Joy Marie Smallwood

I feel so blessed to be able to do what I genuinely love. Photography for me is more than taking pictures & selling them. It is capturing the spirit and emotion of great moments to create works of art.

I grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington surrounded by the arts. My mother is an internationally recognized artist who literally raised us in her studio. From that early influence, I went on to get a Fine Art Degree from UCLA. After the birth of my first son in 1998, I retired the paintbrushes to pursue photography full-time. I opened Joy Marie Photography in 1999, and there hasn’t be...

I feel so blessed to be able to do what I genuinely love. Photography for me is more than taking pictures & selling them. It is capturing the spirit and emotion of great moments to create works of art.

I grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington surrounded by the arts. My mother is an internationally recognized artist who literally raised us in her studio. From that early influence, I went on to get a Fine Art Degree from UCLA. After the birth of my first son in 1998, I retired the paintbrushes to pursue photography full-time. I opened Joy Marie Photography in 1999, and there hasn’t been a dull moment since.

My husband, David, and I split our time between the West Coast and Nashville with our three boys. I love being married with a family, and understand the commitment it represents. I’m so fortunate to have a team that manages the business, making it possible for me to do what I’m gifted to do best– give every one of my clients the close personal attention that each occasion deserves. After several years of shooting, I'm grateful to now be able to sell my work as fine art.

Every opportunity to shoot, whether it’s a wedding, child, family or special event, is unique in so many ways. It’s truly an honor to document life’s most precious moments for my clients. I hope that my time with every client becomes an eternal reminder of why we’re all here: to live, love and laugh– a lot.