Happy New Year!! I’m beyond excited to see the start of a new year. I always am. I love fresh starts, clean slates, new beginnings…. especially this year because for the first time ever I’ve sat down and written up a goals list. According to the list.. this year is going to be big, huge, monstrous [and scarey!] ! David is a super duper goal oriented person and once he sets a goal.. he pushes through whatever is before him + not only checks the goal off the list.. but conquers it, blows it out of the water. This right brain, laid-back-to-the-max, whatever-happens-happens girl sees this as the biggest challenge life has to present. Even sitting down and writing one out is huge for me. Yikes!

This past year, I took a little bit of a break with my biz. For the first two years I worked + worked + worked + pushed myself further as a photographer and business woman to grow grow grow this business. Then over the last 12 months I feel like I just sat back, did what I loved [shot weddings] and reaped the benefits of all the hard work I did for the past 2 years.. and it was nice.. but I turned away more work than I actually took + my business just stayed the same as where I had left it. Now, I’m ready to take it further. I’m really excited about working hard and pushing myself further than I’ve ever pushed. I’ve already booked more weddings for this year than I shot all of last year. And that scares the CRAP out of me.. but I’m also very very excited to see where that takes me and my work.

Here are a few things I’m looking forward to in 2012:

1. We are turning our garage/small house on our property into a studio! Yay! We are completely transforming the building into a creative space to meet clients + shoot VERY LIMITED studio sessions [different than what you're used to.. so if you like families/children standing in a clump smiling at the camera, in matching outfits.. this is not for you]

2. I’m bringing on an intern from the UT photography program. THIS IS A GODSEND!! Yay!

3. I will be taking on Family/Senior Portraits/Boudoir sessions more frequently.. but only in seasons.. there will be several Family weekends or weeks dedicated to a certain type of session.. this will be the only times in the year I take sessions other than wedding so keep your eyes open for date announcements on this blog + the FB page [fb.com/knoxvillephotos]

4. I’m going to be blogging much much more than just my work… posts about photography, starting a photography business + photography/editing tips.. and things as I learn them [a creative is always learning + growing and I want to start sharing more of that process] .. if you have any questions regarding these things email me and I’ll work them into blog posts.

5. This year will be starting year 1 of a 5 year plan I have to reach my next dream. It’s a biggy and requires me to learn everything about this venture because I currently know NOTHING. I will be able to use what I do now in this new venture.. but it will takes lots of time, research and moola… for now.. this is a big fat secret and I will give more info as the year progresses. I am SO VERY excited about it!! I realize how frustrating this is [like vague Facebook updates about big life changes that folks must ask questions to inquire what is ACTUALLY going on <-- David and I laugh about this every time it happens].. I am totally that girl right now

Bring it on 2012!! If I can encourage you to do 1 THING this week.. it’s to sit and write out a list of goals for this year. It’s not too late. If you want to get really good at planning.. write out 4 steps to achieve each goal. I have a list of about 5-6 biz goals and 3-4 personal goals.. like being open to new friendships and making time for old ones + documenting my own life more with my camera. We have lots of adventures planned this year to make sure it’s a memorable one and I don’t want to forget a minute of it.

Here’s just one more look back at 2011 with some of my favorite images of the year… onto the next!

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2012 is wrapping up to be a jam-packed year for this biz + the Hensley house.. weddings, weddings + more weddings, taking on newborn sessions + birth stories.. travel plans, family plans, lots and lots of house flipping + if you’re down with the Mayan calendar, maybe an apocalypse. Who knows… what I do know is I’m pumped to display this last post of images before it all goes down. My photography has taken such a turn this year and I’m really excited with the direction it’s heading. I’m craving to create something that’s all mine, something different and this is such a challenge. I’m been in constant search over the last few weeks for inspiration and honestly the best place for me to get it, other than Pinterest, is The New York Times.. the photography in those pages is amazing. I love the way they look in print. I’m also LOVING the look of film + newsprint these days [without a real desire to actually SHOOT in film] and am excited to be moving the look in that direction. I’ve been trying it out with the last few sessions… and again in this one.

Meet Abby + Kenneth.. such a great couple with great talent + big dreams. I love big dreamers and watching them being achieved. It encourages me to reach for mine. One reason to follow your dreams and reach for higher goals in your life is that you will inspire others to do the same.. so true… so dream, achieve and encourage those around you to do the same.. it’s contagious!

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I’ve said it before.. and it still holds true.. Chattanooga is my very favorite place to shoot.. and one of my favorite places to just.. be. There is so much going on + so much for the eye to take in. It’s candy for a visual creative like me.
You can imagine my excitement when I got a call from Jeremy, a Chattanooga native, last spring. He + Courtney are such a fun couple who met in the cutest way possible… in the allergy shot office… there was a needle poke + a flirt + some facebooking.. and boom.. the outcome was the dynamic duo you see here. Jeremy is a rock star and is a part of the band Jordan Hallquist & The Outfit + plays for Rock Point Community Church. And Courtney gives allergy shots among other things. Love it love it!

We bounced around downtown Chatt and then headed to a lakefront property where Courtney grew up. It was neat seeing her light up as the nostalgia set in.. memory after memory came rushing in while walking around the property and I felt like I was there. It’s neat to experience that with someone.. so I took a few pictures of the home and of things she loved because, unfortunately, the new owner will be tearing it down soon. I love to shoot at locations that mean something to the couple.. I feel that the point of an engagement session is to capture who a couple is right at this moment in time.. personalities, flirtation, the sweet stuff.. I want the couple to be able to look back when they are 80 and memories to rush in like they did for Courtney. This was a super cool day and I’m thankful I was able to experience it. Thanks Jeremy + Courtney for making my trip to Chattanooga, once again, amazing.

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Yay for Chelsea + Toby.. and for being back on the blogging track!

I met Toby through serving with the Young Life ministry last year. I was totally and completely blessed by the folks I met that semester and Toby was one of them. I could NOT have been more excited when he and Chelsea [his drop dead gorgeous fiance] contacted me about shooting their engagements! I just LOVED their proposal story.. Toby knocked it out of the park and set the bar pretty high for all dudes to follow. Chelsea is very successful in the pageant world here in Tennessee and was giving a speech with crown, sash and all.. when Toby walked down the isle of the auditorium.. jumped up on stage in front of EVERYONE and asked Chelsea to be his bride. It was so neat he chose a moment that was so very special to her and wasn’t afraid to share it with everyone there! Oh gosh.. I just love what I do! These two are so perfect and so much fun to photograph.. here.. see for yourself!!

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“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor” – English Proverb

preparing for this blog post i trolled pinterest.com [my newest love, inspiration + time waster] to find the best quote to sum up the last month. in the midst of this last month i have experienced the true meaning of the word OVERWHELMED and the word GRACE. this october i booked more session than i’ve ever tried to squeeze into a 3 week time, gave unrealistic deadlines [because i think i'm super woman and time doesn't apply to me] and bought a new house, rented out our old one and was left without a home for 2 weeks during the busiest time of my 3 year old career. after a breakdown, lots of chocolate and wise + loving friends, family + a husband peeling me from the ceiling i was able to take a step back and see what was really going on. we were being blessed. truly + deeply blessed. surrounded by those we love, in the home of our friggin dreams, with a business that is busting at the seems… the tough times often give birth to the greatest blessings and the painful times can often lead to the greatest joy.. you just have to stop and look around at the opportunity you’re being given… switch your point of view. i look back on this last month and i don’t see the tears + sweat + panic.. i see the family that took us in and gave us a place to stay.. the comfort + kindness of an ever wise husband.. friends that crowded tightly around to encourage.. and some images that i am more proud of than i’ve ever been.. images that actually move me [something i've longed to experience for a while] + clients that are now friends. pressure really does produce perseverance and when you ask God to teach you to trust him… he will [it may not be pretty, but it's always always worth it].

One last quote to kick this point into memory..

“It’s not the happy people who are thankful.. it’s the thankful people that are happy”… [another pinterest gem].

Look around.. there is sooo much to be thankful for.
Here are a few of my very favorite shots from this October…. to see many more from each of these sessions visit

facebook.com/knoxvillephotos

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Yay for Katlin + Dustin! I love my job for so many reasons but the best is the people I get to meet through it… like these two. Genuine people. These two aren’t tieing the knot until 2013.. but I sure hope to be there once they do. I love Neyland Stadium engagements, I love sunset lighting and I just love these two.. all in all.. this was one great fun session to edit! Thanks guys for being. so. awesome.

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Meet Frank + his lovely lovely fiance Kendra! Kendra and my hubby are friends from way back.. so when Kendra asked me to shoot her wedding David said “oh yeah! She’s a lot of fun!” He was exactly RIGHT and then some! When you meet these two it doesn’t take long to see why they have decided to tie the knot.. there are like peas + carrots, PB + J, you get the idea.. they are perfect for one another. I loved loved loved hanging out with them a few weeks ago and look forward to our Engagements Round II.. in a few weeks. Happy people are so fun to photograph! Here.. see for yourself!
** oh! and the first place we shot [the French Market].. is their favorite date spot! Can’t wait to try it out!]

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2 blog posts in 1 day?? craziness!

Meet Haley + Justin! The first time I did.. I knew we were a perfect match of client/photographer/turned friends! Get this.. Haley isn’t just any girl.. she’s the real deal and once Justin realized this he knew he would have to do something off-the-charts-cool to ask her to be his bride… and he did!
You think you’ve heard of a neat story and an incredible engagement? Justin took Haley to the clouds via air balloon, popped the question and became her hero!! High fives all around Justin.. way to set the bar high for great proposals!

On top of having a killer engagement story, this couple is really great. I loved hanging out with them a few weeks ago at the stadium + botanical gardens for their sweet engagement session. I look forward to many more good times with these two including their wedding next year!

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Oh my goodnes!! I love Hannah + Tyler! I’m pretty sure these two smiled 100% of the time during their shoot and it’s so contagious! I’m a smiler too so when three smilers end up in the same place we’re bound to be contagious! Smilers, never stop smiling.. no matter how many people tell you how silly you look. Joy is contagious.
Hannah + Tyler have an awesome story that’s near and dear to my heart.. Texas meets Tennessee at Young Life camp! I have a big heart for Young Life for so many reasons.. so many people that fill my heart are a part of this ministry and it taught me lots about my Jesus in my early years. I’m so thankful for it and the people who dedicate their time to high schoolers all around.
I’m so thrilled to be shooting this couples wedding next year and smiling all.. day… long.

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I’ve been looking forward to shooting this session since December! That’s when I shot the awesome and beautiful wedding of Tiffany and Evan. Every minute I spend with these two is a memorable one. The older I get the more I realize how important it is to have good, solid, positive folks in your life. These are two of the best. These two are so kind, so genuine and full of life.. I’m thankful to call them friends. You would be lucky to know them too.

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