Meet Your
East Tennessee
Photographer

Hey there, I'm Claire!

I’m the photographer behind Appalachian Lens. I’m drawn to beautiful light, rich color, and the kind of moments you feel more than you see—the soft ones, the exciting ones, and the perfectly imperfect ones in between.

My approach is relaxed and intuitive. I’ll guide you when it’s helpful, step back when the moment needs space, and always leave room for real connection to unfold. Whether I’m photographing a growing family, an intimate elopement, or a brand that needs a creative eye, my goal is the same: photo galleries that feel natural, elevated, and unmistakably you.

Self Portrait of photographer taken with a drone

VOTED #1 PHOTOGRAPHER BY MY CATS

A Little About What Led Me Here

Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I picked up my first camera in 5th grade, and by camera I mean a disposable film (what can I say, it was the 90's), got my first digital camera a few years later, and studied photography ever so briefly when I graduated high school. I barely got started learning film before—like many creative dreams—life nudged it to the back burner for a good while.

But passions don’t disappear. They hang on to you and peek back through when you aren't expecting.

Over ten years later I was aimlessly scrolling through Facebook Marketplace and saw a camera that was screaming my name. I don't quite know why. I still loved photography and would take plenty of photos with my phone, but I hadn't even thought of picking up a camera again. I bought it as soon as I could and I realized I was going to make my dream my reality.

Around the same time, I felt the weight of what was missing. I would see photos of friends and strangers who got to cherish their memories in a way that I can't and neither will generations to come.

I was married in a small, meaningful ceremony… without a photographer. No photos of the way the sunlight fell directly on us in our small church, or the tears that I didn't expect to see in my husband's eyes. The same was true for my pregnancy and intimate home birth—deeply personal moments that passed without being documented.

That brings me to now. I’m here to convince you not to think twice and to help you capture those special, unrepeatable moments. You’ll never regret preserving them, but if you're sentimental like me, you'll regret letting them slip by.

Black and white photo of woman twirling in field in the Smoky Mountains

When I'm Not Behind the Lens

You’ll probably find me:

Homeschooling my daughter
In the garden with my family
Experimenting in the kitchen
Hunting for hidden food gems
Or driving aimlessly through the mountains (getting lost is absolutely my favorite hobby)

What It's Like To Work Together

Think calm, intentional, and totally relaxed.

I believe the best photographs come from trust, comfort, and connection—not rigid posing or forced moments. Your session will feel easy, unrushed, and thoughtfully guided to capture real emotion.

The result? Images that feel lived-in and timeless—photos you don’t just scroll past, but choose to print and frame. Photos that will bring tears to your eyes when you look back at the canvas on your wall in 15 years and wonder where the time has gone.