I kicked off the year with Ashley and Logan’s engagement session, and let me say- we started with a bang! I’ve wanted to shoot on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a few years now, and when I first pitched a list of locations to Ashley, I was silently hoping they’d pick the parkway. Needless to say, they made my parkway dreams come true! We had a blast laughing and hiking up to the view! I just love how these two make each other smile and laugh constantly. They are absolutely perfect for each other and it’s so easy to see just how much they care one another.

Day-of timelines are pretty important for planning your wedding day, and that includes deciding on having a first look or a more traditional timeline. From a photographer’s perspective, and having been a bride myself, I am personally a huge fan of first looks! My husband and I decided to do a first look for our own wedding and it was the best decision. We have never regretted it! With wedding season around the corner, I thought I’d share my top 5 reasons to why you should consider having a first look on your wedding day!

I’m a part of a wonderful local networking group full of creative entrepreneurs called TuesdaysTogether! Thanks to our community, I was lucky to meet Tricia Mosier of Elizabeth Dean Styled Events, who invited me to take part in a one-of-a-kind styled shoot that she was putting together! We all gathered at the beautiful Homestead on the Holston, a historic cabin venue with lots of land next to the north fork of the Holston River, and photographed the set ups that Tricia had designed— a “Notebook” canoe, a picnic blanket dinner, a bridal chair, and a bohemian tee pee complete with hanging cake display! Definitely a shoot for the record books and one you won’t want to miss!

Last year, I had so much fun putting together my first behind-the-scenes blog (you can see that here) that I made more of a conscious effort to get more content this year! I am so thankful to have had amazing second shooters who caught some funny (and embarrassing) moments throughout the year of me doing what I do! I love sharing the not-so-glamorous side of wedding photography- it’s not all rainbows and butterflies on a wedding day! Enjoy this brief inside look of what it’s like to be a wedding photographer in Northeast Tennessee!

Luke and Caroline were married at the Camp at Buffalo Mountain in beautiful Jonesborough, Tennessee! These two said their vows inside of the camp’s cozy Allison Lodge, complete with candlelight and warm fire in the fireplace. After becoming husband and wife, we took portraits around the camp’s cabins and creek, and hurried back for drinks and bbq dinner. After a fun introduction, including their ‘secret’ handshake, Luke and Caroline danced the night away with family and friends.

Kaity and Kyle are married! These two said, "I do," at an intimate outdoor ceremony at Kyle's family church, nestled in the mountains of Robbins, Tennessee. After the ceremony, Kaity and Kyle's guests built a fire in a fire pit, ate some delicious BBQ, and roasted s'mores as the sun went down! It was a perfect Fall evening in Middle Tennessee!

Stacy and Jason came all of the way from Michigan to get married in the beautiful mountains of Tennessee. They rented a huge cabin at Parkside Resort for their family and friends to stay, and to hold their intimate ceremony! After a super sweet first look, we drove to the Magnolia Venue for more breathtaking views. We arrived back just in time for family portraits and their ceremony on the back porch, overlooking the Smokies.

Kaity and Kyle drove from Middle Tennessee to meet up with me at one of my favorite mountain locations- The Beauty Spot. Located in the heart of the Unaka Mountains, the Beauty Spot always lives up to it’s name and this night was no exception! When we first arrived, the sun was out, but dark clouds loomed over the mountains headed our way. We shot for a while, always keeping an eye on the clouds. Eventually, the clouds passed right over the Beauty Spot, but thankfully not even a drop of rain fell! We finished the evening laughing, getting to know each other, sharing stories and enjoying a bright pink sunset on the bald.

I arrived at Sugar Hollow Park in Bristol early that morning to see the ceremony site set up next to the creek at the campground and the trees were shading the chairs perfectly. After Coby and Gretchen exchanged vows, rings and the first kiss, they were finally husband and wife! After the ceremony, I took Coby and Gretchen around Sugar Hollow Park on a mission to find the infamous, “Black Forest,” that has pine trees in symmetrical lines, for portraits. When we arrived back to the campground and pavilion everyone had barbecue for lunch from Bristol BBQ. After cutting the cake, we all jumped into the creek to cool off, where, of course, I HAD to get some portraits of Gretchen and Coby in the water!

I had such a blast at Luke and Caroline's engagement session in August! These two are just so much fun to be around and bring out the best smiles in each other. When we finally found a date that would work for all of us we decided to meet up on Luke's family farm in Independence, Virginia! Let me tell you- it was an adventurous photographer's paradise! I love it my couple's share a little bit of their life with me and such special locations! We spent the evening riding through the cow fields in the farm truck, taking in the beautiful Virginia sunset. I absolutely cannot wait for their wedding in October at the gorgeous Camp at Buffalo Mountain!