Ben Finch Photography » Modern Portraits

The Maynards {Newborn | Athens, TN}

Ben Finch — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:02:14 +0000

We’re from the same neighborhood. Growing up just down the street from one another, I’ve known Chris since I was in elementary school. Most of my memories of him involve either skateboards or Boy Scout meetings… oh the days! And his sister, Amanda, & I were in the same grade so we’ve been friends for ages.

Well, we’re back living in the same hood again. Just a few short months ago, Chris & his wife, Emily, purchased a house two streets over from ours. They’ve been overhauling the home & have recently moved in just prior to the birth of their first child, Ben. On March 8, 2012 at 1:25am, Ben was born into this world weighing 7.2 lbs at 20″ long.

I was privileged to visit the Maynard’s home last Thursday to pay Ben a visit & to welcome him. Congrats my friends… thanks for the opportunity to photograph your beautiful baby son. And, I can’t wait to put some steaks & burgers on the grill soon!

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I love seeing these little features!

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So happy for you guys! Love this little smirk on Ben’s face.

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Tara Love Carter {Fashion Maternity | Athens, TN}

Ben Finch — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:00:41 +0000

When Tara & I discussed her maternity session, we immediately connected as she explained that she wanted a maternity shoot that reflected her style & love for glamour. I had so many ideas instantly come to mind. Then, she totally caught me off guard when she said that she was a Photography major from Florida State University. Say what? I had no idea. I quickly reminded her that I have no formal training in photography & that I would likely break all the rules in the book. Thankfully, she was game!

This past Wednesday, Tara & her husband, Allen, came by the studio for her maternity session. The Carters are expecting their first child, a little girl to be named Povey Love, due mid-April. Tara spoke with excitement as she talked about this upcoming state of life. And we had a great time in & around the studio. Tara was so patient & I really enjoyed taking our time. And let’s just admit… she rocked it out!!! I’ll refrain from further commentary; they’re pretty much all my favorites!

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The following were taken just outside of the studio in our courtyard… yeah!!!

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The Greiners {1-year Portraits & Family Lifestyle, Knoxville, TN}

Ben Finch — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:38:27 +0000

“She’s as cute as can be!” was the first thought I had when I saw her. Around a year ago, Avery was warmly welcomed into the Greiner family by dad & mom, John & Megan, as well as her loving big sis & brother, Ansley & Christian. I was privileged to spend some time with this precious little blonde hair girl & her family last Saturday in their Knoxville home. This was my first time to meet the Greiner family, although both of our families are members of Cornerstone Church of Knoxville. I was familiar with them in passing, but now I’m thankful to say that I have some new friends. They were so hospitable & it was a genuine pleasure to get to know them. Plus, I must add, Megan is quite the photo enthusiast. I was blown away with the amount of photographs on the walls of their home… some taken by her & others taken by some photographer friends. Her appreciation for capturing life through photographs really inspired me & further increased my value in this profession. Here’s a peek of some pics of Avery at 1-year old as well as some pics of the whole family… can’t wait to see some of these on those walls!!!

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Avery was happy to show me her room.

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Look at those beautiful eyes!

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Love that cute look on her face.

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With big sis & brother.

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Ansley is a beautiful little lady. She was such a big help & had dozens of ideas of where/how to pose… she may be a future team member of Finch Photography!

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Such an awesome smile! John & Megan said it’s hard to catch Christian with a genuine smile… we made it a goal to make sure it happened!

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It was a beautiful day outside so we took advantage of it.

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And the Greiners seemed like a perfect family for a bed shot.

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A quick wardrobe change!

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Love that look.

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The Medders {Studio Portraits, Athens, TN}

Ben Finch — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:55:31 +0000

The Medders family stopped by the studio a few days ago to celebrate their youngest son’s, Kash, first birthday. Plus, we had an opportunity to also photograph Sarah & Tucker, Christian & Cayla’s older children. We had a great time chasing this little guy around the studio. Kash is 100% all the time yet has tremendous older siblings. It was a pleasure spending time with & getting to know this neat family! Here’s a sneak peek:

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Evelyn Rose Atkins {Newborn Session | Huntsville, AL}

Ben Finch — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:00:10 +0000

This past weekend seemed like a whirlwind. Last thing I recall was sitting in my office at about 11 am on Friday trying to send a few remaining emails while also getting a few projects in enough order so that I could be gone for the weekend. A good friend of mine & rockstar photographer (literally… John Legend & Matisyahu to name two!), Mary Margaret Chambliss, emailed me a few weeks back to see if I’d be up for a weekend in Birmingham helping her photograph a wedding. I met MM a few years back at a photographer conference & we hit it off & have kept in touch since. And since I rarely get the opportunity to assist a wedding, I thought it would be a good experience, a reminder even of why I love what I do. It certainly was.

Joy’s parents were kind to keep our kids & we enjoyed two nights away in Birmingham. It was truly fantastic & I can’t tell you how much I enjoy date nights with my bride. Friday night we had a quiet dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, followed by brunch the next morning at one of my new favorite diggs… Another Broken Egg Cafe in Mountain Brook. A few hours later, Mary Margaret & I rocked the wedding at Canterbury Methodist, followed by a beautiful reception at the Mountain Brook Club. And congrats to MaryeBeasley & Richard… you guys know how to throw a party!!!

The next morning I woke up completely exhausted from all the activity (getting in at 2am does that to an old guy). Yet I had an idea of what the afternoon held & was eager to visit a friend I’ve known for years. I drove up to Huntsville & was greeted by the Atkins family. Eric & I went to high school together & we’ve kept in touch since. He happens to be one of the smartest guys I know & has become quite famous on #Instagram… I’m slightly jealous. He’s a great guy & has a genuine love for the Lord. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that he’s an Alabama fan! I met his wife, Erin, when they were dating & was reminded how he clearly married up! Ha.

Erin & Eric invited me to come photograph their beautiful new daughter, Evelyn Rose. I was honored & had such a fantastic time photographing & catching up with friends. And, EV is so beautiful! When I arrived, she was nestled in her crib, sound asleep.

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One of my favorites.

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Look at all that hair!

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This may be my favorite of her by herself.

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Beautiful little features.

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TIny toes.

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Eric was absolutely thrilled about his new girl!

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Love that.

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Congrats my friends. I was honored to visit & photograph this season of your lives.

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Emma Nicholson {6 Month Session | Madisonville, TN}

Alan & Jenn — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:48:03 +0000

I love watching families grow. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: it’s one of my absolute favorite parts about photography. Whether we’re taking pictures of a new addition or capturing an important milestone, it always amazes me how quickly things can change in such a short period of time. It’s one of the reasons I believe photography is so important. Life changes so quickly that it’s important to have these moments documented.

This past weekend, Jenn and I had a chance to document one of those important milestones: Emma Nicholson’s 6th month. You may recall seeing Miss Emma and her parents, John and Elizabeth, here as a newborn in August. As our own family is about to grow in June, Jennifer has taken on more of a “Director of Photography” role in our Alan and Jenn team. Fortunately, she enjoys setting up an image almost as much as she does capturing one. Of course, it always helps when you have a fantastic subject, and that’s exactly what Emma was. She has grown SO much over 6 months that I would not have recognized her. And those eyes…SO big and blue! Her personality is also really starting to show through. In the past week, she has decided to become a big-time Daddy’s girl…much to John’s delight! These are some of our favorites from the shoot.

We met up at Elizabeth’s parent’s house. It had been 2 weeks since they had seen Emma; far too long!

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Despite being a Daddy’s girl, Mom is still able to bring out the big smiles!

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Check out those big blues; this is virtually straight from the camera!

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Although I normally cannot tell who a baby favors, the lefthand image is definitely John!

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The rain held off just long enough to allow us a quick walk out to the barn.

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Andy & Meghan Wedding {Cornerstone Church of Knoxville | Hilton Downtown, Knoxville, TN}

Ben Finch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:00:46 +0000

It’s what happens when you’re single & have people in your life who know you intently & love you deeply. Eventually they work behind the scenes to set you up on a date. Sometimes this can be good… really good!!! Such is the case for Andy & Meghan. Courtesy of their church caregroup leaders, Dave & Krista, Andy & Meghan got to know one another in their small group & via many games of ping-pong!

Andy was right when describing Meghan’s “energetic” & “spunky” personality. Before you know it you feel like you’ve known her forever as she has a way of connecting with others. And the same is the case for Andy. He’s a genuine guy… caring & interested in others. There’s no question why these two make such a great pair.

On a trip to Charleston, Andy took Meghan to visit a lighthouse… “it actually turned out to be a metal skinny building,” she joked. Admittedly, Andy was a bit disappointed as his expectations were thwarted. Yet, sitting on the beach, enjoying one another as they watched the sun set, all seemed right in the world. Andy asked Meghan’s hand in marriage… “yes!”

… which leads us to their beautiful wedding. Andy & Meghan were wed at Cornerstone Church of Knoxville (which is also our church… hooray!). Outside it was a bit wet, windy & cold, yet we were able to work around it & I can’t imagine having a better time. I think you’ll love their day.

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Meghan’s personality is so radiant & easily communicates in her photographs.

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Beautiful.

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And her ladies were such sports as they fought through the cold & wet weather.

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(R) When her father saw her for the first time in her dress.

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The fellas getting ready.

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You never know what you’re going to get into with a groom & his guys. This was no exception… good times!

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Andy preparing a gift for his bride.

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The details… just prior to the beginning of the ceremony.

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The incredible designer, Natalie Clayman, provided the design details. Her work was featured at the reception as well.

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It’s time.

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Love this reaction!

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The reception was held at The Hilton, downtown Knoxville. Due to the early sunset, we faced a dark sky yet braved the cold & had a great time using the city lights as our backdrop before heading to the reception.

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Love these!

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We headed to the reception & spent a few moments in their beautiful lobby.

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The reception was beautiful.

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This crew knew how to party!

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Congrats friends! You’re wedding day was wonderful; thank you for the opportunity & privilege to share this occasion with you.

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Levi & Caroline {Engagement Session | Athens, TN}

Ben Finch — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:41 +0000

He had no idea where it would take him when Levi shouted, “Hey baby!” to Caroline from the balcony of her friend’s apartment. They were attending the same party, yet had never met. And from the look of things, it would never lead to anything since they wouldn’t run into one another for several months afterward. They were both students at UT (University of Tennessee) where he played baseball & she studied Art. Thankfully, when they did end up seeing one another, she was on the market. And he’d make sure that was never the case again!!!

These two are such fun. Meet Levi & Caroline. Levi is literally from across the country, raised in the beautiful state of Washington. Caroline, on the other hand, raised in the small town of Sweetwater, TN. Who would’ve thought they’d find one another. But they have… & it’s wonderful.

As the story goes… on a trip to Washington to visit his family for Christmas, Levi planned a two-day trip to Victoria, Canada. They shared an incredible dinner together followed by a walk through the park lit by Christmas lights. As she turned to speak to him, she realized he was several feet behind her, kneeling on the sidewalk. Admittedly, neither of them remember what he said… but she cried & said “YES!”

Levi & Caroline came by the studio last week for their engagement shoot. Since it was rainy & cold when we started, we opted to capture some shots in the studio. Here are a few of my favorites:

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It was so much fun to hang with these two… always serious laughing when I’m behind the lens!

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The rain clouds passed so was ventured outside for a bit.

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Love this! Can’t wait to see you guys again!

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The Pinkners {Lifestyle Session | Knoxville, TN }

Ben Finch — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:55:56 +0000

Occasionally I wonder what it is I will remember from this time in our lives. Things go by at such a rapid pace & we are so busy making memories, aka surviving, that we rarely have time to reflect. I find myself saying, “Joy, what was it that Knox said yesterday that made me laugh so much I cried?” Or, “Remind me again, what day of the week is it?” Ha! If you’ve ever been a parent you can relate. I guess that’s why photography is so important. Almost instantly after viewing a photo from your past, stories & memories come to mind that bring a nostalgic feeling. It takes you back where once again you remember that season of life… it’s a beautiful thing.

Meet the Pinkners: Greg, Jennifer, Jack & Bailey (the dog). There is so much I could say about this incredible family. I’ve known Jennifer since my childhood & have really fun memories of her at church camp & events. Plus, her mom was my music teacher in elementary school… those were the days. Without a doubt, I could easily say that Jennifer was such a great example & godly influence on us all! And still is… check out her blog here! She married a Texan by the name of Greg. Greg happens to be one of the most gifted communicators I’ve heard & through his teaching is making an profound impact about students locally & abroad. He is a teaching pastor at Fellowship Church in Knoxville & when I was in grad school I would listen to his podcasts faithfully. I can’t overestimate how much the Lord used that in my life.

After years of wanting to have children, Greg & Jennifer were blessed with John Benjamin Pinkner, aka Jack… love that name! Jack is around 8 months old & is a big little guy. He was such a pleasure to meet & I had such a great time with Greg & Jennifer. This is their season of life & it’s beautiful. Here’s a sneak peek.

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Story time. I loved Greg’s editorial commentary he added as he read.

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Bailey was eager to get involved.

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Action shot… yes, that’s Bailey’s tongue sprinting in for a kiss on Jack.

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Jack & his buddy, Aslan.

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As of late, Jack has been quite fascinated with mirrors.

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Love this look on his face.

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I’m not sure what he was thinking but I like that look!

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Congrats my friends. It was such a pleasure to spend time with you guys. Can’t wait to see you again soon!

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Savannah Passmore {Bridal Session | Athens, TN}

Alan & Jenn — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:57:12 +0000

Well, slight correction…she’s actually Savannah Blair now, but when Jenn and I met Savannah for her bridal session, she was still Savannah Passmore. You may remember her from previous engagement sessions (here and here). She and Russ were married in a gorgeous New Year’s Eve wedding. However, she opted to do a bridal session several weeks before her wedding. I am in complete agreement with Ben on this one: every bride should do a bridal session! We had so much fun, and it was such a laid back atmosphere! To begin the afternoon, Savannah’s nieces stopped by for some pics that were to be a surprise to their parents (hence the delayed blog posting). After hanging out with the little ones for a bit, we ventured outside to an unusually warm day (hasn’t this winter been amazing so far?!). As you’ll see below, Savannah is absolutely beautiful and has such an easy-going manner in front of the camera. We had a blast capturing these images; congratulations Savannah and Russ!

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Savannah’s niece Sadie was first to arrive and she was all smiles for the day. She loved dressing up in her mother’s wedding gown.

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Scarlett was blown away with how beautiful her aunt Savannah’s dress was!

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Named after her aunt, Savannah Claire has some of the bluest eyes I have ever seen. You can definitely tell she loves and looks up to her cousin Sadie!

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After the girls left, it was finally Savannah’s turn.

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After a few in the Passmore’s beautiful home, we ventured outside to take advantage of the perfect weather.

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Now THIS is what a bride’s dress should look like! Isn’t her dress incredible?!

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Savannah’s veil was also stunning. We took full advantage of it in the images below!

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We finished up the day in studio. I love the simplicity of a solid white background. It really allows her personality to come out in these images.

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