Blue Ridge Parkway Black Balsam Knob Gorgeous Engagement Session | Sean Szitas Photography Asheville Photographer 8.12.23

If the mountains are calling your name for an adventure and gorgeous engagement photos then black balsam knob is the perfect spot for you and your partner. located along the blue ridge parkway, a short drive through the mountains from asheville, north carolina, black balsam knob offers couples with a quick hike with a big pay off. panoramic mountain views, one of a kind scenery and backdrops for your engagement photos. find out what makes asheville, north carolina a magical DESTINATION for your engagement photos & wedding.

Engagement sessions – Yes or no?

The age old question for many couples that are starting their wedding planning process is do we need / want to / afford to have engagement photos done? What are engagement photos, what do we wear, where can we have them taken etc etc. So many options for engaged couples that aren’t as well versed in this area as most wedding photographers. Of course I am a huge advocate for engagement photos for all newly engaged couples because they get you and your partner more comfortable being in front of the camera and working with your photographer, it’s a great trial run for being in front of the camera for your wedding and getting used to being put in a what can feel like weird, awkward poses. I believe engagement photos are a great way to highlight what makes you as a couple unique and bring it out in photos for your family and friends to see. Many couples like to have their engagement photos printed and displayed at their wedding as well.

In several of my wedding photography packages I include an engagement session which is a two hour session that includes two locations within 30 minutes of each, unlimited poses and laughs as we have fun capturing you and your partner being silly in front of the camera. I like to get a mixture of posed and candid photos for engagement sessions. In the past many of my couples have expressed being nervous or awkward having their photos taken, not many people get the chance to be professionally photographed. However, by the end of the session they are way more comfortable in front of the camera and have a blast being silly and cute for photos! One of things I pride myself on is being able to relate to my couples, make them laugh and have— I want you to forget that we’re taking photos and just have a great time!

One of the services I provide to my couples that are out of town and unsure about what location would be best for their engagement session is being able to help them narrow down their search with experiences and information on popular and different locations along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I have other blog posts that feature popular spots along the parkway. If you are interested in learning more about the awesome photo locations along the parkway for your next photo session you can send me an inquiry!

What makes the blue ridge parkway so special?

The Blue Ridge Parkway provides you with a one of a kind, out of this world experience as you drive along the parkway immersed in the gorgeous Blue Ridge & Shenandoah mountains. The parkway is 469 miles long, over 200 scenic overlooks and picnic areas, has over 200 million visitors a year and took over 50 years to complete!! I love, love, love any chance I get to take a drive on the parkway! Living in Asheville, North Carolina and in Western North Carolina there are many entrances to the parkway that make it super convenient for locals and visitors.

Click here to learn more about the Blue Ridge Parkway!

Graveyard fields and Triple Falls

In my opinion, no hike at Black Balsam Knob would be complete without stopping at Graveyard Fields and Falls first. If you’re doing north along the Blue Ridge Parkway you will pass the parking lot and trailhead for Graveyard Fields just before you get to Black Balsam Knob. It sits below the mountain and offers vastly different scenery and backdrops then Graveyard Fields which gives more diversity to your engagement photos.

You’ll go down some steep-ish stairs as you descent downwards to the river and the waterfall, underneath a gorgeous canopy of mountain laurels — gnarly and green branches weaving amongst themselves creating a stark visual for your photos. As you continue your descent you can begin to hear the river and the waterfall and you are handed two options once you reach the bridge — one: follow along the river or two: follow the steps down to the waterfall. I love incorporating water into the photos, adds to the adventure and always fun to have as the backdrop!

Fun fact about Graveyard Fields — The area got its name years ago from the tree stumps that looked like grave stones in a graveyard setting. The trees were toppled by a huge wind several hundred years ago. Then in 1925, an intense fire burned the recently logged area, and the forest has been slow in recovering since.

Also it’s one of the few trailheads that has a restroom which is great for couples that want to do an outfit change between each location.

black balsam knob

A quick and easy hike that delivers outstanding results for any couple wanting to get panoramic mountain views without having to hike for hours, Black Balsam Knob is one of the most popular spots for hiking and engagement photos along the Blue Ridge Parkway! The parking for the most popular trailhead is alongside the road on either side and can get very busy during peak fall colors or the weekend during the summer. Typically I like to suggest to my couples to try and go during the week to avoid the excessive crowds that gather along the Blue Ridge Parkway and people so they don’t show up in the background in your photos. I’ve been photographing at Black Balsam Knob for years and it has a special place in my heart for the breathtaking views, clients always are blown away when they first experience the beauty that it holds. One of the most breathtaking spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway!

elevating your engagement photos

Something I took away from Krista and Ed’s engagement session was how well we connected during their engagement session and how we were able to work together to deliver photos that truly represented them as a couple and as individuals. engagement sessions are meant to represent you both as a couple and can be as personal / unique as you want them to but that doesn’t EXCLUSIVELY mean incorporating props or doing your session at your favorite bar / coffee shop. it can be through posing in the photos, outfit choices and what you both bring to the session. I feel like these photos truly represent Krista and Ed as a couple.