doing? Im not even truly serving my clients well” Because I wasn’t giving them what I knew they needed 30, 50, 80 years from now - what their children and grandchildren would need decades from now. Family films are simply the modern version of home movies. Ironically, in 2021 when everyone has a camera on them constantly, we have lost sight of the real purpose of memory making.Here is a black and white sneak peek of a recent Newborn Baby Documentary Film + Photos Session....

3/16/21 3/16/21

Franklin TN Newborn Photographer | Meaningful Memories

I first met Malary back in 2011, when she hired me to capture her first pregnancy. I instantly fell for her. She's not only stunning, but is kind and warm and loves being pregnant and having babies. She has since had 4 babies and I have been her photographer (and now videographer) for all 4! Her boys are all so well behaved and love "Miss Jennie" - I know her family and I have a bond that will carry on for years. Our sessions have always been fun and amazing, occasionally a tad wild - and they have always been filled with connection and love. She's an ideal client for having a family film and I have been trying to convince her of this for a few years. But it's hard for clients to imagine their families in films. They think they aren't interesting enough, or their kids aren't going to behave. When in reality, I have so many clips of it all that I can pick and choose from, that even if there were moments that weren't ideal, I can just skip those..... Anyway, Im rambling - but for her most recent newborn baby boy, I was able to do a film for them. She now says that she "cant not have films" because she gets it. Mothers and Fathers cant foresee what a film will give them - but once you've had your family filmed, its something you'll want to repeat. There are just too many amazing moments that film and video capture in a unique way compared to photos. (By the way, film sessions also come with photos, so you don't have to choose).Here is their family film, welcoming Asher into their family. Warmly,Jennie

11/19/20 11/19/20

Nashville Maternity Photographer | Malary

Films have a way of capturing a place in time uniquely from images.... Malary has been a client for nearly 10 years. We have captured 4 pregnancies and babies, and years of family photos. This was the first film for her and I was so excited when she had fallen in love with it. I cant wait to create her newborn film as well for her. Nashville had gorgeous weather for our mini film and maternity photography shoot - and the sun was everything!I love the neutral tones with subtle glamorous colors in their wardrobe. Malary Rocks her wardrobes, but I do help all my clients :) The sunset was perfect - my favorite light that evening.

11/15/19 11/15/19

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.

Mushroom hunting. A frequent activity in the Brown Family

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!

I captured this, thinking to myself, that I want this child to see how his mommas hands held him as a baby.

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

11/8/19 11/8/19

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.

Photographing them swimming was an absolute blast! and this little girl is definitely the muse in the family.

The connection and love run very deep in this family. and there is no shortage of fun!
If you want your family captured, **contact me here!**

Warmly,

Jennie

11/7/19 11/7/19

Franklin, TN Newborn Photographer | Welcoming Walt

Walking a journey into motherhood is a passage into a new self as a woman and a person. Add into that any other struggle or variable, and the journey becomes that much more complex. But I have seen in my life as a mother, that the harder the struggle, the brighter the light is at the end.

Watch their film here:

A new family adapts to the shock of a healthy baby born.

Kate, the mommy of baby Walt, told me - no - admitted to me during her session that she prepared herself to not really become a mother. After many miscarriages, Kate struggled to fully believe that her dreams of being a mother would ever come true. Im so glad she was wrong.

Communicating to a their new baby boy that he is loved and safe.

Capturing meaning in a family's moments together. That is the goal of a family film. That is the purpose. It isn't to show a glamorous technical gorgeous session filled with gorgeous light and blurry background. Films and Photography are more than that to me. I would rather my images be extremely simple but tell a deeper story to the families within them. I would rather have 5 likes on IG and FB and have my clients sob over their photos and film. That is the ultimate reward.

A normal daily routine in this home: snuggles galore.

Thanks for reading and listening.

Warmly,

Jennie

9/17/19 9/17/19

Franklin Baby Photographer + Filmmaker | Welcoming Landon

This family welcomed their second baby boy this summer. Its been a summer of boys! I ADORE this sweet crew - they are so unique in their view of photography and films - they just crave that intimate genuine moment, they have photos EVERYWHERE in their home - even the bathrooms! They are my favorite clients ever (I love all of them hahaha). Let's check out their film first:

Welcoming Landon (Kacey Mills) from Jennie Pyfferoen on Vimeo.

They are the happiest, calmest, sweetest parents. They were so gentle while their older son acted like a typical toddler ;)

We had a fun morning together. Capturing all those sweet moments that will be gone in the blink of an eye.

For this family film and photos session, we started out with snuggles on the bed. We paused for breastfeeding as needed, read books to the sweet toddler. and then headed outside. Outside, they played a game and laughed. It was so fun watching them be a family in this moment in their lives and filming / videoing that - so they can watch it for years to come.

I cant wait to see Landon at 6 & 12 months old - to see how he's changed and how big he is. How he looks at his mommy, daddy, and big brother, and how they look at him.