Alle and Elliot, a two year anniversary at Black Balsam Knob


Alle and Elliot drove up from Goldsboro for a fall weekend in Asheville, their first time in the mountains, to celebrate two years together. They wanted foliage, big views, and photos that felt natural instead of posed. They also told me they were a little awkward in front of a camera, which is honestly always fun to prove them wrong.

Two hikers walk along a trail through golden grass on a mountain ridge at sunset, with rolling hills and a clear blue sky behind them.
Couple standing hand in hand on a rocky mountain overlook at golden hour with forested ridges and distant hazy valleys under a clear sky.
Couple holding hands on a rocky mountain overlook at golden hour with forested hills and distant blue ridges in the background.

Why Black Balsam Knob


For a couple visiting for the first time who wants an open, stunning mountain backdrop, I'll always recommend a hike on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Black Balsam Knob sits at over 6,000 feet in Pisgah National Forest, with grassy fields, rolling layers, and no trees blocking the sky. At sunset, the light is hard to beat.

Golden autumn grasses cover a sunlit mountain ridge overlooking layered blue hazy mountains stretching to the horizon under a clear sky.
Couple in jeans and boots holding hands on a mountain overlook at golden hour, with dry grasses and hazy blue ridges behind them.
Two hikers walk through golden autumn grasses and red shrubs on a mountain ridge as the sun sets over distant rolling hills.
Bright sun and lens flare over layered mountain ridges, with red and orange autumn foliage along a rocky hiking trail.
Two hands exchange a dried wildflower stalk in warm golden sunset light, with a forested hillside and tall grasses in the background.
Couple embracing and kissing on a rocky mountain overlook at golden hour, with autumn grass and forested hills behind them.

The Session


We met on a chilly October evening with plenty of time before sunset.  I gave them a few simple things to do, like walking, talking, and staying close, and then I mostly got out of the way. They laughed the whole time and their relationship felt so easy.


It had been a big year for them, and what they wanted to remember most was how far they had come together. You could see it in how they stood next to each other without trying.

A smiling couple in cozy sweaters and jeans embrace in a golden field of tall grasses under a clear blue sky at sunset.
Couple holding hands walking along a mountain trail at golden sunset, surrounded by red autumn foliage and rolling hills.
Two people face each other with hands joined in golden sunset light, glowing rim light outlining them against soft rolling hills.
Two people walk hand in hand along a trail through golden grass on a mountain ridge at sunset, with rolling hills beneath a clear sky.
Smiling woman with wavy blonde hair holds hands with a partner in warm golden sunset light, with glowing lens flare in the background.
Black and white photo of a laughing man giving a woman a piggyback ride on a grassy hillside against a clear sky.
Smiling couple in cozy sweaters and jeans sit close together on a grassy hillside at golden hour, sharing a tender moment.
Couple sitting together on a golden grassy mountain hillside at sunset, with forested ridges and a clear blue sky behind them.
Couple lying on a grassy mountain hillside at sunset, facing each other with feet up, as a pale moon rises over distant blue ridges.
Golden sunset light spills over rolling mountain ridges and a grassy hillside, with layered blue peaks fading into a hazy horizon.
Woman in a dark knit sweater and jeans sits cross-legged in golden dry grass, hands resting on her knees and wearing silver rings.
Pale moon rising over layered blue mountain ridges at dusk, with a golden sunset gradient sky and dry grasses in the foreground.
Couple embracing on a rocky mountain overlook at sunset, with golden grass and forested rolling hills stretching beneath a clear blue sky.
A young man and smiling woman stand on a rocky mountain overlook at golden hour, with forested hills and warm sun flare behind them.
Couple embracing and kissing on a rocky mountain overlook with golden autumn grass and forested hills under a clear blue sky.
Couple embracing on a rocky mountain overlook, gazing at a golden sunset over forested hills and glowing autumn landscape.
Couple embracing on a sunlit trail through golden autumn grass and shrubs beneath a clear blue sky at sunset.
Golden sunset over rolling mountain ridges with glowing sun flare above a field of dry autumn grasses and bare trees under a blue sky.
Couple standing hand in hand on a rocky mountain overlook at golden hour, with rolling forested hills and a clear blue sky behind them.
A smiling couple in cozy sweaters and jeans embrace in a golden field of tall grasses under a clear blue sky at sunset.
Couple holding hands walking along a mountain trail at golden sunset, surrounded by red autumn foliage and rolling hills.
Two people face each other with hands joined in golden sunset light, glowing rim light outlining them against soft rolling hills.
Two people walk hand in hand along a trail through golden grass on a mountain ridge at sunset, with rolling hills beneath a clear sky.
Smiling woman with wavy blonde hair holds hands with a partner in warm golden sunset light, with glowing lens flare in the background.
Black and white photo of a laughing man giving a woman a piggyback ride on a grassy hillside against a clear sky.
Smiling couple in cozy sweaters and jeans sit close together on a grassy hillside at golden hour, sharing a tender moment.
Couple sitting together on a golden grassy mountain hillside at sunset, with forested ridges and a clear blue sky behind them.
Couple lying on a grassy mountain hillside at sunset, facing each other with feet up, as a pale moon rises over distant blue ridges.
Golden sunset light spills over rolling mountain ridges and a grassy hillside, with layered blue peaks fading into a hazy horizon.
Woman in a dark knit sweater and jeans sits cross-legged in golden dry grass, hands resting on her knees and wearing silver rings.
Pale moon rising over layered blue mountain ridges at dusk, with a golden sunset gradient sky and dry grasses in the foreground.
Couple embracing on a rocky mountain overlook at sunset, with golden grass and forested rolling hills stretching beneath a clear blue sky.
A young man and smiling woman stand on a rocky mountain overlook at golden hour, with forested hills and warm sun flare behind them.
Couple embracing and kissing on a rocky mountain overlook with golden autumn grass and forested hills under a clear blue sky.
Couple embracing on a rocky mountain overlook, gazing at a golden sunset over forested hills and glowing autumn landscape.
Couple embracing on a sunlit trail through golden autumn grass and shrubs beneath a clear blue sky at sunset.
Golden sunset over rolling mountain ridges with glowing sun flare above a field of dry autumn grasses and bare trees under a blue sky.
Couple standing hand in hand on a rocky mountain overlook at golden hour, with rolling forested hills and a clear blue sky behind them.

Tips for planning your own Black Balsam Knob session:


Dress in layers. It is colder and windier at the top than in town.

Wear shoes you can walk in. The trails aren't too hard, but can be uneven at times.

Plan around two hours before sunset. Arrive early enough to walk out before the light gets good.







I photograph couples, families, and maternity sessions throughout Western North Carolina, including Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, and Flat Rock. If you’re visiting and want help choosing a location, that is part of what I do.

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