Smoky Mountain Anniversary Session
I had to bring back this iconic session from 2019. This was one of my first tastes of an adventure session and I will never forget it.
Former Texas Aggies Will and Brook moved to Raleigh, North Carolina because he is in the Air Force. To celebrate their first wedding anniversary, they wanted to get dressed up again and go to the Smoky Mountains! Brook had been following me on instagram for awhile and knew I was down to travel, so we made it happen.
On a Saturday morning in March, they picked me up from the airport with their bulldog Earl and we roadtripped to the mountains. We talked for hours and even picked up some amazing florals on the way from an artist I found in Asheville and made our journey up to the mountains.
We shot at a place called Max Patch which hugs the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. To get there it was miles and miles of driving in circles up the mountain and there wasn’t any phone service. Brook did her hair and makeup in the car and they both got dressed in the woods. I loved every second of this off the cuff adventure.
Once we started hiking the scenery constantly changed. You’ll notice many of the photos look like a completely different place because the mist moved in and out continuously. The mist was very icy feeling and gave an eerie vibe to our surroundings. When it cleared, the view looked straight out of a Rembrandt painting. We were awestruck.
We made our way down the mountain to a pizza joint in a tiny town and reflected on the session - exhausted, hungry, and happy.
The next morning we woke up and shot around our cabin Airbnb and it was the perfect way to end the weekend adventure. It’s the kind of place you have to constantly watch out the window as you drive because there’s inspiration everywhere.
Before they dropped me off at the airport, we had breakfast in Asheville and I sat at a patio table with two new friends and their dog Earl. It was a beautiful weekend that left me feeling so fulfilled.
Here’s what Brook had to say about it:
We shot with Lauren in the smoky mountains for our first anniversary and it was a photoshoot from my DREAMS. I cannot say enough good things about her. She is an absolute pleasure to work with! She is smart, professional, friendly, accommodating, energetic, funny and a magic-maker with a camera. Her work speaks for her immeasurable talent and her personality makes any glimpse of awkwardness disappear.
Photographer: Lauren Parr Photography
Florals: Lavender Fox Florals
