A note from the photographer

(All photos on this website are copyrighted and belong to the photographer. Use without express written permission is prohibited.)


Check out my photography website at J. Commons Photography


Contact me to find out what I can do for you! Jennifer.commons@gmail.com


Tuesday, December 8, 2015

My Gragg Girls ~ 2015 ~ Abingdon, Virginia

Monday, I got to spend the day with my favorite girls - Emma, Abby, and Olivia.  This year we headed to southwest Virginia for their Christmas photos.  Several months ago, Mike and I drove through Abingdon and it was my first trip through the beautiful little town.  When I told Deanna how much I loved the town she said she did, too, and would love to do the pictures there.  And so it was.

Deanna LOVES penguins and we were super excited to find this guy hanging out in a little park. (We also passed a truck with a bed full of hunting dogs and a freshly killed bear!  We didn't stop him for pictures.)




Life with Livvy

Emma loves to do the "model pose," ironically, of course, because it amuses her!

We stormed the front steps of the Martha Washington Inn to grab a couple of photos.  Okay, actually, I sent the girls up the steps alone so I could take a few photos from below.  They weren't very happy about it because we weren't a hundred percent sure it was allowed, but the staff were extremely nice about it!


Miss O's face after Emma said a nut shouldn't stand so close to a nutcracker!

As we passed the first rest area in Virginia I noticed they had a large "LOVE" sign.  I mentioned that it would be a fun photo.  (I will leave out the part about me not understanding why Virginia was trying to be like Philadelphia and Amy pointing out that "Virginia is for lovers.")  Turns out, there is one at the Martha Washington Inn!

I strongly encourage you to visit Abingdon during the Christmas season.  It was beautifully decorated.  There were several of these metal art installation-esque pieces around town.  They were placed purposefully and looked like they belonged.

We began and ended our trip with Babycakes cupcakes.  They didn't have any alcohol in them, but they were still pretty tasty! ;)


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Jamie ~ Senior Portrait Session ~ Greenbelt Park, Maryville, TN

I spent Halloween in my folks town of Maryville, TN.  A woman I used to work with contacted me about doing her daughter's senior portrait session.  They were hoping to still get some fall color and we were lucky to find some at the Greenbelt Park in town.  I had only driven by this site, but found it incredibly beautiful.  We kept walking along the path and continued to find more beautiful gems around each corner.  Seriously, it was a photographer's dream location!  I had a lot of fun with Jamie and her mom, Shannon.  I think we got some great photos and I hope they are as happy with them as I am!  Here's her sneak ~








Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Kayleigh ~ Senior Photo Session ~ Milligan College, TN

Saturday, I was blessed to do the senior portraits of a young lady I have watched grow up the last few years.  We had a beautiful day on the campus of Milligan College, a school she is now considering! Here's a little sneak peek of her day.







Kayleigh desperately wanted pictures on the stage at the Gregory Center, but when we went to check it out it was locked.  We found a helpful maintenance worker who was kind enough to unlock the stage for us and let her have her shining moment. 





Tuesday, October 6, 2015

October Photo Trip - Cades Cove, GSMNP

Sunday, Deanna and I took our friend Denise on her first trip to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  My dad works in Cades Cove, so I have spent a lot of time there and have been fortunate enough to spot a lot of wildlife.  Deanna and I went a couple years ago and were blessed to see a bobcat, a very rare sight, but no bears.  Well, this time the whole park was on display!  We saw six bears, a couple coyotes, a grey fox, several deer, a dozen or so turkeys, and a pileated woodpecker!  It was an incredible wildlife display!!  I am so happy that Denise was able to see so many things on her first trip.

How many times have I driven Little River Road?  A lot.  How many times have I spotted this waterfall?  Um, I think this was a first!


The Sinks. 

The Loop.



I love goldenrod.  My allergies are not so fond of it.

Don't mind me, just gonna climb down this tree.



I've never seen coyotes in the cove, but this one greeted us almost at the beginning of the loop.


Primitive Baptist Church

I can't pass up an animal that poses for me!


My first grey fox! (Photo cred - Denise Schweers)


Love this cub walking the limbs.


We could actually hear one of the bears crunching its snack of walnuts!




 We had been discussing pileated woodpeckers and how Mike and I saw one at the park on our honeymoon.  While stuck in a bear jam this one flew over our head and landed in a nearby tree! (Photo cred - Deanna)








We drove the loop three times because we were having such a great trip!  As the leaves deepen into their fall colors the park will get busier, but I am ready to hop in the car and head back down there!