How to Pick a Knoxville Professional Wedding Photographer / Videographer #4: Why Do Professional Associations Matter?

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Picking a wedding photographer, wedding videographer, or wedding cinematographer is simple, right?

 

You go to a bridal show, find one with the right package price and a great deal, a pretty booth with pretty pictures (or movies) and sign on the dotted line. You get to go home happy you saved a lot of money and check wedding photography, wedding videography, or wedding cinematography off the wedding planning list until you end up following up for the free engagement session or maybe a couple of weeks before your wedding to make sure you’re on the same page.

But that’s not how it’s supposed to be!

In this blog series, we will share exactly what to look for, how much to pay, what to ask, and essentially how to go through the process of picking a wedding photographer / videographer / cinematographer. First, it’s important to go over some important characteristics and why they’re important!

Don’t assume all wedding photographers, wedding videographers, or wedding cinematographers are the same!
Knoxville-Wedding-Photographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Videographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Cinematographer_Worlds-Fair-Park_Downtown-Knoxville

The artistic images are often the most powerful and memorable wedding photographs.

What you are actually paying for could be much different from your expectations (especially after reading this series). Here are eight (potentially surprising) secrets about the field of wedding photo/video/cinema:

  1. Not all of us are professionals.
  2. Not all of us do this as our full-time job.
  3. Not all of us care about the art of photography.
  4. Not all of us keep up with trends and the market.
  5. Not all of us are active members of professional associations.
  6. Not all of us design the experience our clients have.
  7. Not all of us educate our clients on the benefits (and drawbacks) of different media for images.
  8. Not all of us share our success by giving back to those in need.

We will cover why each one of these characteristics is relevant to you with different posts—so you don’t have to take it all in at once!

What are professional associations and why do they matter?
Knoxville Professional Wedding Photographer - Award Winning Knoxville Wedding Photographer | Professional Photographers of East Tennessee | Knox Wedding Creative

This image from a Knox Wedding Creative engagement photography session was the top-scoring image at the 2014 Professional Photographers of East Tennessee annual image competition. Not only does it symbolize quality for brides looking for their wedding or engagement photographer, the competition provides critiques to the members so they may refine and improve their photography skills in the future.

There are a handful of local, regional, and national professional associations that wedding photographers / videographers / cinematographers can be a member of, each of which are fairly unique. Why do they matter though?

First, members of local professional associations are regularly surrounding themselves with other quality professional photographers / videographers / cinematographers—some of which have more experience, some less, but all have the goal of becoming better at their craft.

These members of local guilds also have strong relationships with other quality professionals who often work together for clients to create fantastic experiences. In the event of an emergency or failure (especially in the wedding industry), this local network of quality professionals is a huge benefit to clients of professional association members. If something terrible happened (knock on wood) to your wedding photographer / videographer / cinematographer and they aren’t an active member of a local professional association, you may be “up the creek without a paddle.”

Another reason these associations matter for you is they often hold competitions with professional judges and give out awards to the best work. If you see that a wedding photographer / videographer / cinematographer has won awards from a professional competition, you know they have experience, offer high-quality services, and their work was independently deemed to have been better than their peers / competitors.

Lastly, you want your wedding photographer / videographer / cinematographer to be actively involved in such an organization simply because their membership is almost symbolic they have most of the other characteristics of the best wedding photographers / videographers / cinematographers we’ve mentioned in our other “How to” articles on hiring photographers / videographers.

What this means for you:
Knoxville Professional Wedding Photographer - Award Winning Knoxville Wedding Photographer | Professional Photographers of East Tennessee | Knox Wedding Creative

“The State of the Estate” was the top-scoring image in the Commercial – Architectural category in the 2013 PPETN competition. When searching for your wedding photographer, make sure you recognize a variety of skills in your wedding photographer. You’ll get a greater variety of quality images—in this case your venue will be photographed beautifully as well.

When looking for your Knoxville professional wedding photographer, look for one that has an active membership in a professional association. Members of these local, regional, and national associations provide you these benefits:

  • Continuous improvement in knowledge and application of skills and techniques
  • Community of quality professionals to learn and ask questions with
  • Quality and skilled backup photographers in case of emergency
  • Independently reviewed competitions and awards (signal of quality)
  • Consistency in quality images
  • Symbolic embodiment of the characteristics of the best in the industry
Wedding Tips Series

Part 1: Where You Get Ready Matters
Part 2: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 1 (Why Hire a Professional?)
Part 3: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 2 (Why Does Full-Time Matter?)
Part 4: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 3 (What is the ‘Art of Photography’?)
Part 5: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 4 (Why Professional Associations Matter)

Stay tuned for more great tips by getting social with us!

Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook

P.S.: Want to customize your wedding photography or cinematography experience?
Click to setup a free consultation with us and we’ll start designing your wedding ASAP!

Learn More

Do you have any additional advice or suggestions for other brides about the value of hiring a photographer or videographer who is a member of a professional association? Share them in the comments below!

 

How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer #3 – What is the ‘Art of Photography’?

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Picking a wedding photographer, wedding videographer, or wedding cinematographer is simple, right?

 

You go to a bridal show, find one with the right package price and a great deal, a pretty booth with pretty pictures (or movies) and sign on the dotted line. You get to go home happy you saved a lot of money and check wedding photography, wedding videography, or wedding cinematography off the wedding planning list until you end up following up for the free engagement session or maybe a couple of weeks before your wedding to make sure you’re on the same page.

But that’s not how it’s supposed to be!

In this blog series, we will share exactly what to look for, how much to pay, what to ask, and essentially how to go through the process of picking a wedding photographer / videographer / cinematographer. First, it’s important to go over some important characteristics and why they’re important!

Don’t assume all wedding photographers, wedding videographers, or wedding cinematographers are the same!
Knoxville-Wedding-Photographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Videographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Cinematographer_Worlds-Fair-Park_Downtown-Knoxville

The artistic images are often the most powerful and memorable wedding photographs.

What you are actually paying for could be much different from your expectations (especially after reading this series). Here are eight (potentially surprising) secrets about the field of wedding photo/video/cinema:

  1. Not all of us are professionals.
  2. Not all of us do this as our full-time job.
  3. Not all of us care about the art of photography.
  4. Not all of us keep up with trends and the market.
  5. Not all of us are active members of professional associations.
  6. Not all of us design the experience our clients have.
  7. Not all of us educate our clients on the benefits (and drawbacks) of different media for images.
  8. Not all of us share our success by giving back to those in need.

We will cover why each one of these characteristics is relevant to you with different posts—so you don’t have to take it all in at once!

What is the ‘art of photography’ and why does it matter?
Knoxville-Wedding-Photographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Videographer_Knox-Wedding-Creative_How-to-Choose-a-Wedding-Photographer-or-videographer_photographic-art

Impact is the number one element of a merit image for a reason—it is what moves us most! Storytelling is also important for context…like this father and daughter savoring the last moments of their dance before so much changes for both of them in life.

Breathtaking images or films aren’t accidents—they are crafted by artists who have studied and practiced (and studied and practiced) using a camera to paint a captivating story worth sharing and talking about.

Professional Photographers of America has a list of “12 Elements of a Merit Image” which attempt to identify common characteristics of uncommonly great photographic art (and can be applied to cinema as well):

  1. Impact (laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion)
  2. Technical Excellence (retouching, manipulation, sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color)
  3. Creativity (original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination)
  4. Style
  5. Composition
  6. Presentation
  7. Color Balance
  8. Center of Interest
  9. Lighting (dimension, shape, and roundness)
  10. Subject Matter
  11. Technique (printing, lighting, posing, capture, presentation media, and more)
  12. Story Telling (ability to evoke imagination)
What this means for you:
Knoxville-Wedding-Photographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Videographer_Knox-Wedding-Creative_How-to-Choose-a-Wedding-Photographer-or-videographer_photographic-art

Composition is an artistic tool that can be used creatively—like with the negative space in this image of photographic art.

Art is subjective, so each viewer will have their own judgement to make—but professional wedding photographers / videographers / cinematographers who are continuously seeking artistic refinement in their skills and further education will consistently produce better and more beautiful images than those who rest on their laurels.

These 12 elements should be present in the current work of your prospective wedding photographers / videographers / cinematographers, and you should ask them about how they seek to capture or use each in their art.

This point leads to next week’s post on “Why Professional Associations Matter”…so stay tuned for more!

Wedding Tips Series

Part 1: Where You Get Ready Matters
Part 2: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 1 (Why Hire a Professional?)
Part 3: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 2 (Why Does Full-Time Matter?)
Part 4: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 3 (What is the ‘Art of Photography’?)
Part 5: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 4 (Why Professional Associations Matter)

Stay tuned for more great tips by getting social with us!

Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook

P.S.: Want to customize your wedding photography or cinematography experience?
Click to setup a free consultation with us and we’ll start designing your wedding ASAP!

Learn More

Do you have any additional advice or suggestions for other brides about the artistic value of your wedding photos or movies? Share them in the comments below!

 

Wedding Tips: How to Pick a Wedding Videographer or Photographer #2 – Why Does Full-Time Matter?

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Picking a wedding photographer, wedding videographer, or wedding cinematographer is simple, right?

 

You go to a bridal show, find one with the right package price and a great deal, a pretty booth with pretty pictures (or movies) and sign on the dotted line. You get to go home happy you saved a lot of money and check wedding photography, wedding videography, or wedding cinematography off the wedding planning list until you end up following up for the free engagement session or maybe a couple of weeks before your wedding to make sure you’re on the same page.

But that’s not how it’s supposed to be!

In this blog series, we will share exactly what to look for, how much to pay, what to ask, and essentially how to go through the process of picking a wedding photographer / videographer / cinematographer. First, it’s important to go over some important characteristics and why they’re important!

Don’t assume all wedding photographers, wedding videographers, or wedding cinematographers are the same!
Knoxville-Wedding-Photographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Videographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Cinematographer_Worlds-Fair-Park_Downtown-Knoxville

The artistic images are often the most powerful and memorable wedding photographs.

What you are actually paying for could be much different from your expectations (especially after reading this series). Here are eight (potentially surprising) secrets about the field of wedding photo/video/cinema:

  1. Not all of us are professionals.
  2. Not all of us do this as our full-time job.
  3. Not all of us care about the art of photography.
  4. Not all of us keep up with trends and the market.
  5. Not all of us are active members of professional associations.
  6. Not all of us design the experience our clients have.
  7. Not all of us educate our clients on the benefits (and drawbacks) of different media for images.
  8. Not all of us share our success by giving back to those in need.

We will cover why each one of these characteristics is relevant to you with different posts—so you don’t have to take it all in at once!

What does ‘full-time’ mean?

A Full-Time Professional Wedding Videographer / Cinematographer / Photographer is basically a professional who does this as their only (or primary) source of income. 

  1. Intangibly, it means the wedding photographers / videographers / cinematographers are focused on one field of expertise for their career.
  2. Practically, it means the wedding photographers / videographers / cinematographers have the ability and flexibility to serve clients (you) without distractions, work commitments, or other inconveniences.
What this means for you:
Knoxville-Wedding-Photographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Videographer_Knox-Wedding-Creative

This couple chose to have a destination wedding in Aspen, Colorado. As a full-time wedding videography / photography business, we were able to travel to capture their wedding at their convenience (and with no scheduling hassles to them whatsoever)!

Most “professional” photographers / videographers / cinematographers (even though they are playing by the rules) don’t actually do this for their full-time job. This may seem inconsequential to you at first, but it’s actually a big deal.

Wedding photographers / videographers / cinematographers that don’t work full time will (in most cases) spend a minimum of 2,000 hours a year (40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year) focused on work that doesn’t relate to wedding photography / videography / cinematography. What can you do with 2,000 hours a year? Full-time wedding photographers / videographers / cinematographers spend it honing their craft and refining their business. Which would you prefer for your once-in-a-lifetime moment?

Non full-timers have limited availability to begin with, as their schedules are controlled first-and-foremost by their full-time employer. Full-time photographers / videographers / cinematographers are their own employers (or work closely with their employer) and can be flexible to your convenience. With part-timers or weekenders, you’ll be competing with their family, friends, and social lives for the remaining 3-4 hours of free time (usually less) per day they (might) have to devote to serving you.

The full-timer values your relationship so much more. Full-timers get up in the mornings and work to exceed your expectations because you are the one investing in them and putting food on their tables. Their financial loyalties aren’t divided, and because of that they invest their time and energy to create something that is worth what you have paid—not only to make sure you are happy this once, but also that you would come back again one day when you have photo / video / cinema needs in the future. All because your experience was so good.

Turnaround time is a big distinction as well—full-timers commit 10-12 hours (usually more) each day to their work, and your wedding or session is getting processed sooner and faster than someone who can only commit to a few hours every few days. It takes regular skill to process and edit a full wedding, and you’ll probably be disappointed on how long you must wait if you don’t hire a full-timer.

Wedding Tips Series

Part 1: Where You Get Ready Matters
Part 2: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 1 (Why Hire a Professional?)
Part 3: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 2 (Why Does Full-Time Matter?)
Part 4: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 3 (What is the ‘Art of Photography’?)
Part 5: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 4 (Why Professional Associations Matter)

Stay tuned for more great tips by getting social with us!

Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook

P.S.: Want to customize your wedding photography or cinematography experience?
Click to setup a free consultation with us and we’ll start designing your wedding ASAP!

Learn More

Do you have any additional advice or suggestions for other brides about why to hire a full-time professional? Share them in the comments below!

 

Wedding Tips: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 1 (Why Hire a Professional?)

//in , , /by

Picking a wedding photographer, wedding videographer, or wedding cinematographer is simple, right?

You go to a bridal show, find one with the right package price and a great deal, a pretty booth with pretty pictures (or movies) and sign on the dotted line. You get to go home happy you saved a lot of money and check wedding photography, wedding videography, or wedding cinematography off the wedding planning list until you end up following up for the free engagement session or maybe a couple of weeks before your wedding to make sure you’re on the same page.

But that’s not how it’s supposed to be!

Knoxville-Wedding-Photographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Videographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Cinematographer_Maple-Grove-InnIt’s supposed to be so much better than that! (Can you tell we are passionate about this?!)

In this blog series, we will share exactly what to look for, how much to pay, what to ask, and essentially how to go through the process of picking a wedding photographer / videographer / cinematographer. First, it’s important to go over some important characteristics and why they’re important!

Don’t assume all wedding photographers, wedding videographers, or wedding cinematographers are the same!
Knoxville-Wedding-Photographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Videographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Cinematographer_Worlds-Fair-Park_Downtown-Knoxville

The artistic images are often the most powerful and memorable wedding photographs.

What you are actually paying for could be much different from your expectations (especially after reading this series). Here are eight (potentially surprising) secrets about the field of wedding photo/video/cinema:

  1. Not all of us are professionals.
  2. Not all of us do this as our full-time job.
  3. Not all of us care about the art of photography.
  4. Not all of us keep up with trends and the market.
  5. Not all of us are active members of professional associations.
  6. Not all of us design the experience our clients have.
  7. Not all of us educate our clients on the benefits (and drawbacks) of different media for images.
  8. Not all of us share our success by giving back to those in need.

We will cover why each one of these characteristics is relevant to you with different posts—so you don’t have to take it all in at once!

What does ‘professional’ mean?

Professional basically means two things: 

  1. Intangibly, it means the wedding photographers / videographers / cinematographers have experience and expertise with their field of services and products.
  2. Legally, it means the wedding photographers / videographers / cinematographers have a business license and tax registrations to offer the goods and services you’re paying for. 
What this means for you:
Knoxville-Wedding-Photographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Videographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Cinematographer_The-Capitol-Theatre-Maryville-Tennessee

This photograph was taken in an area with a lot of unappealing brick architecture, but we found an angle that makes the couple look like they are in a beautiful, lush garden.

Professionals know how to respond to less than ideal situations, which your Uncle Sal or cousin won’t be able to handle. Poor conditions, malfunctioning equipment, (that one thing you hope won’t go wrong but probably will), and more can adversely affect an amateur with a camera, not to mention they haven’t come close to mastering their equipment and couldn’t respond to changing conditions with remarkable speed. Professionals alleviate the headaches and work around the problems as if everything was heavenly—because of their experience and expertise.

Professionals will charge you tax on the items they sell that are taxable (even if you pay cash). This is not a bad thing (though it always stinks to pay sales tax). It means they are a responsible businesse and contributing to the growth of our local and state community.

Professionals will have insurance for their equipment (if something bad happens to their equipment), for liability (if something bad happens to someone while they are working), and for indemnity (if something bad happens during a shoot that can’t be fixed—like a wedding).

Professionals are legally operating small businesses who play by the rules and think far enough ahead to plan for a bad day. You want to hire someone for your wedding who thinks ahead and prepares for all contingencies. (You would be surprised at the number of self-proclaimed “professional” photographers / videographers / cinematographers who have acquired none of these things—so be careful!)

Wedding Tips Series

Part 1: Where You Get Ready Matters
Part 2: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 1 (Why Hire a Professional?)
Part 3: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 2 (Why Does Full-Time Matter?)
Part 4: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 3 (What is the ‘Art of Photography’?)
Part 5: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 4 (Why Professional Associations Matter)

Stay tuned for more great tips by getting social with us!

Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook

P.S.: Want to customize your wedding photography or cinematography experience?
Click to setup a free consultation with us and we’ll start designing your wedding ASAP!

Learn More

Do you have any additional advice or suggestions for other brides about why to hire a professional? Share them in the comments below!

 

Knoxville Wedding Photographer Tips: Where You Get Ready Matters

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Preface: Offering Knoxville Wedding Photographer / Cinematographer / Videographer services, we see lots of weddings and have unique insights from our experiences that can help you plan an even more wonderful wedding experience. Sit back and enjoy our “expert” advice series to make your wedding day ah-mazing!

Knoxville Wedding Photographer Advice Starts Here!

Knoxville-Wedding-Photographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Videographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Cinematographer_Getting-Ready2There are SO many details to make decisions on when planning your wedding day—you, the bride, of all people know this by now. Dresses, venues, coordinators and designers, décor, and much more. To give perspective to those of you who are early in the planning process (or the bridesmaids or groom-to-bes who may be doing their homework), we have 28 unique wedding vendor categories listed on our Knoxville Wedding Professionals directory (check it out when you’re done with this post) here at Knox Wedding Creative, and you are probably going to have to make a decision to invite at least 24 of those vendors into your big day—probably more!

One thing that is very simple to not plan for (until the last minute) is where you will be getting ready for your wedding ceremony. This location is extremely important, and often overlooked! Why is it important? Think about it:

  • This location is most likely where you and your bridesmaids will start the day—and set the tone for at least the next few hours. Make it a good start!
  • Many of your most beautiful photographs occur during these preparations, and you want the backdrop to be *almost* as beautiful as you are!
  • There needs to be plenty of space for everyone to get ready in the same room. This time is special and social—you want to enjoy it together!
  • The space you use needs to have all the amenities you’ll need for preparing, from sink space to outlets to a kitchen for snacks and food.

Knoxville-Wedding-Photographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Videographer_Knoxville-Wedding-Cinematographer_Getting-ReadyMost of your ceremony venues will have a place to prepare already, but you should ask yourself if that’s where you want to get ready (at least the main elements of hair, makeup, and dressing—the venue’s prep room is always handy for staging and last minute adjustments). If you’re having trouble deciding, here’s a few things to look for in a prep location:

  • Lots of natural light! (Visit it at the time you think you’ll be getting ready to know for sure)
  • Lots of open space in one room (for socializing and your crew—which will be bigger than you realize)
  • Beautiful architecture, décor, and furniture
  • Necessary amenities (including a kitchen/ette if you want to prepare food—don’t forget to plan meals!!!)
  • Logistics: How convenient is it for your crew to get there, and how easy is it to travel to the ceremony site


Once you know what you are looking for, you can scout out your options. Here are a few of our general recommendations for prep locations:

  • A nice bed and breakfast (homey feel, usually good natural light, all the amenities—think the “Farhampton Inn” from How I Met Your Mother)
  • Loft apartments or rental spaces with large windows (warm, cozy, urban feel—think the gang’s apartment in New Girl)
  • Boutique hotel rooms with large windows (classy, fancy furniture, access to amenities—think The Plaza in The Great Gatsby)
  • Plantation/Farm Homes (natural, rustic, open spaces, and great scenery—think a restored version of “Paradiso Perduto” in the movie Great Expectations)
  • Cottages/Cabins/Chalets (cozy, pretty in the mornings, reminiscent of the region—think Kate Winslet’s cottage in The Holiday, but with more natural light)

Wherever you decide to get ready, just make sure you’ve planned to be there! You’d hate to wait until the last minute and be stuck in an ugly bathroom or church basement where it is very dark, the lighting is terrible, and the décor is dingy and old. 

Wedding Tips Series

Part 1: Where You Get Ready Matters
Part 2: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 1 (Why Hire a Professional?)
Part 3: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 2 (Why Does Full-Time Matter?)
Part 4: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 3 (What is the ‘Art of Photography’?)
Part 5: How to Pick a Wedding Photographer or Videographer – Step 4 (Why Professional Associations Matter)

Stay tuned for more great tips by getting social with us!

Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook

P.S.: Want to customize your wedding photography or cinematography experience?
Click to setup a free consultation with us and we’ll start designing your wedding ASAP!

Learn More

Do you have any additional advice or suggestions for other brides to use in planning? Share them in the comments below!

 

Robbie + Jason’s Cinematic Wedding Movie Trailer: "Unexpected Blessings"

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Without a doubt, Robbie and Jason’s wedding at the Museum of Appalachia was one of the most beautiful, fun, and exciting “gettin’ hitched” days we’ve ever had the privilege of capturing! See a few of the highlights for yourself in the Official Trailer for their wedding film, “Unexpected Blessings” below (the feature film is embedded at the bottom of the post).

Over the course of the year (we first met Robbie and Jason at the Pink Bridal Show in January), we have been so blessed to get to know this quirky and cute couple! They have such a great sense of humor, and from a wedding cinematographer and engagement photographer’s viewpoint, they could not have been any easier or more fun to work with.

Knoxville Wedding Cinematography - Wedding Movie Poster

One of the really fun products we love to create for our couples is authentic wedding movie posters from their engagement experience images! It’s full-sized and printed just like the real movie posters you see in theaters every week…except we have an amazing new wood frame vendor that takes the presentation of these beautiful posters to an unparalleled level!

During our bride and groom cinema interviews (where we film exclusive and special interviews of the bride- and groom-to-be a week or two before their wedding), we were all worried about the impending weather that has plagued weddings all year. Luckily it passed the day before their wedding day!

Their outdoor ceremony was gorgeous in front of the Hall of Fame mansion at the Museum of Appalachia, as the sun was peeking through the trees surrounding the lawn. The venue was adorned with wonderful flowers and decorations from the talented Samuel Franklin, which only set the stage for what can only be described as a magical wedding ceremony.

From the bride arriving in a white horse-drawn carriage to the impeccably-timed music from Jim Ogle of Special Notes Entertainment Agency as each member of the wedding party entered, this was truly a special occasion.

The reception was entertaining, again thanks to Jim Ogle and Special Notes, and the cakes were beautiful as well…especially the groom’s cake, which was a sketchpad with a self-portrait sketch of the couple drawn by Jason himself!

A special thanks to the Museum of Appalachia staff, Jim Ogle of Special Notes Entertainment Agency, Sam Franklin, and Perfect Capture Photography for being such incredible vendors to work with! The other vendors (listed on their wedding movie poster) also did a great job: Nancy Kendrick (Wedding Planner), Magpies (Cakes), Creative Catering, White Lace & Promises (Her dress), Savvi Formalwear (His tux), Markman’s Jewelers (rings), Chaplain Fred Patterson (Ceremony Officiant), All Occasions Party Rental, Mary Kay, New Release Salon, and Cottontail Press.

Lastly, thank you to the award-winning and extremely talented photographer, Sheila Hannus, for her hard work as a second video shooter! She did an excellent job and many of her shots are in the trailer above.

For more information about Robbie and Jason’s love story, please visit robbieandjason.knoxknot.com.

Discover how Knox Wedding Photo + Video can tell your love story by calling 865.229.6673 or contacting us!

Feature Wedding Film

 

Ashley + John | Capitol Theatre Wedding Photographer in Maryville

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Serving as Ashley and John’s wedding photographer at The Capitol Theatre in Maryville, Tenn. was an absolute hoot! (See what we did there??) Ashley and John are another successful online match, as John’s brother and best man Ralph pointed out in his standup-worthy comedic toast. The thing we love about both Ashley and John is that they absolutely adore John’s beautiful 9-year-old daughter Olivia. She is the light of their relationship, and it’s amazing how visibly evident Ashley and Olivia have bonded.

They got hitched on March 30, 2013—the day before Easter—and it was a fantastic Saturday for such a beautiful “Old Hollywood”-themed wedding in East Tennessee. The theme matched the venue perfectly, as the restored Capitol Theatre oozes classic Hollywood with trendy “art-deco”-style from the front steps all the way to the hidden “Man Cave” just inside the back door. If you’ve never been to a wedding here, you haven’t truly experienced a modern indoor wedding—complete with laser lights, screens, and all the Hollywood charm you can imagine tucked away in that cave in the basement.

The floral arrangements included traditional red roses—to match the red and black wedding colors—and were provided by the award-winning Flowers and Such, and they included a special bouquet with a United States Marine Corps ring on display. Ashley’s gorgeous gown is from the wonderful women at Wedding Wonderland.

One noticeable difference in their reception is that Ashley and John performed some very slick and fun ballroom dancing moves for their First Dance instead of the simple sway of an untrained couple. They prepared for their dance months ahead of time with lessons from Kristina LaBerge, a talented dance instructor at Absolute Ballroom. Also, the beautiful white bedazzled cake and the wild moto-cake were crafted by the beautiful ladies at the Cake Girlz Bakery in Maryville. None other than Sweet P’s BBQ and Soul House provided the melt-in-your-mouth catering as well!

John also owns his own construction company with his brother, Ralph, called Cook Bros. Construction. They are the best at quality and service, so should any contracting needs come up, ring him up—after his honeymoon in Sandals, Jamaica, of course!

Thanks for checking out Ashley + John’s wedding here at KnoxKnot! It was a blast to capture their wedding photography. To find out more about them and see more of their photos, visit their KnoxKnot Wedding Website!

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