Sweet & Casual RT Lodge Winter Engagement - Ally + Tyler
Ally & Tyler’s Sweet and Casual RT Lodge Winter Engagement Session
Winter engagements have a certain magic, and Ally & Tyler’s session at the charming RT Lodge captured all of it. Nestled in the heart of Maryville, Tennessee, RT Lodge is a hidden gem for couples looking to celebrate their love in an intimate and picturesque setting. Ally and Tyler’s sweet, casual winter engagement embodied the rustic beauty and warmth that the lodge is known for.
A Cozy Winter Wonderland
Despite the cooler weather, RT Lodge provided a backdrop that felt both inviting and serene. With towering trees and a woodsy atmosphere, this location radiates a timeless charm perfect for winter sessions. Ally and Tyler embraced the natural beauty around them, creating moments that felt effortless yet striking. The golden hues of fallen leaves and the soft winter light combined perfectly, giving each photo a luminous glow.
Sweet and Simple Styling
Ally and Tyler’s style for their engagement shoot was the perfect reflection of their laid-back personalities. Ally looked stunning in a cozy sweater paired with jeans & boots, while Tyler opted for a classic casual look with a sweater and jeans. Their simple, yet thoughtful styling fit seamlessly into the natural environment of RT Lodge. Nothing about this session felt overdone, and that’s what made it so special. The couple’s genuine connection and love took center stage, and every smile and laugh felt authentic.
A Natural Connection
One of the highlights of this engagement session was the genuine connection between Ally and Tyler. From walking hand-in-hand along the lodge’s trails to sharing quiet, intimate moments by the fireplace, their love was palpable. The relaxed atmosphere of RT Lodge seemed to bring out their playful side as well. At one point, they couldn’t help but laugh as Ally jumped onto Tyler’s back, creating some truly candid and heartwarming shots.
Why RT Lodge is Perfect for Winter Engagements
RT Lodge is an ideal location for couples looking to blend elegance with rustic charm. The wood-paneled interiors, cozy fireplaces, and stunning outdoor scenery create endless opportunities for beautiful photos, regardless of the season. In winter, the lodge transforms into a tranquil retreat, perfect for capturing those romantic moments.
With its cozy ambiance and scenic beauty, it was the perfect backdrop for Ally and Tyler’s winter engagement. Their session captured everything that makes winter engagements so special: warmth, simplicity, and undeniable romance.
If you’re considering a winter engagement session, RT Lodge offers a stunning, intimate setting that allows love to shine through every frame. Just like Ally and Tyler, you can create memories that will last a lifetime in this magical location.
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Visit RT Lodge for more information about this beautiful venue!
10 Ways To Prepare for Your Engagement Session
How to prepare for your engagement session:
Decide on the feel or story you want to portray in your photos. Location could be important for this. (Romantic, playful, carefree) Pick a place that is meaningful to you as a couple to help with this.
Hair and Makeup done professionally. This is not a deal breaker by any means, but definitely can elevate the experience. This can also be a great time for a makeup trial run for the wedding.
Outfit choices will also correspond with #1. We usually suggest a dressier outfit and a more casual outfit if you decide on 2. Keep in mind the season
Coordinate on your outfit choices also! Don't be matchy, but complementary colors work well. Long flowy dresses and button up shirts and slacks look great! Stay away from logo shirts, busy prints, or crazy stripes. Neutral Tones, Solids, and Layering. Be comfortable also.
Props can be fun and they can help tell the story. A blanket for a picnic in the park, a bicycle, motorcycle, or car, signs, hats, floral...The best props are creative and personalized to you as a couple.
Pets! We love pets, so decide if you want to add your pet to your love story, but also bring a friend or relative to help wrangle them while you do your photos together.
Schedule your session around sunset or sunrise for the best light and glow in your photos. Middle of the day shoots are tougher because the light is harsh and could created unflattering shadows. Trust your photographer to help you pick out the best time for your photos.
Be prepared to get close. This is a time share in your love together. You are going to get close to each other.
Keep and open mind. In order to be creative with your photos, you may have to do things out of your comfort zone. We promise that it is totally worth it though!
Check out inspiration for your session on Instagram or Pinterest. We don't need a list of shots, but a few photos for inspiration on how you want your session to feel can really help tailor the session to you as a couple.
Bonus: Keep the mood light. Most people are nervous because they have never posed for the camera before. Be into each other, talk, and make each other laugh. Although we may prompt you on certain things, we love those natural interactions and we are able to be creative while capturing those authentic moments. Relax and have fun with it!
Strike a Pose: Engagement and Wedding Posing Made Simple
It’s one of the most common things we hear from our couples—“We are so awkward in photos.” Although we find very quickly that this is just not true, many couples feel intimidated by the thought of having to pose for photos for even an hour at an engagement or even longer on wedding day. You really shouldn’t worry though because we’ve got you. Posing just shouldn’t be something you even have to think about, and today, we are sharing our pro tips for looking your best in front of the camera so that you absolutely love your images.
1. Shift Your Weight
Women, in particular, have a tendency to want to do the tried and true hand on hip pose, but many naturally lean forward when doing so, putting their weight on the front leg. Instead, try shifting your weight to your back leg and bending the knee (no…not a Game of Thrones reference) in front slightly.
2. Hands!
Seriously, this is the number one concern from our clients—what to do with those pesky hands. First, whatever you would naturally do to engage with your significant other is always a good idea. For example, placing your hand on the face, around the waist, or on their arm is always natural posing. The key, though, is to keep those fingers loose and the hand soft to avoid what we call “The Claw” (definitely a Toy Story reference). Just wiggle those fingers and touch lightly or just touch with one or two fingers to keep things soft and romantic.
3. Wear that Chin Proudly
Think of a business man in a suit with a square jawline. He’s proud of his accomplishments, holding his head high and jutting his chin out just slightly. That little lean forward and slight outward thrust of the chin is incredibly flattering. Not only does it show confidence, but it can help eliminate the double chin many people also worry about appearing in their photos.
4. Forehead to Forehead
It’s romantic; it’s intimate, and the forehead to forehead pose is one of our favorites. The key, however, is to not go straight on with your heads. Since we want to still see some of your face in the photo, we actually want those heads to touch more on the middle, far side from the camera. To avoid going cross-eyed, just look downward instead of directly at each other.
5. Engage with Each Other
We don’t want your chatting, goofing off, and giggling to stop when the camera comes out. Keep on being yourselves and interacting like you always do. We frequently find ourselves encouraging our couples not to be quiet but to, instead, chat about where they want to go to dinner after the session, what they loved most about seeing each other for the first time, or even their plans for the future (for those super emotional moments). We all want authentic interactions in these shots, so keep up your normal conversations and flirting, please.
Bonus tip for men: A hand in the pocket (thumb in or out, whichever you prefer) is always a good, polished look.
Bonus tip for women: Create separation between your body and your arm for slimmer looking upper arms.
And guess what? If you hire professional photographers who know how to make you look and feel good when taking photos (wink…wink…nudge…nudge), then you can leave all of this to us.
Windriver at Tellico Lake Luminous Engagement - Kristi + Jeff
Personalized engagements are always so amazing. We really encourage our couples to 1) have their engagement photos taken at a location significant to them/their relationship 2) make the session all about their interests. Kristi and Jeff did just that with their engagement at WindRiver, a beautiful lakefront community and marina in Lenoir City Tennessee. From our initial correspondence, these two stressed their love for spending time at the lake, and they also prioritized having their adorable pup, Roxy, involved in the photos.
Nothing screams romance quite like a picnic with a glimmering lake in the background, so we loved that Kristi brought along a picture-perfect picnic basket and some wine for a little toasting. This is such a easy way for a couple to take their engagement session to the next level as well with some amazing details. After a little stroll in the park, we took these two to a hill with an overgrown field for some sunshine filled photos complete with a little dancing and all the authentic laughter. Finally, we were invited on the couple’s boat to really capture what they are all about—a little adventure on Tellico Lake. These were some of our favorite shots as we could really see that the two were in their element, and who doesn’t love a little golden hour light glistening on the water?
This couple just makes us smile, and we are wishing for warm days to return soon with this sunny WindRiver engagement. Enjoy!
Film Lab: PhotoVision
Meads Quarry Knoxville Engagement - Alice + Dan
With all this cold, dreary weather this time of year, we want to bring you a little fun in the sun to brighten up your day at Knoxville’s beautiful Mead’s Quarry. Plus, we are so excited that Alice and Dan’s wedding, which has seemed like such a long time away, will now be here before we all know it.
Like many of our couples, these two have been long distance for all but about 6 months of their relationship. We felt like these two were kindred spirits from the beginning of their session as we chatted about their love for playing trivia, building Legos, and eating at Nama (a local sushi spot), where the two dined before Dan proposed at Alice’s parents home as the two were building Lego sets together. Check out the adorable Lego Mr. and Mrs. holding the ring and helped with Dan’s proposal. Too cute!
If you’re wondering about the Star Wars tie in, aside from just being fans, these two are going to celebrate their wedding at Hunter Valley Farm on May 4th—as in May the 4th be with you. We really just loved how sweet and open these two were and how fun they were to be around, but most of all, we enjoyed seeing how much they love each other through this playful engagement.
Hair and Makeup: Southern Sirens
Marblegate Farm Engagement Smoky Mountain Event Venue - Ashton + PJ
Playful and endearing are the words we would use to describe Ashton and PJ’s Marblegate Farm engagement. A waterfront venue featuring a farm setting, this location is simply breathtaking. The marble is part of the history of this venue, being left where it fell years ago and now comprising the pillars at the entrance as well as the shoreline. Perfectly manicured landscapes and elegant finishes characterize this one of a kind space just outside of Knoxville in surrounding Friendsville.
Despite being long distance for their relationship as PJ teaches in Ecuador, this sweet couple has made it work. You may also recognize Ashton from our bohemian bridal in Cade’s Cove a few years ago, as this is how we came to know her. These two are just simply stylish with natural beauty and an inherent calm that just makes you feel comfortable around them. In this charming setting that will also be the site for their ceremony and reception, we captured what we feel is the essence of Ashton and PJ—a palpable feeling of love.
Enjoy this beautiful couple and amazing venue featured on the blog today.
