Adrian and Mike are no strangers to my camera. Beginning earlier in the spring, we created images to tell the bridal, engagement, and wedding story. I have been waiting all year for their wedding, because I knew that it would be very heart-felt and provide some great opportunities for wedding photography.

I could have filled this blog entry with dozens of
their wedding photographs! Since it was so difficult for me to decide which ones to showcase, they will be our featured wedding this month.

Their outdoor wedding featured Communion, a dove release, and vows read simultaneously. At the end, they performed a passionate dance to Haley Westerna's "Dark Waltz." I had misty eyes throughout their wedding, but full tears appeared as I watched them sway together upstairs in our wedding chapel.

Christmas time is coming!


It's not too late to start making your gift list. A beautiful portrait is always the right size and color. This year we'll be doing Classical black and white with a twist of red and green color, complete with a nostalgic winter sleigh. Make your reservation now, because our Christmas scene is only available through mid-September.

Many thanks to Caitlyn for being this year's Christmas model!

Congratulations to my husband, Gary Woods! I love you, baby, because you have such a big heart.

Gary hiked to the top of Mount LeConte this spring to capture a stunning view that raised $17,500 at the recent Robert F. Thomas Foundation fundraiser for the new LeConte Medical Center. The 100" print will hang in the new hospital in honor of the late wife of its high bidder, Mayor Brian Atchley. Thank you, Mayor Atchley, for your kind and generous heart. Your wife no doubt deserves this touching memorial.

And now, time to meet the Honeysuckle Hills family! Occasionally we ditch our overalls for a more elegant affair such as the Robert F. Thomas gala. Listed from left to right is my mother, myself, Aunt Helen, and my daughter, Rachel.

The couple, of course, is Gary and myself.

It was nice to get dressed up just like our brides and grooms for a change. It also reminded me of what it's like on the OTHER end of the camera!

If you'd like more information on making a donation to the Robert F. Thomas Foundation, visit http://www.drthomasfoundation.org/fss-foundation.cfm

The most beautiful brides come to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to get married. Kenzie had a glow about her that Jason seemed to very much enjoy! I particularly enjoyed Kenzie's bridal bouquet. Autumn is just around the corner, and her colors went very well with our outdoor wedding area.

Kenzie was very easy to photograph, and I found myself doing several bridal images of her.

Honeysuckle Hills is not the last farm standing in the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee area. There are still a few working farms around, and I was honored to be invited to create Roy's high school senior photographs at his family farm in Sevierville.

Roy's farm is not new to the local artist community. Several years ago renowned painter Robert Tino painted the barn and old family home place. The painting hangs prominently on Roy's wall.

My favorite image from our session involved Roy's Dad, Harold, and his coon hounds. We placed Roy with his shotgun smack in the middle of the field, then I waved to his Dad to turn the hounds loose. Talk about shooting fast!

Hearing Roy's Dad call up the hounds brought back a lot of memories for me. I can still hear my Dad's voice bellowing across our mountain ridges calling up old Bo and Sally on a frosty winter night.

Dexter didn't marry kissing cousins or twin sisters, just his one and only Ellena. His bride is, however, in two different wedding gowns at my request. Ellena was kind enough to allow me to photograph yet another wedding photography project in our cool Smoky Mountain stream. (We certainly couldn't ruin that gorgeous wedding dress of hers!) How many wedding chapels in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg do you know that will be that adventurous?



Thank you, Ellena, for satisfying my creative urge. You were an absolutely stunning bride!
While we were having fun with the wedding photography, Ellena's family was having a blast decorating her vehicle for the wedding departure. Those girls had a grand time with their pink streamers & silver glitter!

Katty and Dade included an age-old wedding custom during their ceremony that I had never seen before called "jumping the broom." I immediately searched the internet for the meaning behind it and discovered there are actually several explanations. The most common was that it signifies the wife's willingness to keep house. Interestingly, it can also mean that whoever jumps the highest over the broom is the one who will have dominance in the marriage. Whatever the significance for Katty and Dade, I'm sure it meant a great deal more to them because it was a gift from a dear friend.

Katty and Dade had many military friends for their outdoor wedding in Pigeon Forge. Honeysuckle Hills was the perfect place for them all to gather together and catch up on old times.