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The Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg, TN

Sunday, June 17, 2007
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Danielle Embry and Rashaan Backers of Kentucky had a 2005 destination wedding on top of a mountain near Gatlinburg. These are two of the most beautiful people inside and out, and they had a perfectly beautiful wedding. After getting ready with her girls in a cabin nearby, Danielle was driven to the ceremony/reception site where her mother walked her down the aisle to Rashaan. When the officiant asked for the rings, Danielle surprised Rashaan with a diamond band instead of the plain band that he was expecting. With tears of joy, they exchanged their vows and then jumped the broom before heading up the aisle as man and wife.

Also memorable were the delicious caramel apples that the guests received as favors, the program printed on fans for the guests, the groom acting as DJ, and a beautiful sunset over the mountains.


Danielle getting laced into her dressEmbry/Backers Wedding Anniversary June 18

Embry/Backers Wedding Anniversary June 18


The cloud cover helped keep the temperature comfortable and created dramatic skies.

Embry/Backers Wedding Anniversary June 18

Embry/Backers Wedding Anniversary June 18
Embry/Backers Wedding Anniversary June 18
Embry/Backers Wedding Anniversary June 18

Embry/Backers Wedding Anniversary June 18

This isn't exactly what I was expecting when Rashaan asked me to take a photo of him with one of his students...

Embry/Backers Wedding Anniversary June 18
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Chattanooga, TN

Sunday, June 17, 2007
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In June 2006, Josh Price wed Kristen Davis at Christ United Methodist Church of Chattanooga. The couple chose to meet before the ceremony for a private moment together, and then we did the formal group photos. After the ceremony, the guests were treated to a buffet reception by candlelight in the church's gymnasium. The buffet included a pasta station, and a live band played while everyone ate and socialized. After changing into their going-away outfits, the couple exited through a tunnel of sparklers to their very well-decorated car.


Davis/Price Wedding Anniversary June 17

Davis/Price Wedding Anniversary June 17

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On Location, Knoxville, TN

Thursday, June 14, 2007
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I did an earlier blog post on out-of-the-ordinary bridal sessions that place the bride and her gown in some extraordinary, often grungy, locations. John Michael Cooper was one of the first photographers to begin photographing brides like this, and he was definitely the one that inspired other photographers to do the same. Now the whole phenomenon is gaining national attention.

The New York Times even published an article on the trend this week.

Now I'm really excited to get out there and see what I can come up with so the first qualified person to email me will receive a free anti-bridal session. To qualify, you must already be married and be willing to use your own dress. You must sign a model release so that I can post the photos online, and you must be available to do the shoot on a weekday (probably July). If you're a person that's up for anything or know someone that fits the description, please get in touch.

In addition to offering a free session to the first person, if you have a really great session idea or access to a great location then contact me and you may also get a free session. Just brainstorm for creative locations that you may have access to: old theaters, barns, warehouses, junkyards, fire stations, lofts, cabins, forests, the lake, yachts, bed and breakfasts, museums, airplane hangars, cafés, horse stables etc.
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On Location, Knoxville, TN

Thursday, June 14, 2007
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Well... maybe they only love one shovel in particular.

As part of a large online community of wedding photographers, I have the opportunity to learn from some of the best. In 2005 and 2006 I traveled to Las Vegas for a convention and trade show with everyone. One of the convention activities is a shoot on location. Last year, we were all guests at a real wedding and could watch the couple's wedding photographers work. They were lucky enough to have some of the best wedding photographers in the world including Bambi Cantrell, Yervant, and John Michael Cooper. If you don't know the work of John Michael Cooper then you owe it to yourself to check out his site. He's not at all your mother's wedding photographer. He's known for his anti-bridals and his trash-the-dress sessions.

Unfortunately, I didn't make it to Vegas this year so I missed their desert shoot with JMC and David Beckstead (more on him later). For one of his anti-groom shots, JMC used a shovel and then sold it to Joel Wiebner, one of the photographers in the crowd. Now that shovel is traveling from one photographer to another and having its photo taken. There's even a traveling shovel website to document the travel. Shovels apparently don't travel very quickly, but it has already gone almost 7,000 miles and has a long list of photographers to visit. It should be fun to check in once in a while and check out the shovel's travel photos.
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United Methodist Church, Spring City, TN

Tuesday, June 12, 2007
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Saturday's afternoon wedding for Andrew Sampson and Casey Cash was at the United Methodist Church in Spring City, TN. Casey described Spring City as "Mayberry", and it is definitely a cute little country town. With the green, rolling hills and white, fluffy clouds, the drive from Knoxville was scenic and relaxing.

Andrea was a very composed, adaptable bride. Unlike some weddings that can be stressful and hectic, this wedding was easy breezy with the focus on the couple and their marriage. After the ceremony, the guests moved to the church's fellowship hall for the reception.

Sampson/Cash Wedding June 9 Photographs

Sampson/Cash Wedding June 9 Photographs

Sampson/Cash Wedding June 9 Photographs

Sampson/Cash Wedding June 9 Photographs
Sampson/Cash Wedding June 9 Photographs

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Welcome!
Welcome to the Nancy Hellsten Photography blog! This is the place to be if you’re looking for wedding ideas and photography promotions or if you just want to view some great photos and see what I’ve been up to. If you or someone you know are getting married, having a baby, or just want some relaxed portraits with the family, please visit my website or contact me for more information. I would love to hear from you. Thanks for visiting and check back often to see what’s new.
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