Charming Engagement Session in Historic Franklin, Tennessee || Nicole and Truett
While in Nashville, Tennessee this Spring, I had the privilege to photograph Nicole and Truett’s charming engagement session in Historic Franklin, Tennessee.
From the moment Nicole and Truett’s inquiry swung into my inbox, I was just DYING to work with them! We had soooo many things in common, including our shared Christian faith, our mutual love of books, coffee shops, and Wordle (!!!), not to mention that we struck up an immediate friendship over the phone. All my first impressions were immediately validated when I ran to a bright-eyed, open-armed couple on Main Street in downtown Franklin Tennessee, and they welcomed me with a huge hug… it was like we were old-time friends! Nicole and Truett live and work in Franklin, Tennessee, so they wanted to do their session in the heart of this charming, little city. I am so glad that we did! Downtown Franklin is something out of a storybook! From the street-side charm of brick buildings, to the quintessential views of window shopping, to antique bookstores and sweet ice cream parlors, we had the time of our lives gallivanting up and down historic Main Street in Franklin, Tennessee.
I’ll start with a little back story on the sweetest couple of all time, Nicole and Truett. Nicole and Truett first met at church and just started out as friends who made every effort to talk to each other. (How all good love stories start, am I right? 👀) Once they finally stepped out of the friend zone, they developed a passion for spending time together over books and coffee shop dates, and eventually they began the cutest ritual ever: a fun “Movie Tuesdie” date night, where every single week they go out to see a half-priced movie. (Best date night idea!!) Over the course of the last year, Nicole and Truett truly have built the sweetest foundation to their relationship with their faith being at the cornerstone. Nicole is a Christian singer / songwriter, and Truett is a Pastoral Resident at their church. When Nicole and Truett reached out, they were especially thrilled to work with a Christian wedding photographer who shared their Christian faith and could celebrate in the beauty and sanctity of marriage! I was obviously equally stoked on this, since the Biblical meaning of marriage is the flame behind my passion for wedding photography! Marriage a mirror of Christ’s love for the church, and it points to the gospel!
With our faith linking us together and with a shared vision for A charming engagement shoot, we met up in the quaint setting of downtown Franklin.
Throughout our session, we took photos in front of beautiful brick buildings, an antique bookstore, and also inside of the most adorable ice cream parlor. Heck, we literally found a building called “Truett” and did some photos there, too! Their engagement session was literally a dream, and the old, charming architecture of Franklin took my breath away. We ended their photoshoot at The Park at Harlinsdale Farm, which created the perfect charming-meets-rural-vibe to close out their engagement session. Not only were we able to use their photoshoot to highlight their love of coffee shops, quality time, and date days, but to showcase the glow of their sweet, slow romance.
My photoshoot with Nicole and Truett reminded me all over again why I’m such a huge advocate of doing an engagement shoot with your wedding photographer! It is truly the perfect “test run” for you and your significant other before your wedding day. An engagement session gives you and your photographer the opportunity to meet in person, figure out how you vibe together, and in the case of Nicole and Truett, connect more deeply on shared passions like faith, the gospel, and a million other things we might have in common. Building that relationship with your wedding photographer just strengthens their ability to more effectively tell your love story on your wedding day. As a Christian wedding photographer, I will be able to more fully portray Nicole and Truett’s love, joy, and faith on their wedding because of our engagement shoot.
Another reason that an engagement shoot is invaluable is that it helps you and your boo feel more comfortable in front of the camera! For all the couples that tell me, “We’re soooo awkward!!!” (which is like 99% of them lol), this is great way to practice being in front of the lens… and also realizing that it’s not as scary as it looks! As you might know, I’m a huge fan of making my couples feel super comfortable in front of the camera (read more about the Emilee Carpenter experience here ;) so don't worry - I promise to help you relax and have fun! It’s my goal to guide you into a place of intimacy and comfortability so that we can truly capture the authenticity of your relationship. An engagement session is the perfect time to do that… to get to know one another and to allow me to become your new best friend! All of this couldn’t have been truer with my engagement shoot with Nicole and Truett.
After photographing their incredibly charming engagement session, I literally couldn’t be more excited to photograph their wedding this summer!
Nicole and Truett are getting married at The Monroe on 415th in the mountains of Central Tennessee, which is truly the most stunning wedding venue! Their ceremony will be anchored in faith, community, and love, and they will even be married by Truett's dad! (Love this idea!!) Surrounded by 200 of their closest family and friends, I can’t wait to celebrate their union as they become husband and wife. As always, marriage is the most beautiful testament to God’s goodness and faithfulness towards us, and to the ultimate love that is to be found in Jesus Christ. I cannot wait to celebrate this, the ultimate meaning of marriage, at Nicole and Truett’s wedding, and to create a visual narrative of their magical day, all to the glory of God!