abby & ben {the clan}

December is my all-time favorite month! Everything amazing happens in December..or right before. Thanksgiving, mine & Rob’s dating anniversary, Diesel’s birthday, Rob’s birthday, my birthday (we’re a December family), Christmas…I think you get where I am going with this. So with that said, I have yet to have a session in December that I haven’t been magically in love with. This session is absolutely no different! 

I was thrilled when Abby reached out to me and asked me to take pictures of her and her hubs! Abby is the crazy talented photographer behind Abby Elizabeth Photography and I was absolutely tickled when she told me she was wanting some winter/Christmas pictures!!! Yay! We headed out to where she and Ben got hitched even though it had been raining all day and didn’t look promising to let up. Let me just say, I love the rain. Just LOVE the rain. Its such a calming factor and it always feels like it centers me. I’m not scared of it and I was SO excited when I got a text from Abby that said, “I just got an umbrella. Lets go for it!” She knows the way to my heart! 

Snuggle up with a blanket and maybe some hot cocoa…these are worth it!

Abby & Ben came with the perfect look for winter or Christmas pictures! RED, plaid, accessories…one super happy photographer right here!!!

 Might I add that this was definitely my first time ever taking pictures of cats! 😀

jessica & justin {the clan}

This couple. I honestly just LOVE when I get an email from Jessica! They are SO flipping sweet, go along with anything I ask or ideas I have and are genuinely just so much fun to be around!!! Jessica & Justin want to put together a book for their coffee table that has their Christmas cards from every year in it…I am in love with this idea! I’ve been sooo honored to be the first and second card in that book and hope I am able to continue our little tradition! 😀 

And just to add a little tid bit about this session. I drive past this industrial park almost every day in Karns (Westbrook Business Park). In the fall there was this one field/lot that the sun would hit while it was setting and it was just magical. Jessica and Justin were such champs and totally trusted me!! LOVE this session!

Smiles,

Kayla F

the question | erica & jared {knoxville, tn}

I am crazy thrilled to share this session with you all! Erica and I go WAY back…well, not really WAY (lets not age ourselves or anything) but we tended to hang out and “work together” during our Information Management courses at good ole University of Tennessee! I swear…I don’t think I would have made it through those classes without Erica! Lol!! So when she got in contact with me about having her session here in Knoxville and wanting ME to shoot it, I just about died!!! I might have secretly been FB stalking Erica and when I saw she was engaged I might have done a fun little dance to celebrate for her! 🙂 She’s all the way out in Cordova, TN so I never in a 100 years would have thought I would get an email from her…but I most certainly did! Yay!!!!

Fast forward to Erica telling me that she and Jared would like to have their pictures at…dun dun dun…Neyland Stadium!!! SCORE!!! :huh, no pun intended on that one: I was elated, but nervous. You just never know with the stadium! Sometimes you can get in, sometimes, theres just no such luck. I won’t give my source away (bc I don’t want him to get in trouble), but my dad would be so proud of me by just walking up to someone and asking him to let us in. My heart raced, especially when he told me I only had 3-5 minutes…Whoa! Here is the magic that happened!! 😀

Ok, so I’m happy I’m not the only one that was CRAZY excited!!!

 My FAV!!!!

Our 5 min was up FAST! But, we still had the rest of campus to tromp around on! I love this session so much! Erica and Jared were so awesome…and their puppers were pretty stinking cute too! 

Yes, that is a Rottweiler and a Dotson. Too funny, I know!

Ahhhh Erica & Jared! I know your wedding will be absolutely STUNNING and tons of fun!!!! I can’t wait to see pictures! 

Smiles,

Kayla F

Rebekah & Logan | the couple

I am in LOVE with this session. 

This session holds a very special place in my heart. No one reached out to me for this. No one had this idea, but me. I was in a rut. I didn’t want to take another session because I was becoming frustrated with myself. I felt like my images were starting to look like something that I just didn’t want. Now don’t get me wrong, I am unbelievably proud of every single session I do, and if I’m not, I make it up to my clients and ask them if they would like ANOTHER session. Luckily, that has only happened once, with a not so happy 2 yr old! 🙂 But there is something about having a creative outlet that is incredibly personal. Even though clients contact me and ask me to photograph them, every single session is like a little mission for me. I want to better my craft, better my imagination and better how I see people…the real people. Not them standing in front of a camera. 

I did a small casting, haha, not really. I posted on FB if a young couple wanted to have their pictures taken. And guess what! Rebekah and Logan fell in my lap!!! 😀 

Rebekah was actually in Keely and Scott’s wedding last year so I was happy it was a familiar face! However, I was not ready for how awesome Logan and Rebekah were, not only with me, but together! They are stinking adorable. Not in a gushing, omgsh, I’m going to be sick to my stomach adorable, but in a quiet, sincere, and completely genuine way. 

I already knew the location. An abandoned house. Now which abandoned house was another story. I wasn’t in the mood to break any laws, have a house fall down on our heads, or get eaten alive by guard dogs, so I was ecstatic to find this little gem off of a not so quiet street. 

Here is how my amazing self-reviving session took place. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 

This left picture just gets me. I can’t help it.

Cushions and chair are brought to you by people leaving awesome pieces behind. 🙂 Thank you previous owners! 

Isn’t Rebekah insanely gorgeous!? Ahhhh, her smile is contagious! 

This one might be my fav! 

After night started to fall, I knew I wanted to do some late fire pictures. I have been wanting to do a session like this for a while, but knew that after winter, it probably wouldn’t happen for a while. I wanted to play with some off camera flash which turned out ok…practice makes perfect right? 

One thing I did take away from our little escapade, make sure your firewood is DRY. I was in a rush and grabbed from the wrong pile. Whoops. 🙂

Rebekah and Logan, thank you so much for being my guinea pigs! You two were perfect and I couldn’t be happier you sought ME out! 😀

Smiles,

Kayla F

the day after | lindsay & duane

Maybe its been the gloomy weather we’ve had this winter, maybe its because I haven’t gotten out to shoot in a while, or maybe its just the simple fact that Lindsay & Duane were completely smitten, in love, and just flat out adorable with each other that makes me LOVE this session!!! I received an email from Lindsay that just absolutely BROKE my heart! She and Duane were married just this past December, but through some bad situations they have just a handful of wedding images! A HANDFUL! Can you believe that?!?! My heart broke. I was sick to my stomach! I knew in that instant that I would do anything I could to make this session awesome! Snow? Thats magical! Frigid temperature? Cause for more snuggling! Semi gloomy day? Well, thats called perfect light! 😉 Lindsay and Duane were amazing! I seriously don’t think I could have asked for a better couple to jump start my 2013 season!!! 

I loved that we started off the session where they first met…Oodles, downtown. 😀

Are they not adorable???

Whooa! Love love this one! 

Lindsay & Duane! I know I’ve told you probably 100 times how much fun I had…but its so sincere! You two were just perfect!

Smiles,

Kayla F

the peddicord | the clan

Let me just say. This shoot was such an honor to shoot! I know that sounds odd, but Kristin and I are photog pals! 😀 Anytime one photographer asks another to take their picture, I just feel like it is SUCH a honor and I am truly humbled that Casey and Kristin asked me to take the FIRST pictures of them since their wedding in 2009 (of course, shot by Jennie Andrews)! Kristin is the amazing talent behind KLP Photography (if you go to her website, you will fall in love with her) and her hubs is one part of the awesome duo Nicholas and Keaton!!! 

So when Kristin asked me to take these pictures for her, I immediately had butterflies. And not just any butterflies..major monster butterflies! Luckily, Kristin and I are such great friends that it was SO relaxing and Casey kept us laughing throughout the whole session!!! I just LOVE when a couple is so real with each other, kisses each other, touches…plays! It makes sessions amazing!! Here’s what I’m talking about! 

LOVE this photo!!!!

 Loved these FUN photos for Casey’s big 3-0 bday!!! 

 Merry Christmas everyone!!!! I think this is cover photo worthy! 😉

Vaishali and Salt’s: the question

I am so incredibly excited to share this next session. Vaishali and Salt are the sweetest, most sincere couple I have met in quite a while. The way Salt looks at Vaishali had me squealing and jumping around with excitement the entire session! I love seeing couple so incredibly in love and especially love having them in front of my camera! It makes my job SO easy…and FUN! 😀

So Vaishali contacted me about doing her engagement session. She and Salt wanted to do it somewhere that meant a lot to them and Fall Creek Falls was perfect! This just so happened to be the spot that Salt proposed! AND not only did he propose here, but the day that worked the best for both of us just so happened to be their anniversary!!! Meant to be?? I think so! 

As we were driving up to Fall Creek Falls, I had to constantly tell myself to stop looking at the trees and concentrate on the road! The leaves were beautiful! Since we were up on the plateau, the leaves were about 2 weeks ahead of the leaves here in Knoxville and I swear they were ten times as vibrant! There wasn’t a brown tree in sight! So mix in beautiful colors, Salt and Vaishali’s outfits and some beautiful waterfalls and you get this amazing session! I couldn’t be happier hope to see Vaishali and Salt soon! 😀

 A little rain never hurt anyone…until it started to pour. Lol! 

 Probably one of my favorites of the session. I love how sincere they both are with each other! 😀

 Salt lead Vaishali on a treasure hunt for his proposal. Vaishali had no idea and hoped that at the end there would be a picnic because she was so hungry! Love them!!!!

Vaishali and Salt! I can’t even begin to tell you both how much fun I had with you two! You both rock and I hope to work with you guys so soon!!!! 

Smiles,

Kayla F

Lovey Dovey Jamie and Brian

Love this silly, funny, and super lovey couple!!! You might remember Jamie and Brian from their family session I did earlier this year! Well, Jamie called me up for the fall mini sessions and said she would LOVE some pictures of just her and Brian…what couple wouldn’t????

And  not only did I just get to see Jamie and Brian, but they also bought along their adorable, wrinkle-filled bulldog Celo! Eeek! LOVE him! 

I also want to send a shout out to this amazing couple! They are celebrating their 14 year anniversary today!! Congratulations you two! 😀

 Wrinkles!!!

 Stunning Jamie!

Smiles,

Kayla F

Kaitlyn and Brett Sneak Peak

Because I cannot wait until Monday to show you some of the amazingness that is Kaitlyn and Brett’s wedding, I thought I would share a little something something from their beautiful day in September! A full blog post will be ready to go on Monday so be sure to come back to check out the Stewart’s awesome family and fun bridal party! 

Smiles,

Kayla F

My Love for Engagement Sessions

Engagement sessions are my favorite! There, I said it! Whooo! They really and sincerely are so much fun and so relaxing and just all-around awesome!!! I highly, highly recommend to every couple that I book that they have an engagement session! If you’re out of town, and you feel like there is no way you can fit in an engagement session, let’s a least talk about it! 😀  Let’s take 2 hours the week of your wedding and just hang out and take pictures. You don’t need to get all jazzed up; it can be a fun, laid back session that also serves as a nice break from all the crazy-week-of, last minute details and also allows you and your love to spend some fun, “un-wedding” time together…leave the tool and ribbon at home! 🙂 

I know a lot of grooms (and even brides) don’t see the benefit of doing an engagement session. This just absolutely breaks my heart! Let me tell you firsthand how beneficial engagement sessions are. Robby and I had an awesome engagement session. Now, it wasn’t with our wedding day photographer, but still being in front of the camera made us learn a lot!! Here are some things that you might not have thought about!

1.      I have never (and I say never) had a bride or groom say they regretted doing the engagement session. They are so.much.fun! Not only do you get to hang out with me for 2 hours (just kidding) but you also get to hang out with your love! There are no expectations, no rules, no limits!! It’s just you guys having fun! Who could ask for anything more?

2.      It allows for me to get to know you even more for the big day! It lets me learn what makes you comfortable and uncomfortable and allows for you to better understand me and how I work. Plus, when I tell you on the wedding day, “Oh, remember that pose we did at the engagement session that you totally rocked,” you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Or if I say, “Oh James, remember that cute little thing you told Ashley that made her feel absolutely stunning…tell her something else”, you won’t feel silly. It sounds corny but we will have a connection on the wedding day! This in turn makes wedding day pictures go SO much more smoothly!

3.      You can use the engagement pictures FOR the wedding day! Need an announcement for the paper? Want to send out photo Save-The-Dates or Thank You cards? Want to have a photo guest book? There are so many fun things you can do with your engagement photos that make your wedding day even more unique.

4.      If you are able to do an engagement session…and it doesn’t frighten you ;), it is a fantastic time to do a trial run of your makeup! Having your makeup done will not only make you feel insanely beautiful, but it will LAST through the engagement session. No raccoon eyes in the middle of July or barely there lips in chilly November!

My amazing December bride, Keely, was insanely sweet and wrote a little something something about her engagement session:
“Our session for our engagement pictures was AMAZING with Kayla! Scott sometimes gets tired of having his picture taken, so I was initially concerned with how long his smile would last, but Kayla kept us laughing the entire session so he had a great, natural smile throughout all of the pictures! We also felt completely comfortable with Kayla. We took our pictures outside near the Grist Mill at Norris Dam, and Kayla took us around to multiple spots and just observed us how we are. She got great shots that did not look posed at all. Needless to say, the pictures turning out wonderful and the quality was so great we printed them on magnets to send out for our save the dates. Can’t wait to see how our wedding day pictures turn out!!” – Keely

And because I absolutely LOVE my engagement pictures, I thought I would share one that shows just how much fun we really did have! 😀

So if you are a future or current bride, please definitely consider an engagement session! Its a great time for you and your love to spend some time together just having fun, and in the end…you’ll have some amazing pictures! 🙂
Smiles,
Kayla F