There’s something special about returning to a place that already holds so many memories. For these two, Watauga Lake in Hampton, Tennessee isn’t just a beautiful backdrop. It’s part of their story.
We photographed their wedding here in January of last year, and if you know anything about East Tennessee winters, you know they can be unpredictable. Their entire wedding weekend was covered in snow. Not the pretty little flurries you hope for in photos — I mean down pouring snow. The kind that makes your hands numb and your boots soaked within minutes. I was also pregnant with my youngest son at the time, so between the freezing temperatures and waddling around in snow boots, it’s safe to say we all earned those wedding photos.
Spring at Watauga Lake
Coming back to Watauga Lake for their spring couples session felt like stepping into a completely different world.
The air was still a little chilly, but compared to their wedding day, it felt tropical. The mountains were glowing green again, the water was the brightest blue, and golden evening light covered everything around us. It honestly felt like one of those evenings you wish you could bottle up and keep forever.
One of my favorite things about Watauga Lake is how alive it feels once warm weather returns. While we wandered around the shoreline taking photos, people kayaked across the lake, families grilled dinner at nearby campsites, and little curls of smoke drifted from bonfires along the water. At one point, a sailboat glided across the lake behind them, and it looked like something straight out of a movie.
Sessions like this remind me why I love photographing couples in places that mean something to them. The photos become more than “pretty pictures.” They hold history. Emotion. Seasons of life.
A snowy wedding day.
A warm spring evening.
The same lake.
The same love.
Just a different chapter of the story.
Watauga Lake will always be one of my favorite places in East Tennessee for couples sessions. Between the mountain views, peaceful water, and quiet little pockets along the shoreline, it never disappoints — especially during golden hour.
Check out this Roan Mountain Engagement Session.
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