Photographer

I am a Nashville and Bowling Green portrait and headshot photographer, I offer; family, senior, and newborn portraits on location and in the studio. I also offer corporate headshots for individual and business use. I go the distance in making my clients happy, capturing special moments, and showcasing your personality for your PR and personal use.

[chyjphotos]

My Journey through School

Most people go to college right after high school, those who don't go into the workforce or the armed forces. Everyone does something different, growing up my parents always told me to do what I wanted. 

For the longest time I had a plan, I was going to go to the tech school for two years and get my general education done then transfer to the university for the last two years. For the first three months or so I wanted to be an architect, then remembered I'm bad at math. So I really didn't know what to do, but around October I took a few photos on my smart phone of my friend at her cross country meet. She loved them and still uses them as her profile picture to this day! That's when I came to realize I love taking photos, it didn't matter what or who it was, I loved it! 

I began my research to see if there was a way to learn more about photography at the university I wanted to go to. I made a few phone calls and they told me they had a photojournalism class and nothing more. I went to show what portfolio I had and they looked at it and told me that I would never become any photographer and should look for another major. 

I went home that day heartbroken and feeling like I would never be a photographer. Something in me told me to search art schools that taught photography. I looked at a few schools but most of them were in California or Chicago. I looked a little closer to home and found AI (The Art Institute of Nashville). It was only about an hour drive away and I could easily make that! Then came the hard part, telling my parents I wanted to go to school in Nashville. 

Though worried, they supported me and agreed to help me in any way they could. So in July of 2017, I was enrolled into AI! 

A year later, going into my summer semester I received an email saying that AI was not accepting new students. I didn't pay much attention to it and was looking forward to the new semester. I remember walking into AI and seeing everyone in a panic, the directors I had pulled all of the photo/video students into the studio and told us that the school had declared bankruptcy and that we had three days to figure out what we wanted to do. They told us that if we couldn't graduate by December 2018 that we needed to leave. 

With the help of some of the teachers I had, I found Nōssi! Nōssi helped me get back on track for my Bachelors and this is where I spent the next four years. 

I was in college for a total of six years, not because I failed or missed something, but I had a hard run. I came over all the hard times and overcame so much. I graduate this Saturday and I couldn't be happier! I did it, and so can you! Don't let anyone or anything hold you back! 

Thanks for reading! :) 

[chyjphotos]

Scottsville Kentucky during Lockdown

During these times of lockdown and social distancing it can be hard for everyone. COVID-19 has changed our lives and not for the better, people have lost jobs and  I know most of us haven’t been outside in almost two weeks, as a photographer I wanted to show you the course of time since my hometown went on lockdown and how much of a ghost town it has become. 

This is the square at 12:30pm. At this time there would usually be a line of cars backed so far down the road it would take you five minutes just to turn. People would be heading to lunch and some of the factory workers might just be getting off their shifts. This was my first stop in the ghost town.

This is the school at 2:50pm. On a normal day the buses and ones who drive would be lined up ready to go home, go to work, or go to their extracurricular activities, now just an empty parking lot.

Here we have our local gym at 5pm. At this time, you would find my sister along with many others here working out and bettering themselves or even some swimmers practicing in the off season before the summer league starts. Now it sits empty waiting for everyone to return. 

Our local park at 3:30pm. When it is not raining and the sun is out there would be children and parents around enjoying the outdoors. Now they are stuck inside going crazy because most of them don’t have a swing set at home.

My last stop on my trip through the ghost town is one of our few sit down restaurants in the town at 5:30pm. This restaurant always had a small wait, but it was worth it because they had really good homemade food.

In these times, just know you are not alone. We will get through this and this too shall pass, stay strong and stay safe! Come back in a few weeks to see my next blog! Tell me how you all are doing in the comments and feel free to share!

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[chyjphotos]

Beauty in the little things

With all of the hustle of today's world not many people take time to stop and smell the roses anymore. As a photographer I am very detail oriented and take pride in the little things, whether it is a blemish on someone's skin or something as simple as a pinecone or water drops. 

During my journey as a photographer I have had the opportunity to photograph many things, from people to pets to nature. Nature has many things to look at, but on a normal day people don’t look at it because they have to get to the store or go get the kids or if they do look they don’t look close enough. 

Even something as simple as a pinecone resting in the fallen needles of its pine-tree is something to behold. Now after a while this won’t seem like much and you will probably get bored with it, but would you look at it from another angle?

Now how many of you have ever really seen the sap on a pinecone close enough to see its color? After this I hope you start to think that the little things are important, and in these trying times and hardships I hope you can look past it and see the bigger picture. 

Life is made up of little things; moments, photos, children. Try to stop and appreciate those little things, because before you know it they will be gone and all you will have is a distant memory of what used to be.  

Let me know how you liked this blog in the comments! Feel free to like and share and check back in a week or two for my next one!

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[chyjphotos]

Getting the best from the kids!

For those of us who have children we know the struggle of getting them ready in the morning. Now imagine you have to get them ready for a photo shoot and you are not sure how to calm them down or when would be the best time to go because you want them at their best and get the most precious photo. As a portrait photographer specializing in working with children, I’m here to help you so you don’t have to stress with your upcoming shoot. 

In my line of work I have the opportunity to work with children and here are my top 4 tips on how to get the kiddos ready for the shoot! 

Tip #1

The best time to photograph a child is right after their nap (if they take one) and after the afternoon snack. This way they are well rested and happy for their big debut!

Tip #2

All kids get bored in the car, and if your sweet bundle decides they want a snack on the way to the shoot they will more than likely be wearing most of it by the time you get there. There goes your outfit and it makes more work for everyone, so I suggest not to put them in the photo clothes until you get to the shoot. Happy child, happy parents, happy photographer, great shoot!

Tip #3

A photo shoot can be scary for some kids, with the flashing lights to a stranger trying to get them to smile when they just don’t wanna smile. Every child has a favorite toy or animal, bring it along! The photographer will use it to get the shots you are wanting!

Tip #4

NEVER under any circumstances give CANDY before a shoot! This will stress both parent and photographer out! NO CANDY!! 

I hope these tips will help you get them ready for their next photo shoot! I would love to hear from you, please comment below on your tips. Feel free to like, and share to save other parents! Be sure to check in a week or two for my next post!

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