Erin Nolen Photography

Summer is such a good time for photo sessions, y’all. I promise it is! It is also a great time for big family sessions, especially if you have cousins or grandparents coming to visit. I had the best evening with this crew and I’d like to think that the photo session wasn’t just an item to check off a list! I think they actually had fun together watching the cousins play and taking the time to have these images that they will be able to use to remember this visit together. Thank you, . I always love seeing you and your family!

I have a soft spot for third babies, especially the ones that arrive on their own schedules! When Katie told me last fall that they were unexpectedly expecting, we were chatting at the park about our children starting kindergarten. I let out a squeal of delight while at the time I think she was feeling exhausted and maybe a little bit overwhelmed about adding a third child to their already busy lives. But now that baby Will is here and I get to see him at the park after school in all his delightful red-headed new baby glory, it is very obvious that he is exactly what their family needed! You can tell from these pictures that they are all completely smitten with him.

Another fall session with some of my favorites every fall…this was a beautiful sunny day but you can’t tell from the pics how COLD it really was. But this crew showed up with all their smiles and looking so cute as always. It’s hard to narrow down my favorites!

No one has more energy than an Enneagram 3 on a Monday after her first cup of coffee. I love a Monday. My confidence in the amount of things I’m going to accomplish this week is off the charts. (The flip side of this is low Friday energy when I realize how few things I actually did.) But I digress… it’s Monday! AND it’s the Monday before spring break meaning I really have to get my entire life together in the next five days because I put arbitrary boundaries around things like how much I need to do before I can take a break. Let’s get this party started.

📸 It’s time for spring photo sessions. The days are long and the golden hours are insanely beautiful. I’m offering golden hour sessions in the evenings if that’s something you’re interested in. I’ve got the perfect location. It’s also almost wildflower season too!

📚 I’ve been on a streak of really good books. It’s a relief because I was in such a rut at the end of last year. I’m currently reading Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and I am loving it. The way she describes friendship and connection between her characters has pulled me in (even if it’s about video game creation, something I would not think I would be into). My last read was Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel and I loved it so much. Gah.

🎧 Podcasts… if you’re a Christian who is trying to navigate 🗺️ being a parent who wants to teach your children about Jesus but also feels confused about a lot of things too, I highly recommend the I Kid You Not series on the Bible Binge. If you want to listen to someone tell the truth about their story in such a raw and real way, I recommend the most recent episodes with Abby Wambach on Glennon. If you want levity, it’s always Popcast or Smartless for me.

🎤The most exciting thing I'm doing this week is photographing the annual songwriting retreat for .birmingham with and . I think there are a few spots left if you're interested!

🌱It’s going to be a good week in the garden, y’all. Pay attention! I promise you’ll be amazed at how there is more green every day, something new growing or flowering. We made it to Spring!

All of the families who had sessions on this Saturday in November win the award for enduring the coldest sessions of the year. It was miserably cold and gray this day but these kids were total champs. I love the pictures from this shoot, even if everyone was shivering by the time we were finished.

Look at these beautiful girls. I loved taking their pictures last fall. We did a regular session instead of a mini and it was nice to have more time. I included a few more and some outtakes in my stories!

Monday sunshine ☀️

As a chronic overthinker, I’m often paralyzed by indecision. I will hang out in my head forever until a decision is made for me! One thing I have been trying to figure out is whether I should start another account just for my photography sessions and information. As of right now, I really don’t want to do that!

So in an effort to keep doing the next right thing (rather than knowing and preparing for all the things that are ever going to happen), I am going to post as many of my sessions from the past few months as possible. Every session is different—some are minis, some are full sessions, some were warm and sunny days, others freezing and wet.

Here is a fall mini session that I did in our neighborhood. These boys showed up with all the sillies and there is nothing I love more than capturing life and energy.

Erin Nolen Photography Fall 2022

* Mini Sessions (only available on certain days)
—15 minutes
—15-20 edited images
—$275
* Family (immediate) or Senior Sessions
—30-45 minutes
—50+ images
—$375
* Extended family, newborn sessions or family session with senior
—$450
—50+ images

Location: All mini-sessions will be close to my location in Hoover. I will decide on location based on time of day, best lighting, etc.

$50 nonrefundable deposit via Venmo to hold your spot (can be transferred to a different date in 2022)
Venmo:

If you’d like a session in a different location, please let me know. I have a couple of amazing locations that I would love to utilize but they require longer drives and session times. They would be worth it though!

Hi, hello! How are we all doing? I thought I’d do a little check-in here as we get ready to jump headfirst into all things fall. Here is what is on deck…

🌲Still gotta recap our summer trip to the PNW on the socials. I lit this candle this morning to transport me back to the dreamy Oregon coast.

🍁Fall mini-session dates posted later this week. There aren’t many this year because of ALL.THE.KID.ACTIVITIES. I used to think I would have an actual life of my own but no, I just facilitate the lives of my children now.

📷Go ahead and send me a message (here, text, email, whatevs) if you want to know the dates first. Going to offer one afternoon of teenager minis in my backyard for the most efficient, least painful sessions of all time.

💛 I didn’t do many sessions over the summer but the ones I did were super special and fun. I want to show them to you.

🌻My garden sucks right now. I’ve abandoned it in every way. Note to self and anyone else who needs to hear it: YOU CANNOT DO IT ALL. That’s what I tell my flowers as they are calling out to me while being choked by weeds.

🏡 Our renovation is complete and we love it and I still need a rug. I have bought and returned at least 5 now. Help. Gonna post the reno before and afters as soon as I find one!

📝 I’m always looking for time to write. I process through talking or writing and it helps me make sense of the world. I am passionate about the intersection of mental health, faith, neuroscience, adoption, enneagram work and attachment parenting. If you’re interested in any of these, let’s be friends.

📘 Best books of the summer were Homegoing (top 10 of all time) and Hell of a Book. Neither a fun hang but I’m nothing without my 4-wing. Reading Pachinko now. I only read fiction on my phone which is stupid I know.

Ok, that’s all for now. Thankful for my little space on the world wide social media web. ❤️

Hi, hello, happy summer!

Quick little summer update from our world…

I am attempting to “live in my season” () and that means that I am very much neglecting some things and tending to some others. Note to self: you cannot do all the things well all the time. Humans beings have limitations and in case you have forgotten (you often do), you are a human being. Limitations come with the gig.

*Our house renovation is coming along! It has been stressful and exciting and we are very much ready to live in our home again. We are in the home stretch! Major shoutout to our parents who have been the real MVPs in their whole process as we have crashed their entire lives since April. In all seriousness, having coffee with my parents in the mornings and drinks on the deck with Corey’s parents in the evenings are memories of this season I will forever hold with gratitude.

*My garden is doing pretty well all things considered. I picked this bunch of dahlias this morning and stuffed them into a mason jar of water because even though arranging my flowers is one of my favorite things, it is pretty far down on my list of priorities at the moment. But I’m still not over the miracle that these glorious blooms appear out of dirt.

*I have also been neglecting my photography business for the last couple of months. I am, however, available for sessions this summer if you need a photo shoot! Summer is a great time for late evening sessions plus everyone loves a summer glow for their pics. Also if you have extended family in town,
that’s a great time for a session too!

*I have been tending to having fun with my friends and my kids. The Garth Brooks concert was one of the most fun nights of my life with some of my favorite people ever. The boys and I saw Maverick and I cried weird nostalgic tears. Hanging out at the pool is fun and normal in all the best ways.

I hope summer is full of things that matter to you too!

I’m always looking for the money shot—the picture of everyone looking right at the camera. But that’s never the ONLY thing I’m after. I’m here to tell a bigger story, an honest one. Yes, your family is beautiful and at times so happy and sweet that it hurts to look at them. But the truth is also that our kids are silly and weird and goofy and grumpy sometimes too and if I’m lucky, I’ll get the chance to see a little bit of all of it. I love watching this crew grow up and I will hold this baby girl any chance I get. Our neighborhood babies are all of our babies!

It was nearly impossible for me to sort my favorites from this photo shoot down to 10 for this post. I love sessions at people’s homes. There is something you are able to capture by being in a safe, comfortable place and you are also able to create a new memory in that space when the session takes place there. This was one of the most fun sessions I did this past fall. Thank you, ! (Yes, their mid century house is so cool but I promise any home is a great place for your pictures!)

Here is my adorable fall kitty cat girl dressed in a beautiful outfit made by her Mimi. Have I taken any pictures of my own children this fall? Nope! But I’m planning to very soon because now is one of the most beautiful times of the year in our part of the world. I have lots of fall weekend openings in the next few weeks! Message me if you want one!

I have a couple of mini-session spots open for tomorrow. Weather looks good! Cross it off your fall checklist!

I knew Lauren’s name long before I ever actually met her. She has such a natural gift for bringing our community together; there is no way I could ever name all of the events, gatherings and activities she has organized in our small little mountain neighborhood. She is the queen of all the holiday fun! 🎃🎄🎉 She is also incredibly artistic and has a million creative gifts. It was an honor to photograph her little family last spring in one of my wildflower mini-sessions. I can’t handle the cuteness of those suspenders on her youngest!

Happy weekend! The weather in Alabama looks amazing and I have a couple of spots open this weekend both Saturday and Sunday. Because these are last-minute, I’m going to offer them at a discounted rate. Text me or send me a message if you’re interested.

“As humans, we roam the entire world. We even venture beyond it into space. The whole planet is ours, but the whole planet is not our home. Instead, home is the ground we measure with our own two feet. And home is the place that measures us. Home is the place that names us and the place we, in turn, name. It feeds us, body and soul, and if we are living well, we feed it too. Home is the place we cultivate with our love.”
Christie Purifoy, Roots and Sky: A Journey Home in Four Seasons

Isn’t it interesting how we can be a mystery even to our own selves? Like how can it be difficult to answer a question about your own preference or motivation or experience? I am fascinated by the complexity of being human. I am fascinated by how we can still be surprised by ourselves, how we can live in mystery in our own minds, hearts and bodies.

I get it when Glennon Doyle says she loves humanity but not actual human beings. I don’t feel this way exactly (there are actually quite a large number of humans that I truly enjoy) but I do get her point. We all know that we are often the most frustrated, angered, or confused by the people we love the most— even our own selves drive us crazy. And sometimes it’s hardest (impossible maybe?) to know our own motivations. The more I learn about the human brain, the more that I marvel at the way our bodies were created.

Maybe I’ll try interspersing my photography and writing posts with some Enneagram talk. I’m no expert but I have consumed a massive amount of information about it. I’m super interested in the role of trauma and story and how these affect our personality type, our relationships and even (or particularly) parenting. I think my interest in Enneagram subtypes feels a little more connected to our early developmental experiences. You can go to the Art of Growth website to take an Instincts test if you’re interested. I’ll do a post soon that breaks down my understanding of the three instincts. For clarification, you have a core Enneagram type (numbers 1-9). There are three instincts (self-preservation, social and one-to-one). Your subtype is your core number coupled with your instinct (this makes 27 options).

People are complicated and for me, the Enneagram is a helpful tool. It’s not the gospel truth or comprehensive in any way. For me, learning about it has been fun and often offers some clarity. Knowing someone’s story and hearing where they’re coming from is often the first step for me in offering grace. Even if I have to start with myself.

Thought it might be fun to switch gears for a minute today. Let’s talk Enneagram. I know, you’re sick of it. I first heard of the enneagram from my friend Jess when we were talking about photographing her wedding (she probably doesn’t remember this) and I had no idea what she was talking about. Honestly that was probably almost 10 years ago (checks archives for Jess and Nathan’s wedding date: 2013). But as a psychology ju**ie plus podcast addict, I started to read/listen about it a little and learn what I could. I get it: lots of people have zero interest in personality tests or even learning about human behavior and development. I try not to take it personally that certain people (looking at my husband here) are simply not interested in something that has been a very helpful tool in my life.

I have been learning a lot lately about Enneagram instinctual variants and subtypes. This aspect of the Enneagram is so helpful and illuminating that it has made me rethink my type and also made me rethink the whole way we approach discovering our type! I wish I had known about instincts and subtypes from the very beginning instead of backpedaling now and trying to discover my type from this perspective.

I’m interested to know how many people in this space are 1) remotely interested in the enneagram, 2) sure of what their type is and 3) know their subtype. In super annoying news, I now one hundred percent know my subtype but am not sure about my core type. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I am happy to share this cozy, relaxed, sweet newborn session from a few weeks ago. It took me a while in my photography life to figure out exactly how I wanted to do newborn sessions. I believe that meaning is found in the context of a story. And a story involves people and place. Characters and setting. My favorite way to do a newborn session is with natural light in someone’s home. Alley and Evan have created a beautiful, intentional space; it is warm and inviting and filled with music and art. And obviously the star of the show: their dog, Murphy. What a gift to bear witness to their life for a couple of hours and try to capture this season with precious baby Turner.

Hi friends, let’s talk about fall photo sessions. Here we go!

I’m considering an option this year of a day in my backyard for mini-sessions. These would be super short sessions (like 15 minutes) with some sort of cute but simple set-up. These would be ideal for people who really want pictures for a Christmas card. I’m going to put a poll in my stories today and see if it’s something anyone would find appealing.

I have chosen the weekend dates that I’ll for sure be available for photo sessions. If none of these work for you, let me know and we will figure out another date. These are the days that I chose because I had to start somewhere and my fall calendar is starting to fill up with other events, trips, etc.

My typical fall mini-session days are on location, 30 minute immediate family sessions for $250. You get all the edited images from the session (at least 50) and you can download, print, etc. If you want to bring the grandparents or the cousins, it’s $350 and we’ll do 45 minutes.

Fall 2021 dates
Saturday and Sunday, Sept 25 and 26
Saturday and Sunday, October 9 and 10
Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17
Saturday and Sunday, October 23 and 24
Sunday, November 7
Saturday and Sunday, Nov 20 and 21

I have so many posts brewing in my head and heart this week but decided to share these today. My friend Jessica and her family have had an extraordinarily hard few months. I’m so thankful we did these pictures last spring while the wildflowers were blooming. Seasons change, y’all. Hug your people. ❤️

Beautiful people in a beautiful place. Part two of this extended family session from July.

If you know them, you love them. They bring laughter and light wherever they go. Part one of this ginormous extended family session from July!

It’s too much, right? If you’re paying attention, it’s all too much. Too much suffering, too much fear, too much loss, pain, division, grief. We are people who are created with a hierarchy of needs: our basic needs of survival and safety have to be met before we can access the more sophisticated parts of our brains that allow us to think critically or emotionally about anything. Our bodies are doing the right thing by feeling panic and fear when there is an emergency no matter what direction you look.

A few years ago I realized that every time one of my baseball playing sons was up to bat, my first instinct was to close my eyes. The risk of seeing them potentially get hurt or fail or let down their team felt instinctively like it was more than I could handle. But I committed to keep my eyes open, to trust that being present to whatever happened was more important than my desire to protect myself from that moment. I started repeating the mantra “keep your eyes open” to myself as a way to remind myself that the risk was worth it.

I heard a NYT reporter say recently that her job is “to bear witness” to things as they happen. She risks her own safety in order to be the one who communicates news to the world. It was a powerful reminder that keeping our eyes open to suffering does not come without cost. We feel pain when other people suffer. We are human beings who depend on being connected to other human beings.

I also believe we have a limited capacity to grasp the depth of how broken the world is. This isn’t new. There was never a day when people weren’t being killed in wars and ravaged by diseases and plagued by division. We have such easy access to it all right now and we are addicted to the information, the latest news and the subsequent commentary. Or at least I know I am.

So that is where you find me today. As usual, somewhere in the mysterious middle place of trying to figure out how to keep my eyes open and be vulnerable to the risks and the pain while also knowing when it’s time to take a break and fill my cup with the things that give me life: beauty, connection, laughter, music, time with people I love. It’s hard to be a person.

I look at these pictures and all I can think is gah, our kids are all growing up so fast. Blah blah blah but it’s TRUE. And it’s so happy and right and exactly what we long for them to do and it’s also sad and weird and makes us want to cry. , I love your kids and watching them grow up. Thanks for always being someone to sit with at dive meets while your kid beats all of the other kids at diving. 😘

“The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you.”
Frederick Buechner

Pandemic or not, life keeps happening and there is a lot to celebrate about that. I felt like I heard a collective gasp of joy in our community when I opened Fran’s Christmas card last December with the announcement that they were expecting a daughter in the spring. Good news indeed. Welcome to the world, Ann Hollis! The party was not complete without you.

Camden part 2 😍

I tried so hard to narrow these down to one post but it will definitely be a two-parter.

Taking Camden’s senior pictures was one of the great gifts of this past spring. Her mama is one of my dearest friends, a kindred spirit who spreads kindness and wisdom and grace wherever she goes. I felt so very grateful that she entrusted me with taking these pictures of Camden before she took the next step in her epic journey.