blake & lauren {the question}

My heart is happiest when I not only get to share this passion, but especially when I get to share it with those I love. Blake & Lauren are a very, very big part of mine and Rob's life. Blake is Rob's best friend. Lauren and I torture them about their "bromance" but it is honestly one of the most sincere friendships I have ever witnessed. They would do anything for each other, so when Blake told Rob that he was going to propose to Lauren (because they can't keep any secrets from each other) I think I got just as excited as when Rob proposed to me. ;)

I was absolutely over the moon when Blake & Lauren took me up on my offer to shoot their engagement pictures. I was nervous...I mean butterflies in your belly, hand sweating while holding the camera nervous. I wanted them to have the best pictures I could possibly give them, not only as an engagement present, but because I know those will be images that they look back on for years!

I'm in LUST with these images! Ahhh, they honestly just make me super giddy! Not only was the weather absolutely perfect (it poured rain before the session and the Smokey Mountains totally lived up to their name) but backdrop was just to die for. I had never been to Cades' Cove before, but after this visit, I would be more than happy to go again and again!

 This image makes my heart skip. I feel like it should be my poster child of Kayla F Photography I love it so much!

 Lauren is the free bird in my life. She is whimsical, thoughtful, and incredibly down to Earth. When she walked over and started picking flowers I think I even called her my little flower child. She eventually stuck them in her hair and it couldn't have been more fitting.

Swoon! Seriously...

Lauren is such a beauty! I can't wait to see how stunning she is going to be at their wedding!

 We ended our session and on the way out of Cades' Cove we met this Momma and her adorable 3 (yes THREE) cubs! East TN never disappoints!

July can't get here fast enough! Rob and I are more than excited to celebrate and enjoy their wedding festivities...tears will definitely be shed (at least by Rob and Blake). :) 

Smiles,

Kayla F

Biltmore Winter Sessions

 I am beyond excited that you are interested to learn more about the Biltmore Estate Winter Sessions!!! This is a series that I am over-the-moon about and I am just so thrilled that you are as excited as I am!!! Whether you are like me and have been to the Biltmore many times (going on 7-8) or have never been before, there is sooo much it has to offer!

Below is the Session price sheet for these Winter Sessions:

If you are interested in booking a session, please note that there is a $75 non-refundable deposit at the time of booking that will go towards your remaining balance that is due at the time of the session.

Sessions will be held from 9:00 AM - 4:00PM Saturday (14th) and Sunday (15th), with the exception of noon (a girl has got to eat). If there is a gap in session times, I will ask following sessions if they wouldn't mind to bump up to the next time slot, but it isn't mandatory.

These images will not be ready in time for Christmas cards, but I do plan on having a few images from everyone's session ready to post on FB within the week. :) The remaining images will be on my normal 3-5 week turnaround. Please note that although these are pictures taken at Christmas time, and we all love our Christmas cards, I am hoping that these sessions will be a time for you and your family or loved one(s) to spend some quality time together, and make amazing memories. :) And if you REALLY want some cards out of this session, New Years cards are extra special and won't get lost in the Christmas shuffle! :)

I have added to my already Pinterest addiction and have put together an idea board specifically for these sessions! I will have some props on hand, but feel free to bring whatever you would like! You can see some of my vision for these sessions by visiting here!

 
To see more information on the Biltmore Estate and especially Christmas at Biltmore, be sure to look at their website, www.biltmore.com. Please note that the price of the session does not include admission to the Biltmore Estate or its grounds. The weekend of the sessions is an incredibly busy weekend for the Biltmore Estate, so I would suggest purchasing your admission tickets ahead of time!

If you want any recommendations on things to do while at the Biltmore or in Asheville, don't hesitate to ask! I've done almost all of it and LOVE the City of Asheville!!!

If you are interested in booking a Biltmore Estate Winter Session or have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me at kayla@kaylafphotography.com I will also be available for regular sessions in the Knoxville area from the 8-26th (with the exception of Christmas Eve & Christmas Day).

Smiles,

Kayla F

Emily & Blake {the question}

"Quintessential Knoxville" is what she asked for, and Quintessential Knoxville is exactly what she got! :D Emily & Blake are not originally from Knoxville, but have fallen in love with the city as most do when they go to the University of Tennessee! I loved listening to Emily talk about how much of a die-hard Volunteer fans her and Blake are (Emily worked for the football team while going to school) and knew that we had to start this session off down at Neyland Stadium! We were totally bummed that the field was closed, but decided to tromp around and we discovered the backside of the stadium. The area all of us alumni are familiar with...the student entrances! What could be a more perfect spot to start the session off? 

 I finally got Blake to loosen up a bit and to see Emily blush like she did was just the cutest moment ever!

 Oh Emily, you are going to be a stunning bride!

I am beyond excited to see Blake & Emily's wedding day and all the hard work I know Emily has put into it!!! Can't wait to see your amazing pictures you two! 

Smiles,

Kayla F

Hollis 2 Years

This little guy has eye for days and is one of the sweetet heartbreakers out there! Hollis' momma is one of my favorite people and I am absolutely THRILLED she asked me to take his 2 year pictures! Kate (from Kate Moore Creative) had the cutest idea to just have Hollis is his blue jeans (rolled up none-the-less), sandals and his hat. Talk about such a little country boy!! Ahhh! I just love it!

 

Introducing "Lamby"

 Ahhh! My favorite from the day! Just love it!

 Mr. Hollis realized that we were basically walking on a plethora of rocks, sticks and dirt...what country boy wouldn't want to pick them up and put them in his pocket?!

 So so so happy that I had the honor to snap these images for you Kate!!! 

If you guys are interested in fun and creative prints for your home, check out Kate's Etsy shop LiveLoveStudio or if you are wanting some handmade knitted loveliness check out her OTHER Etsy shop, WildandWondrous.

She is crazy talented! :D

Smiles,

Kayla F

Busy Crickets

Busy crickets...what on Earth am I talking about? I honestly don't know at this point. I was going with a thought of my blog has been like crickets lately. I haven't posted in well over a month (which I just hate) but but those crickets have been super, super busy somewhere else!

As many of you know (or may not, but you can catch up here), I am now a San Franciscian! :) This city has honestly completely surpassed all of my expectations and has shown me that although I might not currently reside in the South, our "Southern Hospitality" doesn't only reside in the South, either. Well, let me rephrase that, people here are just plain nice! And that...was a lovely surprise!

More on our move, trials and adventures later! :)

I wanted to share all the amazing yumminess that I have been neck deep in over the last few weeks! These are all sessions and weddings that are still in my queue to finish up in the next couple of weeks before I head back to TN for my last 2013 wedding! I want to give a shout out to all of my amazing clients who have been SO patient with me! Packing a 3 bedroom apartment, saying goodbye to friends, families and clients, having an incredibly (you can't even imagine his medicine schedule) puppers, moving across the country, shipping my computer (I thought I was going to chew off all of my fingernails), and traveling back and forth has really put a toll on me and my schedule. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! You all mean the world to me and thank you so much for all of your encouraging words and support through this HUGE life change!!!

On to the fun stuff! You will see all of these sessions in their own blogs (plus the 20 or so sessions that I have delivered, but not blogged yet) soon! :)

Smiles,
Kayla F

P.S...these images are in absolutely no order in terms of where they are in the queue! :)

To Changes and New Beginnings

 We. Are. Moving! :)

Wow! Its been well over a month since I have written a post, and it makes me sad. :( BUT! I have a very, very good reason!!! 

A few months ago, Rob and I got married and entered into eternal bliss (more about that later on my Planning the Big Day series). We honeymooned in Paris and honestly caught a bug. A moving abroad bug. Two years ago, we interviewed with some companies that had abroad opportunities, but things fell through. However, when we came back from Paris, Rob and I got the itch again! We knew that in our hearts, we wanted to travel and experience the world and everything it has to offer!

Let me just say, we fell in LOVE with Paris, France. Wow! Its one of the biggest cities in the World, but I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else. Me, born and raised right here in Knoxville, TN! I calculated it and I've only lived in a 15 square mile distance of the home I spent my wee beginnings in. Ummm...I call that LOCAL! :) But Paris had so much to offer and literally left me hungry for more. Bagettes, check. Cafe's, check. History older than you can honestly comprehend...check. When we came back home, Rob and I had an honest conversation with each other and realized that we wouldn't be content if we didn't experience more of what we already had.

:Insert interview process: Let me just say, I fell in love with and married a man of intense intelligence. He interviewed, he continued to interview, and he interviewed more than I can say I ever have. It came down to an opportunity that we just couldn't pass up. Mozilla. San Francisco, CA. Potential for Paris, FR in near future. Need I say more? Yes, I do. This is a job and a company my husband is in love with! The company's morals and ethics line up with not only his, but my viewpoints on our security as a nation and citizens of the United States, and they are a non-profit. Their foundations are great and I've enjoyed the small chances I've gotten to glimpse into their company culture. 

So what does this mean for our family and for Kayla F Photography?!? A lot! Rob is heading to San Francisco THIS Sunday...yes, tomorrow! He'll be in temporary housing and go apartment hunting once he gets in the city. We have decided to live in San Fran proper and hopefully find a place within walking/biking distance of Rob's work. I will continue to be here in Knoxville until September 24th. I have two weddings in September and then Rob gets to go to PARIS with Mozilla for a week, so I get to stay here and tie up all of our lose ends (hopefully there won't be many). Plus, with Diesel still recovering, we thought it best that I stay here with him so he can continue to get treatments from UT Vet and begin some intense physical therapy. Once I'm in SF, I'll be coming back quite a bit for weddings and a big fall mini session series (more on that in the coming week)! Plus, Rob will be able to work remotely, so we will be traveling fools. :) 

As much as I am sad to say farewell to East TN, I continue to go back and take words my stepdad said to me in the beginning of this journey. "Nothing is Forever." I have taken this in two different contexts. First, we won't be gone forever. We love East TN and especially Knoxville with all of our hearts! Our blood bleeds orange and we have spent the last few weeks really trying to experience all that we can. Whether its 3 years or 13 years (although I think our families would kill us if it was on the 13 year end), we will be back. Second, we don't have forever. If there was ever a time in our lives to make an adventure, now is the time. We are healthy, happy, and have freedom to take this journey. Why wouldn't we?!? 

I'll still be taking clients and still doing sessions, they will just be a little bit more limited than now (for obvious reasons). My weddings are absolutely not effected at all and my 2013 and 2014 clients have been absolutely amazing and so encouraging since I've shared the news with them. I honestly have some AMAZING clients!!!

I will be quiet for a couple of days while we continue to pack and clean the apartment, but then its going to get crazy. The list of blogs and editing I have is just insane!! Plus, I'll finally be able to write my series on our wedding!!! 

Smiles,

Kayla F