Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure Session | Couple Portraits at Blue Ridge Parkway
Hi! I'm Kirsten, an Asheville wedding, elopement, & engagement photographer. While I am based in North Carolina, I do offer travel packages & even discounts for locations on my bucket list!
Searching for a photographer who will deliver fun, intentional & storytelling photos? Look no further! Your wedding day memories are precious & I will document them with the same love & care as if they were my own.
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A few tips for how to make your Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure Session extra fun, featuring Makayla & Stan’s Couple Portraits at Beacon Heights.
Makayla & Stan, like many other couples in Western North Carolina, are avid hikers & outdoor recreation lovers. We chose Beacon Heights for their Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure Session because of its accessibility & the views. The hike isn’t too far from the Blue Ridge Parkway, which makes it perfect for sunset sessions since you won’t have to hike in the dark for too long after the sun goes down.
Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure Session
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY ADVENTURE SESSION
The parkway is a road about 470 miles long that snakes through the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina & Virginia. In my opinion, the most beautiful part of the parkway is in Western North Carolina. Specifically where it’s closest to Linville Gorge.
We started Makayla & Stan’s Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure Session right before sunset, along the main trail. The trail splits a couple times but you know you’re at the top when you can see a view to your right & another trail to the left. We chose to go on the trail to the left because the view was spectacular.
COUPLES PORTRAITS AT BEACON HEIGHTS
Makayla & Stan had a great time exploring the cliff side & enjoying each other’s company. It was so clear how much they love each other & how perfect having their Couples Portraits at the Blue Ridge Parkway was to showcase their relationship.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY ADVENTURE SESSION THE BEST
The Blue Ridge Parkway is an extremely popular road to travel & visit. The views are spectacular & there’s plenty of places to pull over to admire the mountains. The most accessible areas are the most popular & busy so I’ve put together some tips to have sessions at these locations without the crazy crowds. Here are the best tips to make your Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure Session enjoyable!
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Plan a session on a weekday! The parkway is like a parking lot on the weekend in the fall. It’s not very enjoyable & the trails are crowded. But this is the best time of year to have a session. So the best way around this is to choose a day in the middle of the week when most people will not be on the trails.
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Consider a sunrise session! Most people don’t want to wake up super early to hike up a mountain, but honestly it’s the best! & the lighting is perfect! There’s usually no one around & you’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy with your partner. I’ve found that couples really enjoy making a day-long date out of their photo session day! You can always get breakfast together after the session & then do some more exploring on the parkway in the afternoon.
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Hire a photographer who is familiar with all the popular as well as off the beaten path locations. Sometimes it’s inevitable to avoid the crowds at the popular spots even at sunrise on a Wednesday (Mid October to be exact). I love hiking during my off days & strategically pick hikes to places not as popular so that I can location scout them for sessions!
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Plan to arrive early. If you do show up to the location & see a bus load of people (this happened at a sunrise engagement shoot I recently did) but you’re early, then you’ll have time to drive somewhere less crowded. And you’ll still have plenty of time to hike up the mountain & watch the sunrise.
I’d love to help you plan your own Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure Photoshoot! Let’s get in touch!
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Amanda & Joe
"Kirsten was so sweet and fun to hang out with - it felt like we brought a friend along with us! She captured everything I wanted and gave us the perfect photos for us to remember our special day.
We received a mix of candid photos and portraits.
I thought I would feel awkward taking portraits. but she gave great prompts that made it fun and had us laughing. When I received my photos. I was blown away at how natural we looked and how much of our love was captured in the photos. I am literally obsessed with how our pictures came out!"
Payton & Kristen
"Kirsten produced lovely photos from our very dreamy and memorable mountain photo shoot. We display the engagement photos proudly all around our house. She knows the area well and can suggest areas if you are not.
She's non-judgmental if you're nervous about being in front of a camera and LGBTQ+ friendly! We highly recommend Kirsten to anyone looking to get engaged or elope in the Asheville area."
Caroline & Cameron
"😭😭 These are amazing. Thank you so so much for making this chaotic day look so peaceful and magical. I know we were rushed but you'd never know from these pictures. We couldn't have asked for more! and thank you for getting us our gallery and sneak peaks so quickly!!"
Amythest & Sara
"Kirsten was delightful and really allowed us to be ourselves and enjoy the time together. The photos from this session are warm. intimate. and really showcase the love that my wife and I hold in our relationship. I am forever thankful for that afternoon Kirsten spent with us. if you are considering booking a session. this is a business you want to do it with <3"
Sarah & Alex
"Kirsten was absolutely amazing to work with! While visiting the States on our honeymoon, we arranged to have photos taken to commemorate our elopement, and Kirsten took our vision and ran with it! Kirsten made the the entire experience so easy for us - from helping us plan and pick a venue, to bringing her pop-up tent for a wardrobe change at the top of the mountain.
Kirsten went above and beyond The photos themselves are more beautiful than we could have hoped for. and we are so grateful. Could not recommend Kirsten enough!"
