S. Tatum Photography

S. Tatum Photography I'm Sydnei, a lifestyle photographer in Central Appalachia specializing in emotive family photos.
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34 years. Maybe 35. There was a little debate about the exact number, but honestly, when you’ve been together that long...
09/04/2026

34 years. Maybe 35. There was a little debate about the exact number, but honestly, when you’ve been together that long, I think the years start running together a little bit.

These two came to me for a couples session using a gift certificate their daughter gave them, and I just love that. A gift like this isn’t just for the two people in front of my camera. It’s for their kids, their grandkids, and all the people who get to look back and see what this kind of love looks like after decades together.

The best gifts aren’t always things you can wrap. Sometimes they’re photographs of the people you love, still choosing each other all these years later. ❤️

You don’t have to share your children with the internet to document their childhood.I completely understand why some fam...
08/31/2026

You don’t have to share your children with the internet to document their childhood.

I completely understand why some families choose to keep their kids faces off social media. In today’s world, protecting their privacy is more important than ever, and I will always respect that choice.

Your family session doesn’t have to be about creating something for Facebook or Instagram. Sometimes it’s simply about having photographs of the people you love most. The little personalities, the crooked smiles, the way they hold onto you, and all those ordinary moments you’ll want to remember years from now. I’m honored when families trust me to step into those moments, and I’ll always respect whatever boundaries you have around sharing your images.

**Take the pictures. Keep the memories. Share only what feels right for your family.**

I've been photographing this sweet little guy since he was born and yesterday, on his first birthday, we had a PERFECT s...
08/29/2026

I've been photographing this sweet little guy since he was born and yesterday, on his first birthday, we had a PERFECT shoot for the birthday boy. Today is his party and I don't think there is a cuter little man out there celebrating today. Happy Birthday Walker!

A little over a year ago, I was taking her mama’s maternity pictures, and somehow we’ve already made it all the way to h...
08/28/2026

A little over a year ago, I was taking her mama’s maternity pictures, and somehow we’ve already made it all the way to her first birthday. I really don’t know where that year went. ❤️

Today, this little country girl is ONE, and she brought all the sweetness, personality, and a little bit of country charm with her. From waiting for her to arrive to watching her grow through her first year, it’s been pretty special getting to document these moments for her family. Happy 1st birthday, sweet girl. Keep growing, keep smiling, and always stay a little bit country. 💕🎀

I’m so thankful to have a friend like Linsey. Someone to talk to and rely on. Someone who reminds me to take time for my...
08/28/2026

I’m so thankful to have a friend like Linsey. Someone to talk to and rely on. Someone who reminds me to take time for myself. Someone who always captures my family so beautifully.

She and I have talked a lot over the last couple of days. Our messages have been pretty heavy, with the passing of Dolly being the main subject. She and I are both Appalachian girls, and these mountains and these communities have our hearts. Losing Dolly feels like a catastrophic blow.

But I don’t think for one second that Dolly would want any of us to waller in sadness over her passing.

“I make a point to appreciate all the little things in my life. I go out and smell the air after a good, hard rain. These small actions help remind me that there are so many great, glorious pieces of good in the world.” - Dolly Parton

She would want us to remember how special life is for each and every one of us. To slow down. To notice the little things. To find the good, even when life feels heavy.

That’s what I try to do with every family session. I want to notice the little things that make a family their family. I hope I captured some of those little, glorious pieces of good in the Hess family’s life. The laughter, the love, and all the little moments that make them uniquely theirs. I can only hope I captured their family even half as beautifully as Linsey has captured ours.

We are only 1 week away from the "Ber" months and soon our mountains will start to look like this! Grab a fall date whi...
08/24/2026

We are only 1 week away from the "Ber" months and soon our mountains will start to look like this! Grab a fall date while there are still some available. 🍂🍁🤎🧡♥️

The commute was short for this one. The horses are kept in a pasture next door, so I didn’t have to go far to this prett...
08/19/2026

The commute was short for this one. The horses are kept in a pasture next door, so I didn’t have to go far to this pretty incredible setting for their engagement session.

We spent the evening wandering with the horses nearby and the mountains stretching out behind us. This wide open Appalachian valley always makes me appreciate just how beautiful home can be.

By the time the sun started settling behind the hills, everything had that warm, hazy glow I’m always chasing. Add in a couple who are completely comfortable together and two horses that were perfectly happy to be part of the scenery, and it made for one of my favorite kinds of evenings to photograph.

No elaborate destination. No long drive. Just their horses, their valley, and a really beautiful season of life happening right next door. I’ll take an evening like this any day.

Happy birthday to this beautiful senior! 🤍I first met her family through flood recovery, and somewhere along the way, th...
08/18/2026

Happy birthday to this beautiful senior! 🤍

I first met her family through flood recovery, and somewhere along the way, they became some of the best people I know. So getting to photograph this season of her life feels extra special.

For her senior session, we celebrated her Mexican heritage right here in the mountain town of Welch. I love when a session can be more than just pretty pictures and actually tell you something about the person in front of the camera.

These mountains are part of her story, her heritage is part of her story, and now this season of becoming who she’s meant to be gets to be part of it too.

Happy birthday, Abagail. I’m so glad I got to capture a little piece of this chapter for you. ❤️

Growing new life among rows of flowers felt like the perfect setting for this maternity session.Kimberly’s Greenhouse at...
08/14/2026

Growing new life among rows of flowers felt like the perfect setting for this maternity session.

Kimberly’s Greenhouse at Pisgah was in full bloom, with rows of cut flowers stretching behind this beautiful mama. The flowers, the light, and that sweet anticipation of meeting a new little one made this session one I won’t soon forget.

There’s something really special about photographing this season before everything changes. 🤍

Somewhere along the Blue Ridge, the fog rolled in and just kept getting thicker. This Grayson Highlands engagement sessi...
08/11/2026

Somewhere along the Blue Ridge, the fog rolled in and just kept getting thicker. This Grayson Highlands engagement session already had all the ingredients for something a little different: two people in love, horseback, mountain air, and a couple who happen to love Lord of the Rings. I think the fog showed up and decided to do us a favor.

Before long, it felt less like Virginia and a whole lot more like Middle Earth. I half expected the Riders of Rohan to come charging through the mist. Honestly, I couldn’t have planned a better atmosphere if I tried. These two looked right at home in it, riding through the Highlands and letting the evening unfold around them. A little wild, a little cinematic, and completely them.

I think Rohan would approve. 🐎

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Tazewell, VA
24651

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+12767015655

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