Nashville, TN Photographer | Lebanon, TN Square

Grace’s Journey

Meet Grace. I have known this girl for a while now through church. She contacted me to ask if I would take pictures to document her journey through life and her medical issues, which I thought was a great idea. She is strong, bright, and happy. She is optimistic and doesn’t let the world get her down. You‘ll see her here with her friend, Chubbs, and lots of the things that have gotten her through this time in her life, namely friends and family love.

Grace is a sophomore at Tennessee Tech, hoping to become a pediatric oncology nurse. She would like to encourage others to accept their true beauty, and focus on things that are positive. There are always reasons to smile through health and sickness. She is grateful, even through this season in the world and in her life. True beauty and strength comes from within. She recognizes, and wants to inspire others, that they are beautiful, strong, loved, and most importantly, created perfect in the Lord’s image. She’s always smiling and is definitely an inspiration!

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!

Lebanon, TN Photographer | Walter J. Baird Middle School

The Enough Group

I can’t believe I haven’t blogged this yet! It’s so important. These girls have started “The Enough Group” at Walter J. Baird Middle School. They want to show you that you are enough. Acts of kindness, kind words, and affirmation are what they spread. Middle school is hard. What can you do to be kind?

Thanks to Iddy and Oscar’s Give Back Boutique for the cool clothes. This was too fun!

Lebanon, TN Photographer | Breast Cancer Awareness

Warriors

Oh, my goodness. These women. I can’t even begin to say how much I admire them, and want to honor them in this post. When Joy Pine from Iddy and Oscar’s told me her idea for this October photo shoot, I thought it was THE BEST idea ever…so we contacted these four warriors, and they jumped at the chance to share their stories to help others, even though it has been a hard, tough road. I’m sure it is sometimes difficult to open up and talk about something as scary as breast cancer when you are still fighting the fight. I am in awe at their bravery, kindness, and willingness to help others. Each of them has said that they would readily talk to anybody going through what they did and are. Reach out if you need a friend who knows the struggle. All four of them are brave, beautiful, and so, so awesome.

“The most important thing God has taught me through this is that this life we live here on earth is just labor pains…our eternity in heaven is worth every pain here on earth.” -April

“You come out with a testimony, the one chosen for you by a God who loves you with an everlasting love and will never leave your side.” -Debbie

“Enjoy every day. Live life to the fullest. I hope I can be an inspiration to just one person. God has a plan. He knows.” -Cindy

“Cancer does not discriminate. You are never too young for breast cancer. Being your own advocate is so important. ‘Do not be afraid. Just believe.’ Luke 8:50.” -Toni

Thank you to all that made this happen:

Iddy and Oscar’s Asante Masters Salon for hair and makeup

Nashville Photographer | Lebanon, Tn

#Kindnesscampaign

  When Joy Pine from Iddy and Oscar's asked me to help her with some ways to spread love and kindness, I totally jumped on it!  This is the second photo shoot we have done, and I think she's a genius!  The first one was #theempoweringproject with women ages 18-28.  This one is #thekindnesscampaign with middle school girls.

   These girls were nominated for their kind hearts by teachers and friends at their schools here in our county.  What an honor! The "Enough Group"  From Walter J. Baird Middle School inspired us to do this photo shoot. It's made up of girls in 6-8th grade who are trying to emphasize "you are enough".  They empower each other and the students at their school with acts of kindness.  This is HUGE!  I'm so proud of these girls for standing out in a world that isn't always so nice.  Keep it up!  Be positive.  Be kind. Let them inspire YOU.

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!