family portraits

Highlights from 2017 [Franklin, TN] Fall Mini Sessions

Published on January 9, 2018January 11, 2018 by Heather Durham Photography1 Comment

Happy New Year! Christmas cards have all been mailed, opened and posted on the fridge. Gifts have been exchanged and holidays have been celebrated. Bowl games have been watched, the ball has dropped, and now I can share highlights from my Fall 2017 Mini Sessions in Franklin, TN and Birmingham, starting with Franklin sessions that I shot in historic and quaint Leipers Fork. I will follow up with a separate post for Birmingham portrait sessions.

Kids and family portrait sessions are how I started my business 15 years ago, so it’s always fun to shoot what began it all for me. This year, there were new clients and returning clients in front of my lens…so many beautiful families, kids, couples and pups! Mark your calendars for the first week of August when I will announce Fall 2018 Mini Sessions dates on social media and online booking through my website. In the meantime, here are some highlights from Fall 2017 in Franklin. And, you can see Birmingham, AL Fall Minis here.

Leipers Fork Fall Mini Sessions by Heather Durham Photography

The Clarke Family [Franklin, TN Family Portrait Session]

Published on February 15, 2017February 15, 2017 by Heather Durham PhotographyLeave a comment

I just met this beautiful and precious family in August but I feel like I’ve known them longer. They moved to Franklin from Birmingham, a few months before we did, to plant a church. Sean is the pastor of Five Stones Church, a church plant of Church of the Highlands. Rhiannon, his wife, is my small group leader, we all live in the same neighborhood, and our daughters take dance together. We’re kinda doing this transition thing together. And, yes, I’m glad our lives have intertwined in only a few short months. I’m super thankful God orchestrated it!

I had the privilege of photographing Sean, Rhiannon and kids this past fall, and we were blessed with gorgeous fall color and dreamy light bouncing around my camera lens. If only I could bottle up that light and carry it around with me every day, I’d be one happy girl!

A Weekend at the Hunting Camp

Published on January 8, 2016January 8, 2016 by Heather Durham Photography1 Comment

I love this sweet and beautiful family! Brad and I met Kelly and KaiVan twenty years ago at the gym…before we were all married…and before kids. We’ve been close friends ever since. The guys share a love of hunting and the girls share a love of fitness and teaching group exercise classes. Our kids are close in ages with similar interests, so we have a lot of fun when we can get away together and we try to do it every fall. I look forward to it every time.

In November Kelly & KaiVan invited us to their family hunting camp, “Nelson’s Landing”, named after their son. My husband (and son) had been there many times and told me about it, however this was my first time. I love Fall, but it is always extremely busy for me; so I have to hold onto one full weekend for rest and relaxation with my family. This was that weekend. Beautiful fall weather, long dirt roads, swamps of flooded timber, riverbanks and barges, fall color in the spanish moss covered trees, fires in the firepit, kids doing smores and swinging in the tree swing, grilling out steaks, shooting practice, and a little bit of deer, squirrel and pig hunting for the boys. Most important of all, our families all together having fun with no wifi service! (I admit, no wifi is a challenge for me…but good for me!)

While there, we planned to photograph the Greiner family. Much to our surprise, Kelly grabbed my camera and took some shots of our family. Unfortunately we weren’t planning on getting photos of us, so we rolled out of bed and no one had showered. (Insert laugh and sigh.) Thankfully, at least what we all wore coordinated. Next time I’ll be a little more prepared! But, I loved our family shot so much I used it on our Christmas card! We rarely get family photos because I’m always behind the camera. Thanks Kelly!

The last day it was just our family there. It was fun for my daughter and me to be in the woods with our boys on their adventures, and with my camera in hand to capture them in their element. Of course it wasn’t serious hunting that way, but I loved permission to get a peek inside their world.

Here’s some of my favorite images from our weekend together…from portraits, to candid moments and everything in between…

The Barrentine Family at Lake Martin

Published on October 29, 2015October 29, 2015 by Heather Durham PhotographyLeave a comment

I enjoyed getting to spend a sunny, late summer, afternoon photographing this sweet family at their home on Lake Martin. (The session was a birthday gift to Mom.) And, I loved watching the dynamics of their big family, full of love and laughter.

While there, I also took some shots of Ellie, their beautiful high school senior who is headed to Auburn next fall. And finally, right before sunset, we headed out to the dock and on the boat for some water sports shots. It’s so much fun to capture families at the lake, where they make so many amazing memories together!

The Brown Family

Published on May 29, 2015May 29, 2015 by Heather Durham PhotographyLeave a comment

We attend the same church as Ryan and Jennifer, but Shades Mountain Baptist is large, so my first time actually meeting them was at our session. Ryan had purchased a gift certificate for Jennifer as a Christmas gift. She was ready for her session in early spring, but we had to reschedule several times due the rainy season. Then, finally their day arrived! We roamed around Hoover chasing light (and their youngest) while taking advantage of the crimson clover still in bloom. I enjoyed meeting this sweet family and loved the images that came from our afternoon together.

Kelly and Her Boys (Fall Mini Session)

Published on February 6, 2015December 23, 2015 by Heather Durham PhotographyLeave a comment

A Family Weekend at Cottonwoods Hunting Lodge

Published on February 6, 2015February 13, 2015 by Heather Durham PhotographyLeave a comment

October is one of my favorite months of the entire year. My birthday also happens to be at the end of the month and I can honestly say I never remember it being rainy on my birthday. It always seems to be sunny with fall color all around me. So, when our dear friends invited us to their hunting lodge for the weekend I was thrilled to get some rest and relaxation during my busy season and enjoy the great outdoors with my family. The dads hunted, the moms took run/walks on the long country roads, the boys fished and shot BB guns, and the tween girls rode around in the golf cart listening to music. And when night came, we made smores around the fire pit. Even though it was supposed to be an ‘off weekend” for me, I brought along my camera to capture some of our memories and a few family portraits since the weather was so perfect. Here’s a few images I thought I would share with you…such a beautiful and peaceful place!

Love this of my beautiful and sweet friend Kelly. We met about 17 years ago through our husbands at the gym and have been dear friends and workout buddies ever since. She’s truly one of the most thoughtful people I know. And, she loves red wine so I had to grab one of her with glass in hand.

And since Kelly and I don’t have many photos together, my daughter grabbed my camera and took some of us together. I think Olivia did a great job!

The Spooner Family [Fall Mini Session]

Published on February 5, 2015February 26, 2015 by Heather Durham PhotographyLeave a comment

So excited to get to photograph two Spooner families in my years of being a photographer. I photographed these kids’ cousins a few years ago. Both sweet families! Oh how I love a little boy with dimples and boots and his blondie sister with blue eyes is such a cutie!

The Anderson Family

Published on February 5, 2015March 1, 2015 by Heather Durham PhotographyLeave a comment

Welcome to Birmingham to the beautiful Anderson Family! I know you are going to love The Magic City and it’s going to love you!

The Mason Family [Fall Mini Session]

Published on February 5, 2015March 1, 2015 by Heather Durham PhotographyLeave a comment

I always enjoy getting to photograph friends’ families. I’ve gotten to know Mary and her family over the years because our daughters are in school and activities together. So glad they wanted some images together as a family for their Christmas cards!