“The Weddings I photograph never leave me. Each story becomes part of my own, woven into the way I see beauty, love, and connection.”
XO, Tori
Tennessee Wedding Photographer
tori Karl
Whether you’re newly engaged, seeking a photographer for a few cherished moments, or simply drawn to storytelling imagery, I’m thrilled you’re here. I’m Tori, a documentary-style wedding and portrait photographer based in beautiful Knoxville, Tennessee. I’m also married to the love of my life, Matt, who frequently works weddings with me as my second shooter, so you’ll likely meet him also!
My journey in photography began in my teen years, when I first picked up a film camera in art class. Inspired by the emotional, documentary images in vintage National Geographic magazines in my school library, I knew I was being pulled to photojournalism. Even today, the flame that ignited then has inspired me to travel to many corners of the globe, and my love of exploration shapes the way I see the world, and those experiences continuously inspire my work. I believe that everyone has a story to tell, and I strive to capture those unique perspectives in my photography. My passion for capturing stories has only deepened over the past six years of being a professional wedding photographer. Every day, I feel incredibly fortunate to photograph life’s most beautiful moments. To me, those memories, those milestones, truly matter.
My promise to my couples is simple: create timeless, romantic, documentary style images with intention and heart.
The Heart behind the work
I knew when I started this journey that I wanted to offer a different experience. I care about telling a story that reflects your unique connection in a way that feels honest and heartfelt. My approach is to intentionally capture your memories through artful photographs rooted in genuine emotion and feeling. I’m here to catch those fleeting moments and keep them in a glass jar for you to revisit forever. I believe that your wedding photos should be a true and honest reflection of your day, allowing you to simply focus on living it. Purpose and intentionality are the pillars of my creative process, and I strive to create images that transport you back to a specific time and place. My goal is to preserve your memories in a way that feels timeless and tangible, resulting in images you can look back on and truly feel.
On your wedding day, my presence is calm, collected, and unobtrusive, like a fly on the wall- quietly observing and documenting moments as they unfold. Observation is at the heart of what I do, from capturing the way light falls through a window to the small but meaningful moments you might not notice in the whirlwind of your day. I believe that great wedding photography is not just about technical skill but also about understanding and anticipating the emotions and details that make each wedding unique. This philosophy, combined with my experience and dedication, is why I do what I do.
For couples who…
value presence over perfection
You care more about the core memories than a perfectly staged moment- and while you desire a professional who will step in when needed, you overall want your story told as it unfolds naturally, without over-direction or interference.
crave a personalized photography experience
You want more than a one-size-fits-all approach — and you need a photographer that takes the time to understand and observe your unique story, style, and celebration, and tailors the experience to reflect just that.
cherish the art & Nostalgia of film
You’re drawn to the timeless, organic feel of film photography, and want to embrace its softness, beauty, and unpredictability, because just like film, your wedding day could be described much the same way.
Analog love stories
As a hybrid photographer, I blend the timeless beauty of film with the precision of digital photography to create a rich, multidimensional experience. There’s an indescribable magic to film that I fell in love with, and being able to share that magic with my couples through their wedding photos is something I value deeply. I photograph on both 35mm and 120mm film, as well as Polaroids- all of which are thoughtfully included in every wedding package. Film offers a nostalgic, organic feel that digital simply can’t replicate- its grain, colors, and imperfections bring an authentic, artistic touch to your day. My love of film has driven me to learn how to personally scan all my film at home with the utmost care, ensuring the highest quality end result. This hands-on process is a rare skill that sets my work apart and allows me to produce results that very few large commercial labs can replicate. In addition to your film images being delivered in your final wedding gallery, you’ll also receive your Polaroid images in a beautifully crafted keepsake box mailed to you after gallery delivery. By incorporating film into every collection, I’m able to preserve your memories with a unique, heirloom-quality medium that will last a lifetime.
What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.
“
— KARL LAGERFELD
