One of the things I like to tell a groom is that I want him to have pictures that also refelct his status on his wedding day. I will be posting more of Shannon and Wesley’s special day but I wanted to highlight these “groom pictures.”

Wesley likes to fish. No, wait - Wes LOVES to fish. So it is little wonder that Shannon and he chose to have their wedding at Hiwassee River Weddings and Events Center in Delano, Tennessee. It is a spot that allows you to marry right at the water’s edge of the Hiwassee River, one of the more serene and beautiful rivers in East Tennessee.

Shannon, though, is the one who said, “Get Wes in his happy place.” So we took him down to the river’s edge and handed him what made him relaxed for pictures - a fishing pole.

I like this - I think this makes for a better portrait of the groom than a traditional one, posed and looking at the camera. In fact, I daresay more people are comfortable with images that show them in a place or setting that has special meaning to them. And it doesn’t have to be done at a wedding - an environmental portrait has its own context!

My only regret is that by the time we did these pictures, a release had occurred upstream, so stepping into the water would have meant a wet groom (it looks shallow but it would have been almost hip high). But know this - I don;t mind getting wet for the shot.

Hmmm . . . maybe it is time to look at underwater casings for my camera . . .

What is that setting that makes you feel comfortable or special? Let’s talk about having your portrait done there!