An Arkansas native and regional representative for Weigh Down, a faith-based weight loss program, Westebbe moved to Franklin in 2012 to be closer to the Weigh Down offices and felt led to re-start her photography business.
Misty may have only opened her namesake photography business (formerly called New Day Photography) in her home state a decade ago, but she has had a camera in her hand since she was eight years old. With photography roots running deep in her family – all the way back to her great grandmother – she is more than just a portraitist; she strives to be a storyteller. With the help of her husband Bruce, who left corporate America to join Misty, their 2.5-acre property is an ever-changing and exciting backdrop for their clients of all ages.
Just west of downtown Franklin, their little blue house with a white picket fence sits on an incredible piece of land that serves as the perfect studio, inside and out, for their sessions. With a different background or prop around every corner, from winding trails and a tire-swing to a ’57 Chevy and two ponies, everywhere you look is uniquely picturesque.
“Every prop on our property has a story,” Misty says, “which makes photographing on our land even more special. Our focus is always on the people, but the props make it exciting and fun for the whole family. When a client comes back there is always something they haven’t seen before!”
Misty and Bruce value building relationships with their clients, more so than just putting portraits on the wall. That’s what makes their work fun, and rewarding.
It’s not just about the perfect pose,” Misty says. “It’s really about capturing the person.”
Misty calls herself a family photographer, and compares the client partnership to choosing a family doctor.
“It doesn’t mean you just do families, it means you’re there for the newborn shoot, the engagement shoot, the maternity shoot, all the way to the high school senior when they’re graduating and eventually starting a family of their own,” she says. “I strive to create the images that show the personalities of the subject at a particular moment in their life.”
Whether they’re volunteering to take headshots of nursing home residents or heading up the photography team at their church, Misty and Bruce are always ready to give back and help someone else. To them, being business owners in Franklin is a special opportunity, which brings a responsibility to contribute to the betterment of the community.
Outside of work they enjoy volunteering at their church, Remnant Fellowship Church, along with antique picking, thrifting and visiting estate sales, always with an eye toward a new piece that will help make their photos unique and memorable.
The company’s website, www.mistywestebbephotography.com showcases their diverse portfolio and a glimpse of their studio and property. For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Misty at 615.281.0612.
Visit www.williamsonherald.com for more Faces of Franklin!