Robert & Holli | Hipster/Boho-Inspired Engagement Session

It had been a long weekend of shooting in the Asheville, NC area…not complaining whatsoever. Friday evening, Saturday sunrise, Saturday sunset, Sunday sunset, and then one more session Monday evening. I didn’t really know what to expect, as I had only spoken with Holli & Robert by phone. What I got when we finally met was two of the sweetest, most fun, and genuine people you could ever hope to meet.

We met at the Graveyard Fields Parking lot off the Blue Ridge Parkway and made our way out to the valley below. I had come across some photos of a cool looking boardwalk system that runs through the high valley that’s situated just below the popular Black Balsam Knob. They didn’t disappoint and neither did the amazing light that we were blessed with. You couldn’t really see the top of Black Balsam as it was covered in a dense fog/cloud-cover. It provided the most perfect, soft, diffused light that you could hope for. It really just fit the mood of the surroundings, and we practically had it all to ourselves.

Robert & Holli quickly warmed up to the camera, and began to enjoy one another, and most importantly, had a blast! One thing I noticed is that when I’d give some of my usual “queues” to the couple…they really took it literally. One such queue is to “look into each others eyes”, and these two really went for it. You can see it in the images that we captured that when they were told to gaze into one another’s eyes…they DID NOT fake it. You can almost feel the deep connection between these two, and it was honestly so magical.

As we got comfy with each other, and began to really have some fun I said, “See where that fog/cloud is covering the top of the peak? That’s where we’re heading next.” I was honestly a little worried that it’d be a massive “wall of white” with zero visibility when we reached the clearing on top of Black Balsam Knob. However, when we broke through the balsam grove into the clearing on our hike up, we were greeted with probably the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever been privileged to witness at this spot. The fog/cloud cover that was shrouding the top of the peak had actually migrated down into the valley that we had just left behind. So imagine…you’re standing on top of a 6200’ peak, you look to the east and you see a sea of blue and pink, cotton candy clouds, and you look towards the west and you see the most beautiful rays of golden sun cresting across balsam-covered mountaintops. It was, in a word, heavenly.

We made our way up to the pinnacle of Black Balsam and stopped for photo opportunities as we went along. When we finally made it to the top, I surprised Holli & Robert with some local beers from Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Boojum Brewing Company to celebrate.

I was tired, but also pumped from the long weekend of shooting in the mountains of NC. My time with Robert & Holli, as well as my other clients that weekend, reminded me why I love my job so much. Meeting kick ass people in beautiful places, and making memories that last a lifetime never gets old.

Here’s to more adventures in the new year…cheers.

AJ & Keeland | Fun & Romantic Sunrise Boone, NC Engagement Session at Rough Ridge

What you’re about to check out is actually attempt #2 at AJ & Keeland’s engagement session. We had originally planned to shoot at Edisto Island near Charleston, SC, but Covid-19 had other plans. I would dare say that the session turned out exactly how it was supposed to. AJ & Keeland actually met while attending Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, so it was only fitting that we headed back to their old college stomping grounds for their session.

It was an early wake up call… 4:15am to be exact. We rode out in the cool fog to the Blue Ridge Parkway and had the Rough Ridge trail parking lot all to ourselves. We threw on our headlamps and started hiking up in the pitch dark. There’s something so calming about only being able to see the next step in front of you.

It was crisp and cool, and as we hiked up the trail we could look off the side of the mountain at the sky gradually changing from blue, to pink, to orange as the sun made its way up and over the ridge. We got the perfect window. You never know what you’re going to get in the mountains. Sometimes you get a dense fog and you can’t see more than 1o feet in front of your face. I’m pretty sure we could see Charlotte from the ridge that morning. There were small trails of fog lingering over the distant peaks and ridges, which gave the illusion that we were up above the clouds.

We made it to the top with plenty of time to spare…and to catch our breath, ha. The sunrise light provided some of the softest, warmest light that I’ve ever shot in. It gave a warm orange/pink glow that made for such soft, romantic shots.

As you’ll see below, the scenery was absolutely epic…as if AJ & Keeland were standing on the edge of the world.

We wrapped up our time together at the Moses H. Cone Memorial Park. The soft, warm light had left us, but we found some beautifully shaded spots amongst the huge, mature trees on the grounds. The couple had so much fun with the shoot and each other. There may even be a piggy-back, face-lick captured in there somewhere.

We loved our time with AJ & Keeland and cannot wait to shoot their big day in Charleston, SC next year.

Hunter & Camden | Romantic Max Patch Sunset Session

When Courtney and I decided to do a portrait session giveaway on Instagram for New Years, we were both super excited and super nervous at the same time. We couldn’t have been more excited about who the software chose at random. We go way back with Camden and her family, and she was so excited to have been chosen.

Camden wanted to travel somewhere for the session, and we were so down, so off to Asheville we went! We have been wanting to shoot at Max Patch for a while now, so that was definitely our first recommendation. We decided to go for two totally different looks, one trendy casual for downtown Asheville, and the second a little more romantic for the bald mountain top at Max Patch.

We met up with Camden and her boyfriend Hunter at The French Broad Chocolate Lounge in downtown Asheville and just began walking. We hit a couple alleyways and streets, and then jumped in the Subaru to drive the hour and fifteen minutes to Max Patch. I have to say, Max Patch is now one of my absolute favorite places to shoot…period. It’s a bald mountain top on the NC/TN border with 360 degree mountain views. INCREDIBLE!

We braved the muddy 15 minute hike from the parking lot up to the top and just pure magic followed. Let me tell you…these two are just the cutest couple, and they were such troopers. The temps hovered around 30 degrees with light winds. However, they still had so much fun with one another, and just simply loved on each other.

Please enjoy Hunter & Camden’s Max Patch Sunset session.

Bryan & Jessie | Asheville Masonic Temple Wedding

If you were to take a film set from The Great Gatsby and drop it down in the middle of Downtown Asheville NC, then you would basically have Bryan and Jessie’s wedding day at The Asheville Masonic Temple. Built in the early 1900’s, The Asheville Masonic Temple is a four story brick building loaded with masonic memorabilia, scissor gate elevators, a beautiful theater, stone columned balconies, and an amazing grand staircase. Ok, sorry, I’m a history nerd.

The day was a little different for me than normal, as we were inside the masonic temple all day long, however, I was totally fine with that. The details and vibe of the venue are incredible. The bride & groom are avid wine-lovers, and wine related details were sprinkled throughout the day. The couple’s closest friends and family filled the theater for the exchanging of their hand-written vows, followed by a beautiful cocktail hour and meal in the main reception hall. The guests and party ascended the stairs after dinner to dance the night away in the third floor theater. It was a night to remember.

Please enjoy Bryan & Jessie’s elegant Downtown Asheville Wedding!

Venue: The Asheville Masonic Temple

Coordinator: Shay Brown Events

Dress: Anomalie

Hair & Makeup: Flawless Airbrush Makeup and Hair Design

Flowers: Urban Farm Girl Flowers

Caterer: Catering by Corey

DJ: DJ Bluphi

Bailey & Grace | UNCC Botanical Gardens Sunrise Engagement

I had a good feeling the first time I spoke with Bailey about the possibility of shooting he and Grace’s Virginia Boho barn wedding. Bailey is a Marine and he and Grace have been making the long distant thing work, and we wondered how we would be able to hook up to shoot their engagement session. It just so happened that Grace was heading down to Florida where Bailey would be graduating from a Marine training course, and they would be road tripping back up to VA after his graduation. When we figured they would be driving through Charlotte it was game on…it was our chance.

It was a super chilly fall morning, as we met up at sunrise at the UNCC Botanical Gardens, which is absolutely beautiful by the way. The gardens are split right down the middle with the left path leading to a dreamy Japanese style garden, and the right path leading into a North American themed forest. We made our way through both and these two are just pure magic together.

Please enjoy Bailey & Grace’s sun-soaked, woodland engagement session.