Ben Finch Photography » Engagements

Levi & Caroline {Engagement Session | Athens, TN}

Ben Finch — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:41 +0000

He had no idea where it would take him when Levi shouted, “Hey baby!” to Caroline from the balcony of her friend’s apartment. They were attending the same party, yet had never met. And from the look of things, it would never lead to anything since they wouldn’t run into one another for several months afterward. They were both students at UT (University of Tennessee) where he played baseball & she studied Art. Thankfully, when they did end up seeing one another, she was on the market. And he’d make sure that was never the case again!!!

These two are such fun. Meet Levi & Caroline. Levi is literally from across the country, raised in the beautiful state of Washington. Caroline, on the other hand, raised in the small town of Sweetwater, TN. Who would’ve thought they’d find one another. But they have… & it’s wonderful.

As the story goes… on a trip to Washington to visit his family for Christmas, Levi planned a two-day trip to Victoria, Canada. They shared an incredible dinner together followed by a walk through the park lit by Christmas lights. As she turned to speak to him, she realized he was several feet behind her, kneeling on the sidewalk. Admittedly, neither of them remember what he said… but she cried & said “YES!”

Levi & Caroline came by the studio last week for their engagement shoot. Since it was rainy & cold when we started, we opted to capture some shots in the studio. Here are a few of my favorites:
It was so much fun to hang with these two… always serious laughing when I’m behind the lens!
The rain clouds passed so was ventured outside for a bit.
Love this! Can’t wait to see you guys again!

Dustin & Sarah {Chattanooga, TN Engagement Session}

Ben Finch — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 13:00:45 +0000

I must say at the beginning of this post that I’m a little jealous of these two. As we met up for their engagement session in Chattanooga, they discussed the details of their December wedding… in SAN DIEGO!!! Little do they know how much I want to visit the Diego o’ San (I don’t even know what that means!). Every since I was in college & passed up an opportunity to play semi-pro soccer there, I have thought about it since… for like 10 years! I think it’s time to move on… ha!

Meet Dustin & Sarah… this crazy-smart couple resides in “Chattaboogie” where they both practice medicine as Pharmacists. Since they are having a small family wedding in California, they wanted to enjoy their engagement session in a city they love. And, their mutual love for the outdoors keep these two outside so we took advantage of a few hours outside.

Congrats friends… enjoy!
I think my new favorite hobby is watching people smile!
I love the feel of these!
I love the beautiful colors of Fall!

Savannah and Russ {Engagement Session Part 2 | Etowah, TN}

Alan & Jenn — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:32:10 +0000

About a month ago, Jenn and I were able to photograph Russ and Savannah at Neyland Stadium…sweet! We had a great time that day (those pictures can be seen here). However, we had always planned to do a follow-up session with these two. You see, their family was not quite complete at the time of the Neyland Stadium shoot. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce Knox to the world (not to be confused with Ben’s Knox). Knox is Savannah and Russ’s tiny ball of fluff. I say “tiny” because at the moment he is. However, in about a year he will be a full grown 180 pounds…WHOA!!! You can see why they debated naming him Bear, but in the end, the love of all things UT won out. In addition to introducing Knox to everyone, we also took some images to be used for a secret project! It was a great time just to hang out and enjoy the beautiful fall colors; Jenn and I can’t wait until your “Big Day!”

Knox did so well during his debut session.

We loved all of his puppy energy!

As the day wound down, Knox had about enough. It was time for a nap in the tall grass!

My favorite! I love the creativity that a setting sun offers!

Ish & Amber {1-year Anniversary | Athens, TN}

Ben Finch — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:00:45 +0000

I can’t even explain what this couple means to me. As I mentioned in their engagement shoot, Ish was declared by many as my “first wife.” We went to college together & worked in church ministry alongside one another at two different churches. But let’s be honest, he’s been one of the closest friends of my life, as far as I’m concerned, he is my family.

About a year ago October, Ismael ‘officially’ snagged the girl of his dreams, Amber. I wasn’t able to photograph the wedding because I had a most important responsibility as the Best Man. It was an honor I’ll always remember.

In celebration of their 1-year Anniversary, Ish & Amber drove up to the Motherland (aka “East TN” for those who didn’t know!) to visit & enjoy a vacation. They stayed a few nights with us before heading to Chattanooga in order for Ish to run a 10K & so he could ‘wine & dine’ his bride on the town. We had the best time with our dear friends & per their request, I was happy to photograph their 1-year Anniversary. What an incredible time! And we’re eager with anticipation as we get to spend New Year’s Eve in Tuscaloosa, AL with these two. Until then!!!

That door rocks!
I couldn’t love these more!
We left the city & ventured to one of my favorite secret spots in the countryside.
I couldn’t care less that this image is out of focus… I love it big-time!!!
My cheeks are hurting from smiling so much.
Such a neat perspective… love how the corn gradually increases in height; I could’ve spent all day here.
Because they’re super-rad, Ish & Amber love vintage cameras too!
Okay, okay, okay… you can take a picture of me too
Would it be weird if I put this picture above our living room couch?! Ha… love you guys, hope you enjoy!

Doug & Jessy’s Engagement {Lenoir City, TN}

Ben Finch — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:00:20 +0000

Their story goes way back to Lenoir City High School when Doug transferred in following his freshman year. They met in an agriculture class they both took. After their graduation, by act of providence, Doug & Jessy would find themselves working together at a local feed store. And leave it up to Doug’s parents, Rebecca & Mark, to plant the seed as they would always tell Jessy that she needed to “drag Doug out of the house” one weekend. He took the hint & eventually asked her out on a date on April 27, 2006… they’ve been together since.

With his sense of humor & her beautiful smile, they make a great couple. And their interests are the same as well. Doug lives on his family’s farm & together they raise sheep. It doesn’t hurt, either, that Jessy is a lecturer at the University of Tennessee in the Department of Animal Science, so they know exactly what they’re doing.

Not too long ago, Jessy was greeting at her car by their Weimeraner, Lucy, who was wearing a pink bandana. Lucy jumped in her lap as she opened the door & Jessy noticed a beautiful ring tied to Lucy’s collar. Doug came to the car, got down on one knee, & asked her to marry him. She said ‘yes,’ of course!

And, of course, we decided to do their engagement photos on Doug’s family’s farm. It was unreal!

Yes!
I think they’ll love this one!
Lucy was the perfect companion for the shoot… I was secretly hoping they’d ask me to take her home!
I can’t wait til your wedding Doug & Jessy! Thanks so much for the opportunity to share this time with you… enjoy!

Grant & Fernanda {Vintage Inspired Engagement, Tennessee}

Ben Finch — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:00:27 +0000

It could’ve only been orchestrated from above. How else would you explain how a San Antonio, TX-born, Memphis, TN transplant who ventures to Tuscaloosa, AL for college meets a Belo Horizonte, Brazilian-born, Birmingham, AL transplant who speaks English with a Southern accent? Whew! Meet Grant & Fernanda or should I say, the future Mr. & Mrs. Grant Luiken! This is their story.

As I’ve heard it said before, sometimes the most enduring relationships begin slowly. As is the case for Grant & Fernanda. They met for the first time through the University Fellows Experience at the University of Alabama… Roll Tide! After 2 years of friendship they began working together following Grant’s study abroad in Uruguay. On the first day of the job together, sparks began to fly. Who says you shouldn’t date a co-worker?! After much prayer, the couple entered into a relationship together. And that’s what finds us here today!

On a beautiful late April afternoon, Grant took Fernanda to a pre-scouted lookout in Moundville, AL where he had prepared a picnic for the ‘two youngins’ in love!’ At the right moment, Grant got off the tailgate & knelt down to wash Fernanda’s feet. He spoke of Christ’s love of the church (John 13) & it’s model for marriage. “In the same way that Christ serves the church,” Grant said, “we want to serve each other for the rest of our lives.” He then asked her hand in marriage (accompanied by a sparkly ring) & she said, “YES!” {And all the readers said, “Awwww!”} Afterward, they headed back to Tuscaloosa where Grant had an engagement reception party waiting behind his apartment doors. Nice!!!

You can see why I’m honored to share in the stories of couples like Grant & Fernanda. While getting married on New Year’s Eve in Tuscaloosa, AL, they were kind enough to drive up to East TN for their engagement session. And they rocked it out! After discussing our ideas for the session, they wanted to do a vintage-inspired e-session. They had the perfect clothes & I found some great locations which resulted in one of my favorite engagement sessions to date. Without further ado:

We began our session at the Historic L&N Depot & Railroad Museum in Etowah, TN. The old train station & active train tracks provided a fantastic backdrop.
Watching these two interact was really beautiful!
Can’t miss the train!
After the depot, we opted to visit a local Mennonite Community in Delano, TN. A lovely couple in a Muscadine Vineyard… what more could you ask for?
One of my favorites!
And yes! We ate plenty of Muscadines… fresh off the vine!
Beautiful!
And, across the highway is the Hiwassee River. (Btw, I was standing at the very edge of a log that was hovering over the water for this pic, I seriously almost fell in at one point).
This nearby field was perfect.
And we ended the afternoon with a short hill-top hike to catch sunset while enjoying our Muscadines.
I love these two pictures so much!
Clearly one of my favorites!
Grant & Fernanda, I am so happy for you & your families. You are such a pleasure to meet & I can’t wait to ring in the New Year with you guys. I hope you’ve enjoyed your sneak peek!

Chris & Kensey {Cove Lake State Park Engagement, Caryville, TN}

Ben Finch — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:00:23 +0000

They met one another in Middle School, later becoming best friends. High School friendship bloomed into romance where they dated for 3 years before they went separate ways when she moved to UT Knoxville for college. Yet, after graduation, she found herself back home saving money for a trip she was planning to Australia. It was in their hometown that they found themselves playing in a local recreation basketball league & the flame was rekindled. And as she said, “That’s all she wrote!” It’s Chris & Kensey’s story.

One evening following a Keith Urban concert, Chris brought Kensey back to a local park, Cove Lake State Park. As they walked the trails he stopped to tell her something. As he admitted his love for her since 8th grade, he took her to the spot of their first kiss & asked her to be his wife.

When discussing the engagement shoot with Kensey, she knew she wanted to have the photos taken at a place special to them both, the park. Chris grew up on the edge of the property & is effortlessly familiar with the landscape. They’ve shared some wonderful moments here & it seemed like the right fit. The afternoon was perfect for these two!
I absolutely love this picture… could it be any more fun?!
Thank you Chris for allowing me these next few photos!
Such a great looking couple… Kensey has such beautiful eyes & Chris has a perfect smile every time.
This spot was perfect… a field of wildflowers beneath a huge tree.
I think every engagement shoot should have a pier, a lake & a mountain range in the distance.
Chris & Kensey both love basketball & coach their school & AAU teams. We decided to play a quick game of one-on-one!
This is when it started getting really good.

Yes!!!
As I pulled out of the state park & was about to drive onto the interstate, I pulled over for this gorgeous view… I’m thinking I need to revisit this area again! Thanks Chris & Kensey… I’m so excited & honored to be shooting your wedding!

Savannah and Russ {Engagement Session | Knoxville, TN}

Alan & Jenn — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 01:28:10 +0000

Between Jennifer and myself, I would definitely say that I am the more technical shooter while she goes mainly by feel. Each approach works equally well, but I love studying the “rules” of photography. Composition, thirds, and leading lines…these are the things that excite me about photography! Weird, I know. Of course, more often than not, “breaking the rules” creates stunning images as well. However, the other day, I discovered a photographic rule that should NEVER be broken: When you get a chance to shoot in Neyland Stadium, always take it! This was a first for Jennifer and me; we’ve never done an engagement session in an SEC stadium before. When we first met up with Russ and Savannah, they mentioned trying to do a session here and we were pumped. Both of them had attended UT, and Savannah had an old friend who could get us on. As we entered the field, I was blown away by how massive this place was; definitely an intimidating place to play football. Although our time there was severely limited, we had a blast! Check out our images below. As this was only half of their engagement session, look for more about Russ and Savannah in future months! After leaving the stadium, we still had some good light left so we made the short trip to the World’s Fair Park.Some dancing at the amphitheater was in order!Here’s a nice problem to have: Savannah’s engagement ring was SO bright I had trouble getting it exposed correctly with her hand!These are my favorites of the day. Small slits of sunlight through the trees made for some dramatic backlighting.

Mark & Bobbi {Engagement Session | Knoxville, TN}

Ben Finch — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:00:11 +0000

I’ll never forget the first time I saw these two. I was shooting Meg & Clay’s wedding reception when I saw this rad couple on the dance floor acting like they owned the place… making up dance moves… seriously good stuff! I never got their names but I rarely forget a face.

Several months later I receive an email from Bobbi introducing herself & telling me about her recent engagement. We decided to meet up & discuss our ideas for the engagement session. When I walked in for our meeting, I immediately recognized them & knew we were in for some serious fun!

Their story goes something like this. Mark was working at a gym where Bobbi frequently tanned. Being the intelligent guy he is, Mark offered her a job right away… nice!!! Bobbi says they were first attracted to one another’s smiles & goofy personalities. One thing’s for sure, they seem like a perfect fit & they have an incredible time together. On a beautiful afternoon in March, Mark brought Bobbi to one of their favorite spots in Market Square, Knoxville, pulled out his guitar, & sang a song he wrote to her, & asked for her hand in marriage. She emphatically said yes!

When planning the engagement shoot, we knew we had to start the session in Market Square.
I could’ve stayed in this location all night… such beautiful lighting with a great looking couple.
One of my favorites!
We opted for a wardrobe change… whoa!
We walked down to World’s Fair Park…
Bobbi can’t help but smile at Mark!
This is when the shoot went to the next level. We knew we wanted to do something really adventurous… they were totally up for it.
Yes!!! Mark & Bobbi, I am so excited about your wedding in May. I had a great time with you guys & know we’ll hang out again soon… I’m already craving Barley’s Pizza!

Michael & Jamie {Engagement Session | Mayfield Farms, Athens, TN}

Ben Finch — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:00:28 +0000

Her best friend had been begging her to meet him for quite some time, however she continued to dismiss the request. That was until her best friend’s boyfriend’s 30th birthday party when they happened to finally be in the same place at the same time. She noticed the tall handsome lad in the corner with gorgeous eyes & I assure you that he saw her back. And that was just the beginning. Little did they know that night would change their lives forever.

She was immediately drawn to his outgoing & “loud” personality, saying, “that’s just my type!” And he liked how they made out like teenagers in the back seat of a car! Ha! But it came as a complete shock to her in mid-May when he took her out to the strawberry field & knelt his knee as if to ask her hand in marriage. Before he could get a word out she tackled him with an enthusiastic yes! It’s the story of Michael & Jamie.

You may be familiar with the Mayfield name. If you’ve ever enjoyed Mayfield Dairy’s milk & ice-cream then you are familiar with Michael’s family. After heading to Auburn to study agriculture, Michael returned to Athens to work alongside his family in a new venture, Mayfield Farm & Nursery. We thought it would be perfect to photograph on the family farm… I can’t explain to you how much fun we had. Hopefully you’ll see firsthand through the images… enjoy!
Love the composition of this image… a personal favorite.
The image on the Left has to be one of my absolute favorites… love the moment when Michael was being bad & he got the “no no no” to the nose!
Whoa!
I can’t quit smiling over these pictures… amazing location, perfect weather, & a super-fun couple!
My wife’s favorite (& probably mine as well)… beautiful!
I can’t wait til September 10 when I get to see these two become husband & wife… congrats my friends!