Urban Elegance: Katie’s Graduation Photos in Downtown Knoxville

One thing about me? I'm always up for a photoshoot in downtown Knoxville! Nestled in the heart of East Tennessee, my little city is brimming with history and character. From the cozy nooks of Market Square to the majestic University of Tennessee campus, you'll find something special around every corner. The diversity in architecture is a treasure to any photographer like myself.

Needless to say, I was thrilled when Katie expressed interest in taking her high school graduation portraits downtown! We decided to meet up at a parking deck, starting with some simple, easy shots. We found a blue background that made for a lovely pop of pastel. I was delighted to see Katie brought a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers to complement her photos. They really added an extra flair to the images!

One challenge when it comes to shooting in any downtown area, especially in the afternoon, is dealing with crowds! This weekend was no exception, particularly because it was Saint Patrick’s Day weekend. People and cars were flooding many of the main areas downtown. Luckily, having done many shoots in downtown Knoxville at this point, we navigated the outskirts of the city pretty easily and made light of the situation, chatting and joking about it along the way. What I wasn’t able to crop out in the moment, I was able to photoshop out later!

After our downtown adventure, we made our way to Katie’s high school. There, we finished up with a few shots including cap and gown.

One thing we discovered we had in common along the way (aside from our first names) was our love for Noah Kahan! For that reason, I want to conclude this blog post with a couple of sweet lyrics from his song “You’re Gonna Go Far.”

"So, pack up your car, put a hand on your heart

Say whatever you feel, be wherever you are

You're gonna go far."

There’s a special place in my heart for all of my grads. It’s always an honor to capture such a pivotal moment in a young person’s life. I know you’re gonna go far, Katie!