Nashville TN Photographer | The Empowering Project

Senior Week—Claudia

Happy back to school, everybody! Iddy and Oscar’s and my Empowering Project is going strong. What is your advice to empower your younger self? Go to this link to answer that question for us, and also enter to win some super great prizes, including a senior mini session and a some Volcano scented goodies.

Go to the link HERE

Sunless tan glows by @quicktansunless, Quick Wash Laundry here in Lebanon was gracious enough to let us have a session in their laundromat.

Check out Iddy and Oscar’s HERE

Meet Claudia, a senior at Lebanon High School. When we asked her what her advice to her younger self was, here is what she said, “Chill out, don’t worry, everyone has gone through things, and others will understand.” The person who has empowered her through life is her mom. “The female that has made the biggest impact in my life would definitely have to be my mom. She is one of the most kind hearted people i’ve ever met, and that has always paid off for everything she’s been through. She is also very hard working and I look up to her for this reason because she has always been there for everything that i’ve ever needed even if she had to put herself second. She’s taught me so much, but one of the most important things is RESPECT, and one day I would love to have a family and give and teach my kids what my mom was able to give and teach to me. I will never stop learning from her!” Her mom sounds awesome. Have a great senior year, Claudia, and continue to empower other students with your words. Scroll for a look at her pictures. I love the crown!

Nashville TN Photographer | The Empowering Project

Senior Week—-Devin

Y’all, it’s the first full week of school Shout out to all the seniors for making it this far! Keep your head up, make good grades, work hard, and be kind. Iddy and Oscar’s and my Empowering Project is going strong. What is your advice to empower your younger self? Go to the link to answer that question for us, and also enter to win some super great prizes, including a senior mini session and a some Volcano scented goodies.

Go to the link HERE

Sunless tan by @quicktansunless, Quick Wash Laundry here in Lebanon was gracious enough to let us have a session in their laundromat.

Check out Iddy and Oscar’s HERE

Meet Devin, a senior at Lebanon High School. This one has a special place in my heart because I taught her in the first grade. Her little face looks exactly the same. :) I can’t believe she is this old. I can’t wait to see what her future holds. We asked Devin what advice she would give to her younger self to empower her, and she said, “I would tell my younger self to always be confident. Get out and enjoy high school. Don’t care what anyone else thinks. Join thing, get involved, dress up for the pep rallies!”

Devin also said that the woman in her life who empowered her the most is Joy Pine! Our sweet friend from Iddy and Oscar’s. I would totally agree, Devin. Also her friend, Meghan. Here’s what she had to say, “I think the first female that has inspired me was Joy Enzfelder. When I was younger my mother and I would talk about Joy's journey thru her mission work and Miracle Power. She inspired me at that point in my life to see the world in a different view and I knew that I wanted to be able to make a difference in some way, somehow. I ended up collecting change for a change and Joy was able to purchase a goat at Miracle Power. Today, I still hope that this had a great impact in some child’s life. Without Joy being an inspiration, I'm not quite sure that I would have some of the aspirations that I do. That brings me to Meghan, the woman who as of today probably has made the biggest impact of my life. I met Meghan through my mom when they worked in the hospital together. From the first day I met Meghan she caught my attention with her kindness toward others, the way she views things in a positive ways, her love for the Lord, the medical mission work she does, her fearless heart, courage and ambition to fulfill a dream to work at St. Judes to work with children. I can totally see myself walking in her shoes and she is someone that I inspire to be like.” Devin will be great at anything she chooses to do. Let her give you some kind words when you see her at school.

Nashville TN Photographer | The Empowering Project

Senior Week—-Allison

Like it or not, all the school is happening! If you’re a senior be sure to make this your best year yet. You’re about to go on to your future! Iddy and Oscar’s and my Empowering Project is going strong. What is your advice to empower your younger self? Go to the link to answer that question for us, and also enter to win some super great prizes, including a senior mini session and a some Volcano scented goodies.

Go to the link HERE

Sunless tan by @quicktansunless, Quick Wash Laundry here in Lebanon was gracious enough to let us have a session in their laundromat.

Check out Iddy and Oscar’s HERE

Meet Allison! She is one of the most free, confident girls I know. We asked her what she would say to her younger self to empower her, and she said, “I would tell her to wear anything she wants, go to anything she wants, don’t care what anyone else thinks. Make all the noise, sing all the songs, dance in public because life is too short!! The inner you is just as good as the outer you. Shine! Show everyone else how good you are.” I need this advice. All the people need this advice. Way to go, Allison. I love it!

We also asked Allison who has empowered her over her lifetime. This is what she said, “I love this, as a strong believer in women empowerment myself! My grandmother! She taught me not to care what anyone thinks about me, how to always take advantage of any dress up opportunity, my manners, how to make a cheesecake, never go anywhere empty handed, how to charm and make people laugh. she taught me it’s always okay to be the only one dancing or singing as long are you are having fun. She is the one that has made me the hippie child i am today. She has incredible strength and charisma to show me to take on the world one step at a time. I would love to be able to show young girls how to show the world that they are here to make a difference! Every girl has a fire inside them that needs to kindled to glow! I want show every girl she is beautifully made inside and out! I love to work with young girls to empower them and break them out of their shells and let them know it’s okay to be their true self.” Wow! That is all I have to say about that. If you see Allison in the halls at Oakland High School, she’ll give you a smile and some encouraging words. So proud of this girl for letting her light shine.

Nashville TN Photographer | The Empowering Project

Senior Week—-Aniston

“God has a plan for you, and he will lead you wherever he wants you to go.” This is Aniston’s advice to her younger self. No matter how bumpy the road is, it will smooth out. Have faith. I love this.

Aniston is a senior at Lebanon High School. The person who has empowered her is her mom. through the hard times, she has been the glue that has held their family together. Aniston says her mom is super caring and is sort of a hippie! :) She wants to make her mom proud by “bettering myself and making myself one with god more. I hope to be as strong and courageous as my mother is.” Her mom is lucky to have her as a daughter. Sweet Aniston! I hope your senior year is the best yet.

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Iddy and Oscar’s and my Empowering Project is going strong. What is your advice to empower your younger self? Go to this link to answer that question for us, and also enter to win some super great prizes, including a senior mini session.

Go to the link HERE

Sunless tan by @quicktansunless, Quick Wash Laundry here in Lebanon was gracious enough to let us have a session in their laundromat.

Nashville TN Photographer | The Empowering Project

It’s Senior Week and We Want to Empower You!

Seriously. Iddy and Oscar’s and I have paired again for The Empowering Project! Keep reading for a chance to win some awesome prizes, and learn about our project to empower girls and women just like yourself.

We are kicking off “back to School” week with our empowering project to remind you that you are enough! We photographed and interviewed 7 high school seniors to empower you with words of advice. The question they answered is “If you could tell your younger self one thing to empower her, what would it be?” Stay tuned on Instagram and see the answers on our stories this week. @heathergraviss.photography Also @iddyandoscars. I hope their words stick with you, and help you to reflect on what you can do to empower yourself and others.

NOW for the prizes! Do you want to win a Senior Mini Session from Heather Graviss Photography or a Volcano scented bath bomb and hand wash from Iddy and Oscar’s? I know you do. follow us on Instagram, reply to, and share our posts. Then go to this link to share your empowering words and enter our contest: Click Here!!!

The link to Iddy and Oscar’s Give Back Boutique is HERE .

We decided to take our seniors to Quick Wash Laundry in Lebanon, tn for this session, and I’m so glad we did! So fun! I’ve always wanted to do a Laundromat shoot. We also stopped by the Mural, Let Love Fly, outside of Iddy and Oscar’s, painted by Abby Head. Hair and makeup done by the girls, and spray tans by @quicktansunless. Thanks, girl! They look awesome.

Please, please don’t forget to enter to win!

Nashville TN Photographer | Sinking Creek Farm

Angelica’s Sunflowers

Meet Angelica, class of 2020. She contacted me about being one of my senior models (those pics are coming soon!), and she wanted to do these pictures in the sunflower field. Gorgeous! It was so hot this day, but she carried on, even doing some gymnastics in the flower rows. This is an amazing place for a session located in Murfreesboro. If you’re interested in doing a mini session this week (7/14), click HERE for more information. I can’t wait to show you more of Angelica during senior week in a couple of weeks! Scroll to see more of this sweet girl.

For more information about Sinking Creek Farm, click HERE

Middle TN Photographer | The Mitchell House

Brizeida / Class of 2019 / Lebanon High School

This girl graduated! I’ve known Brizeida for a long time, so it’s bittersweet. I know she’ll be successful in college, and can’t wait to see what her future holds. She’s silly and fun, but also smart and confident. This session was one of my cap and gown minis at the Mitchell House here in Lebanon. Scroll to see what a beauty she is!

Nashville Photographer | Castle Heights Lebanon, TN

Graduate

Meet Jade. Class of 2019. So excited for her! I can’t believe it’s time already. This sweet girl had her cap and gown pictures done at The Mitchell House on Castle Heights campus during my cap and gown minis. We always have a great time. I’m glad she came, and I can’t say enough how important it is to get these pictures done at a time when it’s not so crazy! Graduation day is exciting and hectic, and sometimes it’s even hard to find your grad! She’s planning on getting her degree to be an investigative crime scene superhero (I’m sure that’s not the correct term, but it sounds fun and important). You’re going to do great, Jade! We’ll do this again when you graduate from college! :)

Nashville TN Photographer | Cedars of Lebanon

Class of 2019

Meet Caleb. Class of 2019! This guy’s ready to graduate from Mt. Juliet Christian Academy. At school, you’ll see him in the drama department. His session was fun and laid back at Cedars of Lebanon State Park. He’s a cool kid. I can’t wait to see him on TV in the future because it will be that or the movies. :)

Scroll down to see pics from his session with the family.

Nashville, TN Photographer | Downtown Lebanon, TN

Casey / Class of 2019

Meet Casey. Senior at Lebanon High School. He is so talented. I saw him in a Christmas performance and I couldn’t believe it! I can’t wait to see where his acting and singing take him. We had good time walking around downtown looking for good spots on this day. Of course, I had to get one with the phone. Casey is my daughter’s age, and I have known him since he was little, so it’s bittersweet thinking about him and this class of seniors going to college. They’ve got a special place with me, and I know he will be successful in all he does. Everyone can see it. Good luck, Casey!

Lebanon, TN Photographer | Wilson County Fair

First of all, obviously this is a summer throwback. I just can’t resist catching up with my blogging with these two cuties. Photographing sisters at their best is awesome. I hope they get along this well at home, and always stay close. It was almost dark this night at the Wilson County Fair, which made all the colors so pretty. You girls are too cute, with equally beautiful personalities!

Click here for more info on the Wilson County Fair

Nashville Photographer | Senior Class of 2019

Jade

Meet Jade. Class of 2019. I’ve known this girl since she and my daughter were little. Such a sweet beauty! Now she’s off to college soon. Enjoy your senior year, but know these mamas can’t take it! Seriously, whatever she does she will be happy and successful. I know it. She is one of the kindest girls. That’s her reputation. She clogs, too, and she’s pretty great at it.

You can see her here at Dollywood. Pretty awesome…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wIiSOoWTm4

We were at Cedars of Lebanon State Park for these, and it was perfect.

Thanks, Jade for letting me take your senior pictures!

Nashville Senior Photographer | Fiddler's Grove

Brezeida—Class of 2019

How can this be? I’ve known Brezeida since she was little. Look what a beauty she has grown into! We started her session at Fiddler’s Grove here in Lebanon, and then we went to Lebanon High School where she plays softball. I tried to get her to look mean and tough, but she ended up just looking cute. Haha, not a bad problem to have. AND you do not understand how happy I got when she pulled out her prom dress for softball pictures!! Love this family. I can’t wait to see what happens in her future.

Blue Devil Athletics

Fiddler’s Grove

Nashville Photographer | Wilson County Fair

Isabella is 16!

         You don't realize how fast time flies until it's already gone.  I've know this girl for a while now, and she has grown up to be so beautiful and sweet...and a little silly, too, which is always a good thing.  For her sweet 16 pictures we went to the fair while it was here in town.  Luckily she has a brave and outgoing mom who asked to get into booths, sit on rides, stand by vendors...It was SO funny, and guess what?  Everyone said YES.  I loved it!  So here you'll see her eating free ice cream, being silly with the civil war reenactment guy, sitting on kiddie rides, holding a GIANT panda... I love when I see girls being adventurous.  Thanks for the experience, Isabella, and I know year 16 will be the best one yet!

For more about the Wilson County Fair, click HERE

FCS, where she goes to school

Also check out her parents REALLY cool business, Fire Pit Art HERE .  (Lots of pics done by me!)  :) :)

Nashville Senior Photography | Wilson County Fair

BFFs

  I was so pumped to do this BFF session at the fair.  These girls have been friends for a while, and now they are thinking of college and all that goes with it.  Seniors: Class of 2019.  I'm so glad they let me follow them around the Wilson County Fair.  I had so much fun.  They like each other so much that they didn't even look at their phones the whole time.  So sweet.  :)  Well, scroll down to see who got to hold all their stuff: purses, phones, hair bands.  So funny.  I love, love, loved doing this session for them, and I know it's hard to leave good friends for a little while after high school.  Girls, keep in touch and brave the world together.  It's so important to have besties who build each other up.  

Will you hold my stuff?...

To hear more about the fair, click HERE

Nashville Photographer | Friendship Christian School Senior

Anna Kate's Senior Pictures

   Let me tell you how excited I was when Anna Kate said she had a VW bus.  SOOOO cute.  Best prop ever! We took some pictures at Sinking Creek Farm in Murfreesboro first, which was also awesome.  Anna Kate loves sunflowers.  Then we went to downtown Lebanon to the to the #letlovefly mural and all around for pictures with the bus. #vwbuslove!!! She is a senior at Friendship Christian School.

   I am so glad she chose me for her senior session. This girl is so brave and giving.  She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.  Her mission is to help girls in Africa by providing hygiene kits and health education.  She has visited with her group, and met some of these girls who otherwise would have to miss school each month, when their school time is precious.  For more information on this ministry, click here. I am so proud of her!  

Take a look at Sinking Creek Farm HERE.

Nashville TN Senior Photographer | Limited Time Offer

Senior Special

   Well, I hardly ever give any discounts on senior sessions, but I have some free time before school starts, so why not?  If you need senior pictures, this is the offer may be for you!  Here are the details:

I'm looking for 5 seniors (graduating class of 2019).  45 minutes, two outfits, 20 digital files printable up to 8x10. $300, plus tax.  You have to be available within the next two weeks. Email, text, or contact me from this site to book! cgraviss68@bellsouth.net  615-943-8828  

Nashville Photographer | Lebanon, TN

#theempoweringproject

This project to empower women in our community has exceeded my expectations!  Iddy and Oscars (on the square in Lebanon) and I have teamed up to empower women in our community the best way we know how, through our businesses.  It may be a small thing, but when I met the women who participated I realized it all starts with a few people being kind, strong, ambitious, gentle, and positive.  Each woman has shared her story and love with us.  Follow along this week on instagram #theempoweringproject to see what beauty they have shown. 

Also PLEASE stop by the store to purchase a t-shirt with these ladies' empowering words on it.  Proceeds go to help women in our community.

Clothing and Style: Iddy and Oscars----Website  

Hair: Trendz Salon & Boutique  (on fb)  

Makeup: The Beauty Room  (on fb)

Lebanon TN Photographer | The Empowering Project with Iddy and Oscar's

#Letlovefly

You are beautiful.  You have worth.  You are strong.  This is what The Empowering Project is all about.  Iddy and Oscars and I have teamed up, and it's awesome to show our community what strength and beauty look like.  These seven women have graciously let us take their pictures and share their stories with others.  Over the next couple of weeks you'll be seeing posts from us and these women on fb, Instagram, and Twitter.  Please follow the hashtag #theempoweringproject, share, and help us to spread the sunshine!  I can't wait to see where this takes us.  Special thanks to Trendz Boutique and Salon and The Beauty Room for hair and makeup.  Also can't forget Iddy and Oscar's!

Nashville Senior Photographer | High School Graduate

Chase

   Meet Chase.  Class of 2018.  Young and reckless.  That's how he describes himself.  Also he's confident, kind, definitely polite.  He's very athletic and he made me laugh during his senior session.  We went out to The Mitchell House on Castle Heights campus for the first part of his photo shoot. Then we headed to the a place he loves, the lake; his family's lake house.   Chase loves to wakeboard and be on the water.  He was homeschooled for his high school career because he was traveling so much for his moto cross competitions.  Before that, it was baseball and football.  I told you he is athletic and into everything. 

 During our session Chase said he really wasn't into taking pictures, but by the end he was asking for more (with his truck!).  Love it, I knew he would change his mind once we started.  He was raised right, super polite.  I have no sense of direction, and when I followed him to the lake house he made sure to put on his blinker.  I knew this was a good kid.  :)  Scroll down to see his senior pics!

Gilley Trucking, his family's business.

What is motocross?  Find out more here!