A bright and vibrant summer family session at UT Gardens in Knoxville with a beautiful family of four.

This early morning family session at the UT Gardens in Knoxville has the most gorgeous lighting, vibrant colors, and dreamy quality. However, the beautiful family I had the honor of photographing made it most special. I have been dear friends with Chris and Brittany for several years now. We’ve gotten to know each other better through countless Bible study sessions from our church. I’ve been fortunate enough over the past three years to document their beautiful, growing family. This time we welcomed their newest addition, adorable baby Aiden. It made for a vibrant summer family session at UT Gardens.

Brittany is one of those friends whom I deeply admire from afar. She beautifully balances her career as a veterinarian and intentional time with her family. Plus, she totally rocks being a boy mom! Chris and Brittany truly prioritize time with their kids and intend to cherish every moment of these precious early years. This is a message I preach and love to be able to commemorate and deliver on for the families I photograph!

For this session, we met early in the morning, just after sunrise, at the Knoxville UT Gardens. The light was dreamy, casting a beautiful haze over the garden. Morning sessions are ideal in the summer, because the light is soft and temperatures are cooler. Plus, children and babies are usually happiest in the morning. Aiden and his big brother Daniel were no exception, both full of smiles and energy.

Chris and Brittany love vibrant colors, so we initially planned to shoot at the Knoxville sunflower fields. However, the fields were on a break from being planted this summer. Instead, we chose the UT Gardens, where the black-eyed Susans provided a stunning yellow backdrop. It was a perfect setting, and it proves that you don’t need a vast space for a family session – just great light and a beautiful backdrop. 

This session was not just a family session but also a newborn session. I captured many snuggly shots of mom, dad, and big brother with baby Aiden. Daniel, the sweetest big brother, showered Aiden with kisses. It made my mom heart melt. Their genuine interactions made the photos even more special. 

If you loved the vibe of this session, check out another romantic engagement session I did at the UT Gardens, also at sunrise, with the same dreamy lighting. It’s always a joy to photograph at this location and document the heartfelt moments of such wonderful families.

I really enjoyed getting to document these precious younger years for the Bottoms. Their family is so beautiful and sweet, and it made for a session that was easy-going yet so stunning. Here are some of my favorite moments from the session, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!