Where the Wildflowers Grow // A Southern Marketplace
Where the Wildflowers Grow // A Southern Marketplace Spring Sale at Acres of Grace Farms is just a month away!
The 2024 Spring Barn Sale event at Acres of Grace Farms in Red Boiling Springs, TN is just a month away!
Photo collage with singer-songwriter Justin Cole of Glasgow, KY (center) surrounded by snapshots I took at the 2023 spring sale.
You might be wondering why I’m sharing about a barn sale across the state line in Tennessee, and that would be because this sale and I go wayyy back. All the way back, in fact— I grew up just down the road from Acres of Grace Farms and know the Smith and Patterson families as next-door neighbors, so of course I’ll always be happy to show up with my camera in hand!
Home decor by Isaiah 40:31 Custom Designs
April Smith Patterson, who runs A Southern Marketplace with Molly Cooper and maintains the property on which the sale takes place with her husband Nick and family, has a passion for educating others about the agricultural industry and opportunities available in Clay County, TN and the Upper Cumberland area.
What better way to bring attention to this mission than to create a platform for local farmers, craftsmen, artists, and small businesses to showcase & share what they can bring to the table?
Baked goods from A Farmer’s Wife
Basket-weaver Barbara Boone at work (Barbara’s Handmade Baskets)
Custom decorated cookies by Megan’s Made with Love Cookies
Hence, A Southern Marketplace Barn Sale began in 2017 using the two Smith family generational barns on property (the signature big white barn and the old red barn facing the pond) and has since expanded over the past seven years to be a triannual event held every Spring, Fall, and Winter. It now includes another open-air shelter, a big white tent (or sometimes 2), a ring of mobile boutiques around the pond, a fully furnished silo-turned-Airbnb rental, a ring of mobile food vendors at the sale entrance, and most recently a full agro-tourism experience including children’s activities and educational demonstrations beyond the main sale area.
To me, A Southern Marketplace has been a huge success over the past few years, bringing in thousands of visitors to each sale— for those not familiar with the RBS/Clay County area, that is huge!
Here’s a look at last year’s sale!
This year’s Spring event is themed “Where the Wildflowers Grow” and will be taking place next month on May 3rd & 4th. It will be hosting 80+ vendors from across the Upper Cumberland and Barrens of Southern Kentucky— a wide range of local farmers, artists, craftsmen, and small businesses, all excited to welcome and show you what the hills of Appalachia have to offer beyond pickin’ and sippin’ in Music City or the tourist attractions in the Great Smoky Mountains. If you’re in the area, it’s worth a detour to stop and stroll through!
It’s no wild shendig, but you’ll definitely find a warm welcome with plenty of family friendly shopping, tasty eats, and live entertainment!
Here’s how you can find more info from them yourselves, as well as a vendor lineup and directions from your neck of the woods:
A Southern Marketplace Website
A Southern Marketplace on Facebook
A Southern Marketplace Spring 2024 Facebook Event Page
The Huli Hut - If you’re a fan of Disney World like I am, you can get a taste of home away from home here with a Dole Whip!!
Need photo and/or video coverage of your next event? I would love to be your photographer, so don’t hesitate to send an email my way. You can find my event coverage packages just below, or if you have a specific idea or need in mind I am more than happy to chat!
Feel free to share with any friends and vendors you recognize above! ✨
Happy Spring!
Happy Spring…
I’m so glad we’re getting closer to warmer weather — now it’s time for some Spring cleaning around here!
I’m definitely hitting my nesting phase with baby, so I’m finishing up some sessions and projects before I begin my maternity leave on Monday. 💐✨
As a reminder - I will not be immediately answering emails and inquiries March 25th - May 25th, and if you would like to secure any dates for June please be sure to contact me and book by the 25th. I will be resuming with Mini Sessions June 1st at Courthouse Square in Glasgow!
Also, if you are a member of the meggie briggs ellis, creative Facebook group and hoping to use any group promos, it will be closing on March 25th as well so any sessions with those will need to be booked by then.
I hope you take a moment to step out and enjoy the sunshine today, and to hear from you soon! 💖
• Meggie
Need to send a last minute Valentine?
I got you!
Ok, I’ll see myself out. 🤣
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I might as well be dreaming…
“I might as well be dreaming…”
Click this pic to see Sean & Tracy’s YouTube short!
I was soooo nervous about doing this session with Tracy & Sean because I wasn’t sure if the lights on the square would be enough without using the harsh light from my flash, but it turns out they were perfect!
I met this beautiful couple while working on a production with our local community theatre group, the Far Off Broadway Players, and they are seriously the coolest! They make theatre and dance a family affair, as they and their kiddos also work with SOMA Center for Dance here in Glasgow. You may recognize Tracy from FoBP’s production of James & the Giant Peach back in September or Sean from Nick Dear’s Frankenstein in October. Naturally, we had to get some photos in front of the marquee at The Plaza Theatre!
I truly might as well be dreaming— Tracy and Sean did the most as clients with their dancing and costumes from SOMA’s production of the Nutcracker back in December and made this gallery is so much more gorgeous than I expected.
They were so amazing to work with and they love each other so much and it shows!
Song for Post: Out of the Woods by Nickel Creek
Maternity Leave and Out of Office Dates
Please feel free to reach out to me before March 25th if you have any sessions or projects in mind for this summer so I can get them in the calendar and be ready when I return in June!
I’ve made it to my 3rd Trimester…you know what that means! I wanted to go ahead and share some dates I’ll be out of office, my next mini session days, and when I plan to take Maternity Leave:
January 21 - 27th (This Week) // Out of OfficeFebuary 3rd // Valentine Minis @ Courthouse Square, Glasgow, KYMarch 24th - May 25th // Maternity Leave - I will not be taking any sessions during this time. June 1 // Minis on the Square @ Courthouse Square, Glasgow, KYI will be sharing my package and pricing updates and mini session line up for the second half of the year in the coming weeks so that you can be thinking ahead and we can go ahead and get you on the calendar before I go on leave!
I will not be scheduling any sessions or immediately responding to inquiries & emails during my maternity leave.
Please feel free to reach out to me before March 25th if you have a session or project in mind for this summer so we can prep accordingly for when I’m back in June!
“What all do I do? What are my packages and prices?”
“What all do I do? What are my packages and prices?”
Well, long story short, I’m a documentary-style photographer, and a functional designer.
Like most other photographers, I want to tell a story with my work. An important part of that to me is staying true to what’s really there, and not interfering with the flow of what’s already happening. For general portrait sessions, that looks like giving my client a prompt and letting them roll with it while I tag along. For a bigger event like a wedding, I consult with my clients and put together an itinerary in advance so the day of I know where to be while their day unfolds without having to bother them with questions. Post-session or event, I cull through all the photos, edit blemishes, and adjust the color tone so it looks more put together, but you won’t find me doing any major altering or ‘shopping. Why?
In the words of Sean O’Connell in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, “Beautiful things don’t ask for attention.” The magic is in the moment.
I’ve learned by now that it’s really that simple! I do my best during the session to be your personal hype man so you’re relaxed and confident, you feel better, and therefore “look” better, (that’s why you reach out to a professional photographer in the first place, right?) but the real trick to being a “good” photographer is knowing when to let things be and appreciate them as they are. That, and I keep learning how to best use my camera and equipment so that I can take a great photo in that moment and it doesn’t need much editing in post unless the lighting or other circumstances out of my control just weren’t that great.
I’m a firm believer in going the extra mile if you want the best view. I apply the same thoughts when I’m designing as well. I’m not unique as a designer that likes to have the function determine the overall form in a “really-really-good-looking way,” but I do find the unique qualities that will make a project shine in the context you place it, and give it the attention to detail it deserves.
Soooooo, now that you know more about my process, here’s what’s new around here: I have adjusted my usual photography packages to reflect the balance of my value to client budgets, and…
I’m adding new event coverage and branding package options!
For full package details head over to my new Branding & Events page.
BRANDING PACKAGESTHE FIRST IMPRESSION - 15 Minute Individual Headshot Session - $125THE SOCIAL LITE - Mini Branding Package with both headshots & logo for an Individual or Small Business - $250*THE BRICK & MORTAR - Basic Branding Package with headshots, logo, + product, location, or team session + a 30 Sec - 1 Min video trailer - $425* THE FULL SUITE - My Full Branding Package with headshots, logo + product, location, and team session + 1-3 Min video trailer - $600* *$75 for each additional team member headshotsDESIGN SERVICES Logo - for an Individual or Small Business - $150Single Layout - for cards, ads, or custom graphics - $50 + Any printing costs.Photo Directory - Starting at $50 - Varies on size & printing options.Custom Photo Album - Starting at $25 - Varies on size & printing options.Event Coverage Packages*These packages are not available for weddings.Photo Only - Up to 3 Hours of Coverage - $250Photo + Video - Up to 3 Hours Coverage + 1-3 Min Trailer - $450*$125 per additional hour. I hope to hear from you soon! The best way to reach me is to head over to the Contact Me tab, or email me directly at meggie.creative@gmail.com.
Moving forward…email me!
Please don’t PM me on social media, email me instead!
There are 2 parts to this week’s update: how to follow me, and how to stay in touch with me!
Please don’t PM me on social media, instead use the “CONTACT ME” link in my bio to email me!
Click this photo to see my YouTube Shorts tutorial for finding my links on Facebook!
First, the best way to follow me for detailed updates? HERE ON MY WEBSITE! My blog is my main focus. I am learning how to make it possible for you to sign up for email updates when I post new blogs, just like the newsletter I used to send out!
Secondly, the best way to stay in touch and message me is via email using the *CONTACT ME* option at the link in my profile’s bio for quick responses (yes, I will still be responding ASAP just like I would a PM).
“Why the change? I already follow you for updates on Facebook and Insta, and messaging you there is easy…”
I will still be posting on Facebook & Instagram as well, but I want to establish my website as my HQ with all of my clients and followers for a few reasons:
1) I need to condense how clients contact me to ONE location so that I can keep track better. All the PMs, DMs, texts, and emails are too spread out. I’d prefer to keep all business related correspondence to my email unless something REALLY just can’t wait.
2) I have more control over my content on my website. Social sites tend to limit descriptions and the quality of photos and videos, which you know I’m not a fan of. Not to mention all the accounts being hacked and spam messages.
3) It will be THE place for you to keep up with me and what I offer. If I haven’t posted in a while, check my blog on my website. Need to contact me? Email me or find my contact form on my website. Want to know what type of photos I do and what my prices are? Check my pricing menu on my website! It makes things easier and more reliable for everyone.
In short, this makes it easier for me to better serve you!
Find my links here on my Instagram profile!
I hope to hear from you soon…you know how to find me! :D
START SPREADING THE NEWS…
Seems like a good time to re-introduce myself— I’m the photographer and designer behind this biz!
It’s my birthday, and I thought it’d be a good time to reintroduce myself for the new folks!
Click the photo for the full Short on my YouTube Channel!
I’m Meggie, the photographer and designer behind this biz! I’m based in Glasgow, Kentucky and primarily do lifestyle and wedding portrait photography. You’ve probably noticed though that my business is called “Meggie Briggs Ellis Creative” and not “Photography,” and that’s because I do more than just photography! I graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Architecture + Design in 2018 while expecting our oldest son and I decided it would be better to spend time with our kids while they’re young rather than spending overtime as an intern at a firm, so I started my own small business instead, and here I am 5 years later. I’ve been doing photography on and off for the past decade so it seemed like a no brainer, and I have ample training in architectural and graphic design so I thought I’d put those skills to work too!
My gift to myself this year is making my life easier with some changes to this business—
I have some new photo package updates, design options, and some important order of business updates that I will be sharing throughout this month so if you are interested in working with me this year PLEASE keep an eye out as I roll out these changes!
I also have a GIFT for YOU: Fill out the “Model Headshot Mini Session App” HERE or below for the chance to be drawn for a free Headshot Mini Session!
I hope you’re enjoying your trial week of 2024 and finding time to enjoy the little things! ✨
This link will take you to my Google Form:
Model Headshot Mini Session App Link
✨HAPPY NEW YEAR✨
I hope you have fun and stay safe for this last day of the year and into next year. Being present for all my clients is truly an honor and a blessing. Thank you for an amazing 2023, here’s to making memories and documenting more stories in 2024! 🤍
🏷️ • #photographer #portraitphotography #happynewyear #memories #stories #newyearnewgoals #changeiscoming #pivot
Glad Tidings…
Merry Christmas from our family to yours! ✨
I hope you’ll forgive me, I know it’s been quiet here on my business socials & site the past few weeks while I wrap up 2023 and work on maintaining some “peace, comfort, and joy” around our home as we prepare for a sweet new arrival in the Spring! 🐣 🍼 👣
2023 has been wild for sure, and 2024 holds some exciting changes and challenges. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and truly pray for a new year of peace, comfort, and joy for you! 💖
“I hope this finds you well…”
If you were on my list to receive my monthly email newsletter, you may have noticed that it’s missing from your inbox again this month. That’s because I decided to do away with it— I honestly look at my own email inbox every day and dread receiving anything that doesn’t have to do with direct conversations, confirmations, or orders I’m actively participating in and I’m willing to bet you do too. So, I’ve decided to put my energy where I know it will be most effective- Here, the blog on my website (I’m learning how to make the most of it so please bear with me) and my social media accounts: Meggie Briggs Ellis, Creative on Facebook and @mbecreative on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest.
If you happened to actually look forward to those monthly newsletters, I do apologize. If you still want to stay in the loop, get early access to my upcoming session dates, and exclusive discounts, join me over in my private Facebook group: meggie briggs ellis, creative (no caps & same cover photo as my main page, also below).
I really do hope this finds you well, and I hope to see you IRL real soon! 💖
P.S. I am still not over Alyssa’s senior session. 🤩 Feel free to book a session with me at this location soon!
Just Like a Movie
Ever get chills when you see something that just feels magical? That’s the joy of my job. Every single client I’ve photographed has something that is so uniquely beautiful and personal and deserves to be saved to come back to, special occasion or not. The best parts of movies are those moments that you can relate to so well, that create that connection and feeling of wonder and belonging in this moment. That’s the connection I want my work to create, too.
These two souls were kind enough to model for me so I could practice with the space and lighting in the greenhouse and I am thrilled about how they turned out, to say the least!
// Models: Bradley & Mary • Location: Chestnut Grove Market // #greenhousephotoshoot #couplesphotography #portraitphotographer #likethemovies #YourStoryIsWorthTelling
Welcome!
Your story is worth telling.
Your story is worth telling.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you might have noticed that it looks a little different around here— that’s because it is! If you’re new, hello! I’m Meggie, a photographer on a mission to show other humans the beauty in their being. I want to keep this short because I know your time is valuable, so I just want to welcome you and tell you that I hope you keep checking back to connect with the stories and community I hope to foster here. Take a look around and let me know what you think works or doesn’t, and let your friends know I’m here, too!