About Kandi Leigh
Photographer In The Great Smoky Mountains
Specializing In Elopements, Proposals, And Family Photography In East Tennessee
My passion for photography was sparked while working as a journalist for a local newspaper, where I learned how powerful a single image can be. From there, I became obsessed with mastering light, movement, and composition and knowing exactly when to bend the rules.
What matters most to me, though, is how people feel. When they’re relaxed, connected, and fully present, that’s when the best images happen. I love the precision of recognizing the exact moment to click the shutter.
Thank you for taking a moment to get to know me and my work. I am excited to meet you!
15+
Years of Experience
300+
Weddings + Engagements
Smoky Mountain Love Stories
Hi, I’m Kandi Leigh.
And I grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains.
These hills aren’t just a beautiful backdrop to me. They’re home. They’re familiar. They’re part of how I see light, weather, timing, and people. That’s why I love photographing couples and families who come here to celebrate love. I get to help weave your story into a place that has shaped mine.
Whether you’re visiting for a proposal, an elopement, a wedding, or a family session, I want you to remember not just how you looked in your photos, but how it felt to be here.
And if you leave your session saying, “Wow, that was actually really fun,” then I’ve done my job.
Experience You Can Relax Into
I’ve been photographing weddings, elopements, proposals, families, and brands for 15 years. I understand the flow of a wedding day, how to pose “must haves” and how to document moments as they unfold. I know how to work with changing light, and I keep things moving without creating stress.
Beyond photography, I’m also a Reiki Master Teacher and relationship coach. That background shapes how I work more than people realize. I’m attentive, encouraging, and highly responsive. I notice details like hair ties on wrists, nervous energy, chewing gum, phones in pockets, and when humor will work better than instruction.
For me, professional means calm, capable and fun.
Locations I Love to Photograph
I primarily work throughout Sevier County, including Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Townsend, as well as Knoxville and surrounding East Tennessee areas. From Foothills Parkway and Cades Cove to Elkmont and Anakeesta, I help guide you to locations that match your vision, comfort level, and the kind of experience you want to have.
I’m also available for travel when your story takes us elsewhere. It means the world to me when I capture a proposal in the Smokies and then get invited to the couple’s home town to shoot their wedding day.
A Little More About Me
- I love birthdays.
- I grew up clogging all over the U.S. (yes, my family were the original cloggers on Hee Haw).
- I laugh easily and often.
- Salt baths are sacred.
- Hiking, camping, snowboarding, rock climbing, water skiing, and roller coasters make me happy.
- I see the number 47 everywhere.
- Sagittarius sun, moon, and rising. Old soul. Playful inner child.
- I love words that actually mean what I’m trying to say.
- I love my family. My daughter starts at UTK in Fall ’26, my son is starting to drive, and I have two of the most adorable bonus babies. (Their dad is pretty cute, too!)
Photo credits: JoPhoto | ST Photography | Steph Young Photo | Stephanie Wilson Creative