I love my clients & I especially adore Heather & Matt. You can tell because I started photographing this Tennessee Riverplace wedding at 6:30am IN THE MORNING! I am not a morning person, but I woke up ready to & excited to document Heather & Matt’s brunch wedding.

I knew this was going to be a fun day when Heather & Matt did vodka shots at 8am just after their first look. Those images ended up being one of my favorite of the day! This couple infused their wedding day with their own personality every step of the way. Matt is an optometrist in the Chattanooga area, so naturally the couple protected their eyes during the daytime reception with very stylish shades.

Heather & Matt entered the reception to a Weird Al song. That’s a couple after my own heart. They tied the knot and had a blast, sipping brunch mimosas until the very last song of their Tennessee Riverplace wedding. That’s the way to do it.

The vendor team at this Tennessee Riverplace Wedding was spectacular. Shaun & her team at Cue the Champagne kept this morning ceremony & reception moving along perfectly. Divine Designs by Amanda provided the chic fall florals and Impressions Catering served up a delicious brunch menu. Chris at Entertainment Evolved kept the party going, even during broad daylight! Now onto the magic. Enjoy!

I love this family & I am so excited to share Jamie & Courtney’s Knoxville same sex wedding!  This couple has been with me almost my entire wedding photography journey. I photographed their engagement, maternity, birth, newborn, and baby photos, all before marriage equality was the law of the land. The day that same sex marriage was legalized country-wide, I celebrated for everyone but deep down I could not WAIT to photograph this wedding.

In 2014, Courtney wrote in Freedom to Marry about their journey:

If families like ours were to leave Knoxville, we may never see the change that is so needed in states like Tennessee. It’s important to be able to share our lives with the members of our community. It’s important for the three of us to hold hands and make the case that we should be respected as a family in this state where we live. It’s important to show people who aren’t quite on board with the freedom to marry that we are no different than other neighbors, family members, and co-workers. 

It’s time for my typical love story to become even more typical. The next time I tell my story, I want Jamie and I to be able to stand proudly and track our life journey together: We met, we fell in love, we had a baby, we got married – and we were treated the same as all other families in Tennessee. 

If that doesn’t punch you in the gut, you have no soul. Jamie & Courtney’s wedding is featured in Catalyst Wedding Magazine Volume Four! In print & available at bookstores! How cool & crazy is that?

Knoxville Same Sex Wedding

Jamie & Courtney’s relaxed backyard wedding was a testament to the power of friends & family. Everyone came together to create their day from the bouquet, the property, the decorations, etc. When I arrived that afternoon, everyone was working hard. The day was extremely kid friendly with lots of yard games & their adorable daughter Sophia stealing the spotlight most of the time. Oh, and Courtney was 8 months pregnant! Enjoy :)

Cait & Rob eloped during the peak of the fall leaves in Appalachia. Driving up their rented cabin, I was so excited to capture these wonderful folks becoming a family. I enjoy nothing more than taking a long drive into the mountains to photograph happy people.

Tiny Catherine’s excitement during the entire evening made this elopement so memorable. During the vows, she frolicked about being as adorable as possible.

As a Knoxville elopement photographer, intimate ceremonies hold a special place in my heart. There’s something magical about spending the day without any of the stress or expectations of a huge wedding. I’m all about elopements! Cait rocked a beautiful Modcloth dress & I adored her dried flower bouquet.

If you are looking for someone to photograph your Knoxville elopement, I’d love to chat. Now onto the photos!

Alex & Tyler’s Knoxville engagement session is the perfect example of why I schedule sessions one hour before sunset. Sometimes I receive a slight pushback when I say I like to shoot the last hour of sunlight. Many people think it might be too dark. I promise you, this time of day gives you the best chance for outstanding photos. Alex & Tyler’s engagement session shows off all of the reasons why this is my favorite time to photograph! I hope you enjoy and see just how lovely the light can be when you plan your session around it.

Shooting During Golden Hour

Photographers refer to the last hour of light as “golden hour”. The light at this time is more flattering, warmer, and softer. The lower the sun is in the sky, the better you’ll look in the photo. Sometimes during this time, I’m stunned by just how beautiful the light looks in the photos. I care more about quality light than location at sessions. I’d rather shoot beside a dumpster with amazing light than an incredible location with bad light. Golden Hour shooting means you will probably have great light. Even in photos when you can’t see the sun, you’ll notice a nice warm glow in the background. Thanks sun!

There are a few situations where you might not see the benefits of shooting during Golden Hour. If it’s overcast, there will likely be no special Golden Hour light. That’s okay! It doesn’t mean it’s too dark to shoot unless there are really dark storm clouds. In that case, we’ve probably already rescheduled the session. It doesn’t hurt to shoot during Golden Hour even if it’s overcast. In fact, maybe the clouds will part & we’ll be rewarded with a great display!

It can be hard to plan for shooting during Golden Hour if you are shooting at high altitude or if there is a large mountain looming in the horizon. The sun will hit the mountain earlier than usual. It will still be beautiful, but you won’t see the deep oranges and reds that are in these photos.

There are no downsides to planning your session an hour before sunset. It’s worth it to plan your session around the best time of day for beautiful light. I can’t guarantee it won’t be cloudy, but often we are rewarded with the best light possible!

Two years ago, a decision by a federal judge meant that gay marriage legally began in Alabama. When I heard news, I jumped in my car & drove down to Huntsville to volunteer to photograph couples eloping at the courthouse. It was an incredible moment to witness with my camera & everyone was in such a festive mood! There were donations of wedding cake and bouquets, and a ton of volunteers showed up to donate their photography, videography, officiating, and more.

One of the weddings I photographed was that of Michelle & Joanne. They were unique because they showed up with a CROWD of people. Most of those getting married at the Huntsville courthouse were struggling to just get out of work to go elope, but Michelle & Joanne showed up in matching outfits and with a huge group of admirers. How? With such short notice? I have no clue but the joy that surrounding everyone was so palpable. You just knew this wedding was a long time coming. It was a honor to photograph Michelle & Joanna’s wedding on day one for same sex marriage in Alabama. They were just one of 43 couples to get married in Huntsville on February 9th, 2015.