New Blogsite!!!

If you are one of those people who regularly check in on our blog, first of all Thank You!!!

Our blog is moving to a new address. Please check out the new version...

www.rikphotography.com/blog

All of our new posts will go there, so please bookmark the site.

Beth and Gibbs' Wedding

Beth and Gibbs met 5 years ago at a Montgomery Gentry concert. It wasn't long after that they knew they wanted to go to more concerts together, and started dating. Both from Illinois, they found us on the internet and that's how we ended up with the honor to host their wedding and reception.

You'll notice a little 15 month cutie named Taylor in a lot of these images, she was the star of the show on their beautiful wedding day. After Beth and Gibbs started their beautiful family, Gibbs dropped the question by presenting Taylor with the ring, (which ended up thrown to Beth). Of course she said yes.

We wish this beautiful family many smiles and much laughter in their future together. (After meeting Taylor, we doubt they will be lacking in this field for many years to come). Thanks for choosing Bluff Mountain Inn!

In Living Color

It was a beautiful spring day and the colors were just popping everywhere, so I had to get out and take some shots around town. Since I've been getting up into the mountains quite a bit lately I decided to head into town just to see what I would see.

Problem is, when you start this sort of project you seem to get wrapped up in it...












Of course, at the end of a long day of shooting it's always great to get back home to black and white...

Lilly update

She wasn't smiling and she wound up in jail...

Cynthia and Jeffery's Wedding

Cynthia went to elementary school with Jeffery's younger brother 30 years ago. Now, 1 year ago today, the two of them met at a singles church group and haven't parted since. The two often leave messages for one another in their busy worlds on a marker board on the fridge.

Sept 7th of '08 Jeffery wrote "will you marry me?" on the board... it's still there today. Cynthia said yes, and that's how we ended up w/ the honor to host their wedding and reception.

Rings... Strang has Irish heritage and to celebrate that, the two donned genuine Irish bands.










The reason they ended up choosing us was b/c Jeffery's a photographer himself and had admired an image we took of a church @ Cades cove that just about matched one he'd taken himself.

Best wishes for a blessed future for Jeffery & Cynthia as well as their wonderful friends and families. It was a pleasure to host your wedding and reception here at Bluff Mountain Inn!

You can see more of these images on Facebook.

Easter Dress

Lilly paid us a visit today and modeled her new Easter outfit!

Gatlinburg Trail

When you come to the area for a wedding or other special occasion, I highly recommend getting out for a hike in the mountains. One of our favorite trails is easy to get to and a pretty moderate walk (ie. you're not hanging onto rocks!).

Just drive into Gatlinburg, veer right in front of Ripley's Aquarium to get onto River Road, and in just a few minutes you'll see the Happy Hiker on your left.

You may need some snacks for the trail, some sunscreen or hiking boots... stop by the Happy Hiker. It's a fun place just to walk around and run by great folks who know where all the great trails are.

Just across River Road from the Happy Hiker is the entrance to the Gatlinburg City Trail. You can park on River Road in front of the water plant. This trail will take you 2 miles (if you go all the way) to the Sugarlands Visitor Center in the GSM National Park.

All the trails in the park are marked very well so you can always figure out where you're going.

I can't tell you how many times we've taken a late afternoon walk along the river on the Gatlinburg Trail just to smell the flowers, watch the rapids, get a little exersize and come back refreshed. Here are a couple of shots from my walk yesterday...



Enjoy...