Jeremy Gouge 9/10/20 Jeremy Gouge 9/10/20

Kristi+Brynnan

Engagement Session, captured in Knoxville, TN. Most of these images were taken at Meads Quarry at Ijams Nature Center.

Life is funny sometimes. You meet people, never knowing that not only are you making friendships, but you are creating opportunities to work with those awesome people down the road. That is exactly what happened. Kristi and I met when we worked at the same job, probably 18 years ago. Fast forward to now, and we have worked in the same store again, but this time at different times, but when she and Brynnan decided that a wedding was in the future, she messaged me on Instagram asking how I worked. Clearly if you are here you know that the images today are from an amazing afternoon in Knoxville, Tennessee where they live now.

Would you guess, they also love the outdoors, and kayaking! Win Win Meads Quarry!

We had tried planning a shoot for them for months off and on but planning anything this year has been, well you know how it’s been. 2020 has been trying at best. So after several attempts we decide that Knoxville is a go, now we have to figure out where in Knoxville. They are relatively new to town and I have only shot here a few times but those locations are not what we need today. No we need nature, wonder, and I think we found it. Clearly these two found this same wonder in one another, and that’s why this coming weekend is going to be so amazing as they say “ I Do”. So what do you do? No idea where to plan this shoot, well you do what any normal, fairly intelligent person does-Hey Google!

Some options came up but those are the basic, tourist attraction options that any basic search will provide so deeper I scoured. Long story short here, we decided to explore somewhere new to us all. Somewhere truly unique. We chose to meet up at Meads Quarry, in Knoxville. I had never heard of this place prior and was truly excited to visit, especially with them. So me being me, I got there a little early and well lots and lots of Chaco blisters , 20,000 steps according to my watch and one amazing day later we had their engagement session captured. I am a little biased but man, these are intense. New locations, with people I have never worked with before sure did equal something special.

As of officially putting these words to type, I have already delivered this full gallery to them. I usually like to write here first, as a sneak peak for them as well as anyone reading but the words wouldn’t come this time. That happens. I am far from being a good writer, though I love the challenge and the therapy of bringing these feelings and stories to life but sometimes we can’t force the work. We can’t force the song to be written, the words to develop in rhythm, or maybe you can’t express those feelings you feel right away, and i’m here to tell you- THATS OK.

Never feel like you have to rush your work, your art, your passion. I hope in my waiting that this short tale, has meaning, has character, and had your attention. Until next time.

Jeremy Gouge 5/1/18 Jeremy Gouge 5/1/18

Hungry Mother State Park and Love!

I have had the pleasure of speaking to Sarah for months, planning her wedding to Leonard and getting to know them along the way. I was actually blessed to be referred to them by my friend Jeremy, who was unavailable on the big day. They live over an hour away from me and we had never met, that is until Sunday before last! We tried several times to plan the engagement session, and with the crazy weather we have had here in the South, it was harder than it should have been to put into works. We finally found a day that worked for us both and in the books, it went. I started the day at Church, followed by a meeting also at the church by our media director to plan some volunteer opportunities. My family went their separate ways, so I headed on toward Virginia, en route to my session. I had a little time on my hands, so I swung by one of my favorite places and took a few photos for myself. Those can be seen here.

After a short relaxing walk in the woods, off to Chilhowie, I went. This is exciting for several reasons for me. I was meeting them both for the first time, and hoping to visit Hungry Mother State Park for the first time as well. All the first's! I was pleased to drive up to Sarah's parent's house and there were jeep's everywhere. My kind of people. Leonard even had an axe mounted on his roof rack, and I took this as a good sign. A good sign it was as we talked music and the park and they really are like minded people and enjoyed being outdoors as much as I do. At one point during the shoot, Leonard's son ran his hand across the bridge and ended up with a nasty splinter. Leonard was quick to pull out his trusty pocket knife and free the debris caught in his son's hand. This may seem like a silly detail to include but, if you know me at all you know I have a passion for knives myself and have done this same thing for my own children ( and clumsy self ) multiple times, so the moment resonated with me on a deep level.

We easily got lost in our journey and our mission to capture the love between them while exploring the beautiful park that it is. We overlooked the lake, waited patiently for the wind to work with us and not against us, and then ducked in behind a wall of kayaks and canoes. I truly enjoyed meeting and working with them both and look forward to capturing their wedding in a few short weeks.