Asheville Photographer

Our Favorite Things to Do and See | Asheville, NC

Clients often ask what are some of my favorite things to in Asheville and so I thought I’d share some of them below …

Asheville Mountains
Asheville Beer Scene
Asheville Beer Scene


BREWERIES + DRINKS
Highland Brewing
Sierra Nevada
Hi-Wire: Big Top
New Belgium
Cocktails at Grove Park Inn (go at sunset!)
Kimpton Hotel Arras
Antidote
Sovereign Remedies
5 Walnut (wine bar and live music)

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY + HIKES
Craggy Gardens
Black Balsam
Waterfalls in Pisgah Forest

GALLERIES + MUSEUMS
Asheville Art Museum
New Morning Gallery
Momentum Gallery
River Arts District
Lexington Glass

NEIGHBORHOODS TO VISIT
West Asheville
Black Mountain
Biltmore Village
Biltmore Park (South AVL)
Weaverville

DAY TRIPS
Biltmore Estate
Highlands/Cashiers
Brevard + Pisgah Forest

SHOPPING
Downtown AVL
Antique Tobacco Barn
Biltmore Village
East Fork Pottery
Flora
Minx
Duncan & York

Provisions Mercantile

NEST boutique + DIY

OTHER

Hiking Craggy Gardens in Asheville NC

Tick Tock Concierge - a great resource to help plan and prepare your trip!
Navitat
Tubing/rafting on the French Broad
Riveter (climbing walls)

Grove Park Spa

tsg-cheatsheet-asheville-feature.jpg

A Quick Business Update during these times of COVID-19

Hello again from self-isolation!

Lindsay and I are still working remotely and answering emails but I wanted to send you a little business update to be transparent on how we’re spending this time!

When the coronavirus hit the US, travel restrictions were put in place and events were advised to postpone; we feel extremely fortunate that all of our March, April and May weddings postponed immediately and worked with us to find other dates that we were also available. I’m excited to read in recent wedding polls that 96% of couples are postponing their weddings and not just canceling and that people still want to host big events and share this big day with their friends and families.

We found some great resources quickly and got advice from companies like Harper’s Bazaar that helped us navigate through this time. We always want to make sure our customer service is top notch and though we have had to worry about our own business, we want to first and foremost assist our clients and be kind human beings.

I don’t know if the industry will ever be the same! One thing is for sure- hiring a wedding planner and having wedding insurance seems more important than ever before!

We are still booking new weddings and portraits for 2021; however, we are not, for the time being, booking any new weddings for 2020 in case we need to shift our current client’s events to one of those dates. We are also not taking any new appointments for family portraits or branding sessions in the studio due to the current restrictions. We have offered our studio and Airbnb to any medical professionals in the area that might need a place to self-isolate for whatever reason.

I think that we’re still in this unknown period and are waiting for updates from our clients and the CDC on what will happen with our June/July/August dates. Fingers crossed, this will all blow over sooner rather than later with no more events for this year being affected!

Our retainers are non-refundable but can be applied to future events. For our couples with new postponed dates, we created new contracts changing not only the actual date but also the due date for final payments (30 days out from their new wedding date).

For other photographers that might be reading, we quickly looked at our business expenses and tried to find ways to save money immediately. For example, our phone bills, Adobe and other subscriptions. I’m also lucky to be surrounded by really great photographer friends that found some great resources to apply for grants and loans like the Paycheck Protection Program.

We’ve been staying busy fine tuning our business processes but from a personal standpoint, I’ve also been taking this time for self-care and quality time with my family, working on our garden, building a tree house and spring cleaning our home. The kids have taken on homeschool like champs and I’m about to drag out my painting supplies from hiding. I hope that you all have been able to treat this time like a ‘life sabbatical’ and make use of all of this downtime we find ourselves with. We’ve been eating better, exercising more, and doing travel research so that when the time comes, we’re ready and more informed to book some awesome family vacations. I know we’re going to come out of this experience stronger as people and small business owners.

If you missed my last blog post, I created an awesome little photography project with the community and hope to start working on that again soon when the “Stay in Place” lifts in our county. Also check out the Asheville Scout Guide who has been working diligently to keep us informed on ways we can support our local community here in Asheville.

Stay Healthy! Stay Home and Stay Safe! xo


Poppy Popcorn | Branding Photography

We’ve been shooting with Poppy Popcorn a lot lately. They’re launching a new website and catalogue and we cannot wait to share more images soon!!!!

Brides! Their Asheville Mix make the best welcome bag stuffers!

Lucy + Graylyn | A wedding at The Biltmore Forest Country Club, Asheville, NC

I hadn't met Lucy and Graylyn until the day of their wedding. I don't know if it was hearing the English accents or just their warm presence but they immediately felt like long lost friends. They met and fell in love while attending St. Andrews college in the UK. They recited their vows at Graylyn's parents home infront of the fireplace and an intimate group of family from both sides of the Atlantic. The following day; A big bash at the Country Club! It was such a cold February weekend (not that anyone noticed) Lucy and Graylyn barely left each others side, grinning the entire time. After the long distances and time apart it seemed to make the celebration and commitment even more special.

Venue: Biltmore Forest Country Club | Floral Design: Blossoms at Biltmore Park | Hair: Amanda Hughes & Makeup: Wendy Balance of Blush Asheville | Cake: The Peninsula Grill, Charleston | Reception Music: The Dickens | Film Lab: Photovision |

An Elegant Mountain Wedding at Claxton Farm | Asheville, NC

This day was with no doubt one of my favorites of 2015. Ashlee and Wich invited their closest friends and family to spend the entire weekend with them in Asheville, North Carolina. Wich's family have spent their summers at Montreat for years thus an obvious location for their destination wedding. I'm going to let the images tell the story, but as you will see this day was perfectly filled with everything a good day should be filled with. Family, friendship and love.  

This wedding was recently featured on Borrowed and Blue. 

{Vendors listed at the bottom}

Venue: Claxton Farm | Event Planner, Floral & Design : Shay Brown Events | Linen : BB&J | Farm Tables & Rentals : Classic Event Company | Invitation Suite : 7 Ton Co. | Photographer: Rachael McIntosh Photography | Videographer : Four Seasons Films | Catering and Cake : M7 Events | Hair & Make-up : Cody's Wedding Creation | Music : Adrian Duke | Officiant : Fred Werhan | Transportation : Youngs Buses | Get-a-way-car : Cody's Wedding Creations |

The Graylyn Estate {A wedding inspiration shoot}

I'm finally getting around to blogging some images from 'The Lively Workshop' I attended last October with the extremely talented Perry Veil and Rebecca Rose Events. I made a commitment when I started my business to attend a workshop every year, as personal growth and education is a real priority for me. I love to learn and always walk away feeling refreshed, and inspired in ways I couldn't imagine. I've found it's a fantastic way to connect with other creatives meanwhile keeping a finger on the pulse of our industry. This workshop was really incredible, and as you can see below the inspiration shoots were gorgeous! These images taken on a rainy afternoon at The Graylyn Estate in Winston Salem, NC.

Vendor credits below.

Photography direction: Perry Veil Photography | Styling, Direction, Floral and paper goods: Rebecca Rose Events | Linen: Nuage Designs | Hair and Makeup: Lindsey Regan Thorne | Venue: The Graylyn Estate | Models: Directions USA | Gown, Earrings and Shoes: BHLDN | Suit: H&M | Ring: Trumpet & Horn | Ring Box: The Mrs Box | Cake: Cakes by Chloe | Rentals: Party Reflections | The Lively Workshop | Film: Porta 800 | Film Lab: Photovision |

Eleanor + Chris | A Garden Party Wedding at the NC Arboretum

This gorgeous Lilly Pulitzer inspired garden party soiree was planned by the fabulous team at Firefly Event company. I loved the cheery color scheme, pink florals and the amazing backdrop of the NC Arboretum! Their guests enjoyed local BBQ, Bluegrass music and square dancing that had everyone up on the dance floor! Other highlights included corn hole, a selfie station with props, and river rocks in place of escort cards. Eleanor and Chris are such a fun couple and I loved getting to know them and being apart of their magical day!

Wedding Planner: Firefly Event Company | Venue: NC Arboretum | Catering: Village Wayside Bar and Grille | Wedding Cake: Callie's Confections | Floral: Flowers by Larry| Hair & Makeup: Turner and Scott | Music: Bobby & the Blueridge Tradition | Transportation: Emma's Bus Line | Additonal Photography: Abby Leighanne Photography |

Katlin + Matt | Biltmore Estate, Asheville NC

Katlin and Matt booked me nearly 2 years before their wedding date and when the day finally came, I felt like I was documenting two dear friends getting hitched. After so many conversations, emails and an awesome engagement session here in Asheville Katlin some how failed to mention however that she was planning to wear the most gorgeous flower crown of all time! The Bloom Room are out of this world fantastic and of course a wedding at the Biltmore Estate never disappoints. Their intimate wedding in the gardens was bursting with special moments, sweet gestures and thoughtful gifts. They exchanged some of the most beautiful vows I have witnessed and truthfully there wasn't a dry eye in the house (including my own). I still to this day have no clue why I photographed the gang shaking yellow towels enthussiastically in the air but everyone seemed to really enjoy it :) Here are some of my favorite images of this wonderful wedding in May.

Venue, Catering & Cake: Biltmore Estate | Officiant: Darr Conradson | Hair: Lola Salon | Makeup: Blush Asheville Makeup Artists | Floral Design : The Bloom Room | DJ: The Bride's DJ | Ceremony Music: Asheville String Trio | Rentals: Classic Event Rental Company |

A family photography session for The School Sessions | Asheville, NC

On April 12th, photographers from all around the world donated their funds from a photography session to raise money to build a school in Haiti. Through The School Sessions founder Jaime Delaine and her husband hope to raise $200,000 and re-build a school that was destroyed by an earthquake 5 years ago. 

After reading about the project I immediately signed up to donate a session: Enter the Carr family! One of my favorite couples from 2013 and their sweet baby Brooks :)

The Wedding Album | NC Wedding Photographer

I have spent a big chunk of time over the past few years searching for the best wedding album to offer my clients. Trying out lots of samples and looking for the perfect balance between quality and affordability. It's so important to me that not only are my products beautiful to look at, but that they will truly stand the test of time.

Here's an album I just ordered and thought that I would share what a typical wedding album and design by me looks like.

These hand-crafted, flush-mount wedding albums are available in fine-art fabric or Italian leather. Each album is hand-bound using fuji crystal archival paper with lay-flat qualities. They have an awesome range of colors to choose from and I love the cameo cut-out and embossing options. Please email me directly for color swatches and pricing information.

This 10x10 album is fabric covered (Almond), features the cameo cut-out and has 32 spreads (64 pages).

Your wedding day is your families first piece of history! It needs to be documented and it deserves to be bound in a beautiful book. 

Video may take a few seconds to load ...

Emily + David Engaged | Asheville, NC

Emily and Dave looked like they just stepped off of a 1940's movie set. They were amazing and their session was so much fun! They met and fell in love at culinary school and so it made sense to pay a little visit to The French Broad Chocolate Lounge. Of course, cake just like life, tastes much better when you have someone to share it with.

The Birthday Series | A Portrait Session in Asheville, NC

I met up with Melissa for a session in March at The Venue. Melissa owns 'Pop of Color' and is an excellent make-up artist here in Asheville. She is the sweetest and so fun to be around. I loved getting to know her a little more as there's not much time for chatting on a wedding day when our paths typically cross. 

The Birthday Series | A Portrait Session in NYC

I had originally scheduled a couples session with Katie and her husband in NYC this past February. At the very last minute Katie's husband had to work, but she asked me if I would mind to still go ahead and shoot with just her. It was her birthday and she thought it would be a great way to celebrate and have a little fun! I loved the idea, and as I started to take photographs it dawned on me that rarely are we given these moments as adults. An opportunity to celebrate ourself, document our life or create a portrait that tells our story! Of course Katie brought balloons (it was her birthday) and we did have fun (here are some favorites) and well ... 'The Birthday Series' was born. I'm not completely sure how to describe it, but I know that I want to do more. What would your portrait look like if you could have someone create it for you?

A New Year's Eve Proposal | Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

Corey contacted me weeks before he proposed to Malory at the Biltmore Estate. Many emails later, here I was hiding behind the statue of Diana on the afternoon of new year's eve. Moments like these are amazing and I'm always so excited (albeit a little nervous) to capture these for my clients. So much emotion! I LOVE IT … and truly for someone to really think this through and hire a photographer on top of that was so thoughtful on Corey's part. He definitely caught his girl by surprise and the Estate provided the perfect backdrop. I especially love the images I think 4th down the page, after Malory said 'I DO' and Corey points me out up the hill, clueing her into our big successful scheme. 

Bridal Portraits | Old Sherrill's Inn | Fairview, NC

Spending time at The Old Sherrill's Inn is good for the soul. The history and traditions run deep, and I soak up the nostalgia every time I visit. The house was built in the late 1700's and became an Inn for travelers to stay when passing through Hickory Nut Gap. Outstanding views, and secret hide-a-ways surround the house and endless paths lead to more stories and adventures. This shoot was a little different as I teamed up with one of my favorite people in the world and extremely talented wedding photographer Jeremy Russell. Abby (the bride, also a local wedding photographer) and her husband Andrew are the sweetest couple. We had a great time making these images together. Click here to see Jeremy's awesomeness.

Bouquet by Two Buds and a Blossom.