The Root Photography Blog

Drew + Juliann = Luke + Ansley : Hope Park Church Nashville Family Session

January 28, 2014 by Jensey 2 Comments

When we moved to Tennessee three years ago, the #1 thing I was most looking forward to? Knowing and loving our neighbors. I know it was a long shot, but when I grew up in Germantown, right outside of Memphis, neighbors were a big part of life. The house I grew up in had a steep driveway and the week we moved in from California, we were iced in. A neighbor brought us groceries to the bottom of the driveway. I remember the ’94 ice storm when I had strep throat and the power was out for a week- Dad was gone on a trip and Mr. Danny came over and built us a fire, and then we drove to a hotel with the next door neighbors. Summertime always meant a bbq at the park and kick-the-can in the street with my friends. I really did have the idyllic childhood, and after 8 years in Florida, a huge reason we moved was that we never really felt that in Orlando.

We moved into our Nashville home in December, which meant not a lot of time for meeting the neighbors when everyone’s staying warm inside. We were really slow to meet people and I’d been praying for that special family that would help make our street feel like home. Cue Drew, a very pregnant Juliann, and their son Luke! These guys hailed from Texas and I couldn’t be happier to have them right next door. I mean, just look at Ansley!

Just a fair warning that if you have a family this cute and move next door, we will force photos on you. Especially when said photos involve colorful leaves or snow. ;)

Thank you guys for the photo time!!! :)

Jessie + Jason : Sun Life Stadium Engagement Session in Miami, Florida

January 27, 2014 by Jensey 6 Comments

I can’t believe she’s getting married!

My sister-in-law Jessie was the first of Nate’s family I met when we began dating. We’d only been together a few weeks when he asked me to come to south Florida with him to meet his family, his very very big family! There was Jess, standing in my mother-in-law’s kitchen, wearing a black and white skirt that reminded me of Audrey Hepburn. I’m pretty sure that’s the first thing I said to her before getting my first of hundreds of Jessie hugs. :)

That moment was what I flashed back to when Jessie told us she was engaged. While we won’t be photographing the wedding, Jessie and Jason’s wedding gift from us was their engagement session and leather-bound guest book from their session. It was broken up into three parts, first starting at Fort Lauderdale beach, maybe 10 minutes from their house:

Jason’s “trademark” is this little shirt tuck in his jeans. It drives me a little bananas, and as a photographer, it took every ounce of my patience to not fix it in every scene!

Jessie then surprised Jason by booking the Hurricane’s Sun Life Stadium for their engagement photos. I think all the stress of planning was worth it when Jason whispered to her at one point, “You are the coolest fiancée ever.”

True story: When Jessie first went to school at the University of Miami and I heard they were the “canes,” I may have thought they meant “candy canes.”

Whereas I couldn’t tell you when football season begins and ends let alone which teams play for which states, these guys bleed orange and green. (I said that correctly, yes?) Jason has game day rituals which I will forever make fun of him for, and I’m pretty sure I’ve only seen him actually wear 3 shirts, this being one of them. But I do admire his dedication (never missed a game, I think!), and if he can be 1/2 as dedicated to Jess as he is to his Hurricanes, I think we’re in good shape. :)