A lot of times we get caught up in all of these word choices and phrases and trending concepts when it comes to photography and portraiture. Editorial has come to stand in place for something minimal and in-authentic while “authentic” has some to mean only candid shots with blurry faces and unusual angles. The truth is- these are loose terms that are broad and open to interpretation.

I like to remind anyone that I work with that other sessions are inspiration, that categories are inspiration, there is not set blue-print for you session, no rules on styling or posing or locations or what to look like or who to look like. You can be as safe or as wild as you want to be- just show up as yourself.

A+A are wearing almost 100% thrifted clothing at this little Tennessee Texaco and the junkyard beside it. We came up with the concept before hand, and threw together the outfits and the narrative as we went- prioritizing connection and laughter as well as a little steamy romance on top. We wanted to create images that were half-way between an album cover and an old-school, gritty romance movie. A stray dog wandered into the session (he got all the kisses and scratches), we found an old bulldozer that fit with their background in farming, and we went looking for red-stars to tie all the locations together.

Bein’ a Tennessee Cowboy/Cowgirl (this ain’t about a gender, but a mindset) as well as a Tennessee based traveling photographer I find my creative sweet-spot tends to lean towards that Western Grit with a lot of Southern Charm drizzled on like honey. I had Alexia and Andrew come on down towards Sewanee, TN (where I happen to have attended college to get my degree) which is one of my favorite places in TN to shoot. Not only does the area have some vintage and rustic spaces like the old Texaco Gas Station featured in the photos or some retired train cars which are a staple in the area due to coal mining as well as the iron ore which is plentiful in the area, but it is also rich with geological features and some of the best natural spaces TN has to offer. 

Sewanee itself has over 13 thousand acres of trails, ponds, lakes, bluff, cliffsides, and rivers which all provide the perfect adventures or backdrops for adventure elopements. And, being that I’m an expert in the area I know some of the best areas for views, privacy, and some damn cool images. Nearby, within an hour or so, is the Franklin State Forest, South Cumberland Natural Area, Prentice Cooper State Forest, and my favorite Savage Gulf State Park.

Now, if you’re not into an adventure elopement that involves hiking, kayaking, or camping Sewanee is an area rich with history and a secret little art community. Unless you’re planning on having a nature-based adventure elopement I would really recommend Sewanee for a couples or family session. This part of the Cumblerand is a mecca for exploration both in and out of the woods. Some of my favorite little holes in the wall are the Dutch Made Bakery out in Tracy City, the local jam sessions held weekly, and the historic buildings including a space which housed  what is considered to be one of the most significant portions of the civil rights movement. 

Alexia and Andrew let me follow them around the Texaco where a dog from down the street trotted over to make a cameo before we danced around some old semis, borrowed a bulldozer, and watched the trains pass by. This is the PERFECT area for film photography- I love bringing out the film cameras to capture the old buildings, gas stations, and trains. The colors, textures, and architecture typically turn the images out into something reminiscent of the Route 66 era of retro travel.  After the trains went by they changed into some prairie-lady-meets-cowboy outfits and I had them play on the train-tracks. So often as adults we lose the ability or the chance to get to do something just because. To do something without a monetary or necessary purpose behind it. I told them to spin, dance, chase, and laugh with abandon. It’s important- even in the most moody, gritty, edgy sessions, it’s important to feel wild, free, and open. 

If you’re lookin’ for a photographer- holler at me! I’m a TN based photographer but travel all over the US documenting Musicians, Cowboys, and True Love.