Blog Posts
01.
Your Story Needs Telling, and Behind The Social Collaborative is Here to Narrate.
You may be wondering how our services could improve your work as a professional wedding vendor. We get it; BTS Collaborative provides a brand-new offering in the wedding space. You’re used to trying to do it all yourself and always coming up short for time to take behind-the-scenes content. We want to help cast the vision and the complexity of your work to your prospective clients. Let's walk through what it could look like to work with us.
From the Grounds Up.
Most bookings begin with a coffee date. This is the first time you’re meeting your prospective client face to face, and it’s a great time to let us start the story of your creative process. We want your client to see how you stand apart from the very beginning, from that first latte all the way to the delivery of their gallery. We can capture a meeting to showcase how fun and easy it is to sit down and get to know you.
Nothing Close to Mundane.
To you, your day-to-day could feel monotonous and routine. Your clients are interested in what you do, however, and want to see what it takes to run your business. Your time and your processes as an artist are valuable and integral parts of your finished product. We love to be able to highlight the elements of the day-to-day running of your business. From answering emails to ordering more film and taking care of your gear, it's all worthy of its moment in the spotlight. Many people don’t have a deep enough understanding of how much work it is to be a professional photographer. We know how many hours it takes to edit a gallery, how much work goes into creating and maintaining client relationships, and how to run a business in the wedding industry. It’s about time prospective clients were able to catch a glimpse of all this hard work and, therefore, appreciate your time and talent that much more.
Before the Party Starts.
Capturing a wedding takes a lot of preparation on the front end. From reformatting your SD cards to stocking your bags with rolls of film, triple-checking the timeline, and making sure every detail is perfect. People can think all you do is show up, take some pictures, and send them over right off your camera. We want to reveal the story from start to finish that shows your client their investment is worthwhile because of the tremendous amount of work that takes place throughout the entire process of photographing their event. Sharing content of you stocking your bags, taking your test shots, and gathering items to take photos of the wedding details will help showcase your work even before the real magic happens.
Between the Wedding March and the Send Off.
Every minute of an event is accounted for on the timeline. You have the seemingly magical ability to be in fifteen places at once and capture moments from all the best vantage points. Let us reveal the hussle and the aptitude it takes to know when to move to a new location, how to catch the light hitting the florals just right, and how you manage to capture and freeze the emotion felt in that triumphant exit. We want to show that it’s not magic; it’s insanely hard work to know exactly where to be and when and how to perfectly capture the personalities of your couple. Now, with our help, potential clients can see what it really takes to do your job and will appreciate the finished product even more.
It’s Personal and Memorable.
On my own wedding day, I had the privilege of having it documented by two of the sweetest and most talented photographers. I will never forget sitting at dinner and reveling in all the people that were there to celebrate our union and all the people that worked so hard to execute every detail of that beautiful day. Our lead photographer came to our table and took a few pictures on my phone for us to take with us on our honeymoon. She congratulated us and briefly chatted with us about the evening. In that moment I felt like her friend, not just another bride at one of the many weddings she was shooting that season. We know that you have moments like this with your clients all the time, and we want to highlight the connection, warmth, and kindness that you create as you interact with your couples.
Signed- Sealed- Delivered- We’re Yours.
Nothing can be sweeter than the fresh-from-a-honeymoon, tanned, smiling faces of your clients when you drop off their gallery. This is the pinnacle of your work on their event. They spent a week in Cabo sipping fresh coconut water on the beach while you were turning into an over-caffeinated statue with bloodshot eyes in front of your computer editing their gallery. While they probably have no idea how many hours you labored over their photos, they are overjoyed to see you and grateful you made it possible for them to relive the best day they’ve ever had. We are here from beginning to end to make you shine as the talented professional that you are. Let us capture it all and help you weave the tapestry of your craft so that every thread on the back looks just as beautiful as the finished design on the front.
02.
Event Venues in Knoxville, TN and Surrounding Areas
East Tennessee is home to some of the best event venues with the most impressive offerings. From top-notch menus to breathtaking views, anything you’re looking for in an event space can be found here in this beautiful corner of our great state.
RT Lodge, Maryville
RT Lodge is set under a magical canopy of trees straight out of a fairytale, complete with a hearthside gathering place, a large tent glowing with bistro lights, and beautiful accommodations for guests. They also have an incredible menu crafted seasonally by their executive chef, Trevor Stockton, a Tennessee native. The Lodge has several meeting spaces for professional events and meetings, as well as accommodations for romantic weekend getaways. One thing that sets RT Lodge apart as a wedding venue is the ability to have all aspects of your wedding on-site, including guest accommodations, rehearsal dinner, bridesmaid’s brunch, the ceremony, and reception with a unique menu crafted by their chef.
The Mill & Mine, Downtown Knoxville
Located in the heart of downtown Knoxville, The Mill & Mine offers a modern industrial feel in a historic space. They have in-house catering and full bar service, as well as fully furnished dressing rooms and a large courtyard lawn. While this may be located downtown, there's no shortage of space at this venue, with seating for up to 450 guests in their indoor space and 8,000 square feet in their courtyard that would be perfect for food trucks, event tents, and casual seating for guests. Being a concert venue as well, The Mill & Mine offers state-of-the-art lighting and sound as well as a technical director to ensure things run smoothly for your event.
The Trillium Venue, Sevierville
Located in the picturesque Smoky Mountains, this venue is perfect for a destination wedding. The Trillium Venue is owned by a family business with a heart for making every event the best it can be. There are bride and groom suites available for the wedding parties to get ready in, a large indoor ceremony space, and a large patio and covered pavilion, both overlooking the mountains. Trillium is clean, modern, and fresh, with beautiful decor and furniture. The views alone are enough to set this venue apart, but it’s also minutes from downtown Pigeon Forge and all of its charm. The Trillium Venue marries a sophisticated traditional location with a mountain-top elopement with a capacity of 150 guests. There are also onsite cottages available for guest accommodations, as well as nearby cabins and hotels.
The Magnolia, Pigeon Forge
As one of their three sister properties along with The Trillium Venue, the Magnolia offers an intimate mountaintop event space with the same breathtaking views and family-owned management experience. The Magnolia can accommodate up to 100 guests, making it the best fit for a more intimate wedding. This venue has a modern, rustic feel with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams with a beautiful concrete patio. There’s nothing old, dingy, or cabin-y at these mountain-top venues; instead, they give the most stunning, up-to-date, modern lodge vibe. The Magnolia has a ridgeline trail with a stone path for gorgeous photos among the trees along with the killer panoramic views. They have rolltop doors around the indoor space for a breezy open-air option in the warmer months and offer all-inclusive packages through a few local wedding planners they partner with.
The River Place, Downtown Sevierville
This is the third sister location of The Magnolia family-owned venues, located on 56 acres of lush farmland in downtown Sevierville just steps from the river. Keeping true to their level of excellence and aesthetically pleasing design, the venue is breathtaking, with vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and cascades of natural light. With two outdoor ceremony spaces and one indoor space, a covered patio, a gorgeous bridal suite, and breathtaking fields for photos, this venue isn’t lacking in any area. The River Place also has a home available onsite for their couples to rent, complete with a full-sized kitchen, two king rooms, a fireplace on the patio, and a hot tub looking out onto the mountains.
Lakeshore Park, Knoxville
Rolling hills, majestic trees, and the river winding its way along the edge of the park make Lakeshore Park special, not to mention the history of the land itself. Originally purchased from the Cherokee Indians by the government in 1791, Lakeshore Park was eventually home to the Lakeshore Mental Health Institute for 127 years until 2013. Since those days, it’s had incredible expansion and conservation projects such as walking paths, greenway restoration along the river, several sports fields and playgrounds, and the restoration of the former Lakeshore Chapel, which is now an open-air space called Marble Hall. Whether you decide on Marble Hall, the HGTV Overlook with river views, or any of the other gathering spaces they offer, there’s no option that feels less than another with the immense beauty that is in every blade of grass and tree branch in the park. The convenience of large parking areas, wheelchair-accessible walkways, and the location being just a short drive from accommodations and Downtown Knoxville are just a few highlights of the offerings at Lakeshore Park.
Cherokee Country Club, Knoxville
Located on the historic Lyons View Pike, this premier event venue is sure to dazzle your guests with its historic charm and incredible views. The exclusivity of a country club as your venue provides privacy for your event and an elevated experience for your guests.
The Standard, Downtown Knoxville
This venue has much of the original historic character from its first days as a glass manufacturing company. The 10,000 square feet of The Standard feature the original exposed brick, trimwork, and copper details accentuated by the large skylights above, giving this venue a modern industrial feel. With a few additional spaces for intimate ceremonies or small gatherings, there’s really a space for every event at this venue. There are spaces for both bride and groom to get ready, and there’s also a catering kitchen onsite. Whether your event is at the peak of summer thunderstorm season or the unpredictable winter months, this space provides an elegant, centrally located venue to keep your guests out of the elements, with the beauty of downtown all around.
The Quarry Venue, Knoxville
The Quarry Venue’s name is somewhat self-explanatory. It is, in fact, a historic marble quarry formerly known as the Bond Quarry located in West Knoxville. Despite the land’s age and history, this venue is anything but outdated. Stunning indoor ceremony and reception spaces and towering marble cliffs give The Quarry an elevated and almost mystical grandeur that can only truly be appreciated in person; however, the pictures are still pretty epic. There are several options for ceremony locations and many incredible spots for photos on the property. This isn’t your typical indoor venue, and it’s not just a field with a pretty arch. The outdoor ceremony location is set before a face of impressive marble cliffs that seem to reach all the way to the sky, with lush grass and greenery all around. The indoor spaces are just as spectacular because of the cohesive design that fits perfectly with the feeling of the venue; they aren’t just generic buildings on a piece of pretty land. This venue has ample parking and a setting that will make your event magical.
03.
Why Capturing Your Work Behind The Scenes is Crucial for Your Business.
The wedding and event industry is comprised of intense timelines and never-ending tasks to create the event of your client’s dreams. Wouldn’t it be great if you could clone yourself to capture the countless behind-the-scenes pictures of your work that you never have time to take? We asked a successful wedding photographer for her take on this, and we weren’t surprised by her answers, but you might be! See what she had to say below.
What's worse than FOMO? Fear Of Leaving Empty Handed… but without the catchy abbreviation.
We know first-hand that there’s nothing worse than working for hours on end to provide that magical experience for your client only to leave empty-handed or with just a few leftover buckets of flowers or SD cards filled with hours of editing… and aching feet. For years, there have been few options for providing your clients with a real look at all the hard work you do. From collaborating on styled shoots to trying desperately to remember to take that video for your Instagram story between the vows and the cake cutting, it’s just never enough. Now it’s 2023, and we are here to be your double to make sure that you get marketing content of your work for prospective clients and to free you up to keep doing what you do best.
So why is capturing your work behind the scenes so important?
Capturing BTS content builds trust with your client. They get to see you in your element and see what it looks like to work with you. More than ever, people have the desire to connect on a personal level with their vendors. Whether you’re designing the florals, planning and coordinating the event, or providing them with memories on film, people want to know that you have what it takes to make their event perfect. Every bride wants to get to know the person behind the camera, flowers, and everything else that will make her day magical. Any person looking to plan an event wants to know they can trust you to provide an outstanding finished product. The best way to show them that you are the person they should hire is to take them behind the curtain with you.
“…Most couples spend around 30% of their savings on a wedding, it’s easy to understand why they’d be picky about who they want to hire.”
- Abby McCain with Zippia.
Take it from an expert:
We interviewed experienced wedding photographer Katie Hernandez to get another perspective on the need for BTS content (responses edited with permission for clarity and brevity):
Q: “Have you received any comments, feedback, or engagement from clients regarding BTS photos or videos you've taken and shared?”
Katie: “No, I haven’t received feedback from clients yet, but I think that’s because I haven’t had enough BTS videos to get feedback yet! If I was constantly sharing behind-the-scenes content, I think clients would like to see that!”
Q: “How typical would you say it is to not have time to take BTS content while shooting a wedding, event, or session for a client?”
Katie: “Constantly. I rarely have time to do behind-the-scenes videos! If I have a second shooter, I usually ask them to try and grab a few behind-the-scenes clips, but they also rarely have time to do it!”
Q: “Think back to some of your most hectic weddings or studio days and imagine being able to have someone there to capture you in your element and get content posted to your social media in real-time. How would that asset have improved your effectiveness as a photographer at the moment and how you market yourself?”
Katie: “If I had someone there to help me with behind-the-scenes content, that would help so much! Then, I could be completely focused on my work and my clients! I’ve thought of having someone do that, but I haven’t implemented it yet!”
Q: “What recommendations would you have for other wedding industry artists considering booking a pro to capture the BTS of their upcoming event?”
Katie: “I think if you have the budget for it- it’s a no-brainer! You should absolutely have someone else taking care of BTS for you. Successful business owners know when it’s time to outsource and delegate tasks. Especially tasks that you don’t have time for or ones you don’t enjoy doing yourself :)”
Q: “Any other thoughts on the topic or tips/advice on marketing yourself to your client in a way that helps them get to know you more personally?”
Katie: “My best marketing tip is to be yourself and post/ share what lights your heart on fire and gives you passion for what you’re doing and the story you’re telling! From a technical standpoint - people love to see behind the scenes because they love to have that insight into the process and why you do what you do! And share photos and images of yourself and share your own stories so that people can connect with you on a personal level, and not just for marketing purposes but to make genuine connections and friendships. I’ve met so many amazing people through social media and even had a friend from Instagram fly across the United States to visit me!”
As competition mounts, it is more important than ever before to set yourself apart.
Despite the challenges brought on by 2019 and 2020, the industry and number of marriages in the Knoxville area and nationwide are growing rapidly. In 2018 we saw 15,754 weddings in the Knoxville area. In 2021, that number grew by almost two thousand more weddings, with 17,412 weddings recorded. The numbers aren’t in yet for this past year, but the forecast for the nation was a 62% increase during 2022. 2023 is going to see even more growth and competition than last year, as Tennessee is ranked number 6 on the list of most moved-to states in the nation by U-Haul.
“There are expected to be 2.6 million weddings in the United States throughout 2022 – an increase of 62.5% since 2020.”
- Zippia Wedding Industry Report
Fresh Year - Fresh Competition - Fresh Start?
All of this growth is great news for the industry as a whole, but as more people move here, we are going to see the vendor list grow along with the demand for vendors. This means that establishing your unique offerings as an artist and as a person is needed now more than ever. Leveling up your digital portfolio with behind-the-scenes content will help you connect with your clients before you ever meet them, which can help you secure leads even before they submit an inquiry form. Let us help you set yourself apart from the competition this year so that you can focus on making dreams come true. Instead of going home empty-handed or stressing because you know you don’t have time for BTS content, let us take the burden off of you and help your client fall in love with your work in a fresh way.
Sources:
Interview with Katie Hernandez of Katie Ann Photography
https://www.katieannhernandez.com/
IG: @katieannhernandez
Zippia. "20+ Trending U.S. Wedding Industry Statistics [2022]: How Big Is The Wedding Industry" Zippia.com. Dec. 1, 2022, https://www.zippia.com/advice/wedding-industry-statistics/ - Accessed on January 7, 2023
The Wedding Report. “Wedding Statistics for Sevier TN”, “Wedding Statistics for Jefferson TN”, “Wedding Statistics for Knoxville, TN (metro area counties)” [Year 2021]. https://stats.wedding.report/index.cfm?action=stats&view=main&segment=1 - Accessed on January 7, 2023
Tennessee State Department of Health “Marriage and Divorce Statistics” (Greater Knoxville Area Counties: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Sevier, Union) [Years 2018, 2019, 2020].
https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/statistics/health-data/marriage.html - Accessed on January 7, 2023
U-Haul. “U-Haul Growth States of 2022: Texas, Florida Top List Again” [2023] Uhaul.com. Jan. 3, 2023
https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/About/U-Haul-Growth-States-Of-2022-Texas-Florida-Top-List-Again-28337/ - Accessed on January 7, 2023