Hey there! I’m Rachel, a Knoxville-based wedding photographer blending documentary storytelling with a touch of editorial flair. My style is all about true-to-life tones with a warm, timeless feel—so your photos look just as magical years from now as they did on your wedding day. My goal? To make your experience seamless, stress-free, and full of joy, so you can focus on what truly matters—celebrating your love. Let’s create images that bring you right back to the laughter, happy tears, and unforgettable moments of your big day!
Ready to make some magic together? Let’s chat and bring your vision to life! 📸✨
Starting prices may not include all fees a vendor may charge.
Couples usually spend $3,600
Are you interested?
Reach out and share your wedding details.
Details
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Photo Shoot Types
Boudoir
Bridal Portraits
Engagement
Photo & Video
Digital Files
Photo
Second Shooter Available
Wedding Albums
Photo & Video Styles
Artistic
Lifestyle
Modern
Wedding Activities
Getting Engaged
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Wedding
After Party
Any questions?
Meet the team
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Rachel Thomas
Owner/ Lead Photographer
Meet your new favorite third wheel, Rachel Ily! A seasoned wedding photographer with over a decade of experience turning moments into timeless memories. Known for a fun, caring approach, Rachel blends artistic flair with heartfelt dedication to ensure every couple feels at ease and every photo tells a beautiful story. Let her passion for love and laughter frame your perfect day in stunning, candid shots that you'll cherish forever. With an eye for detail and a heart full of passion, Rachel captures the magic in every moment, turning your special day into a timeless treasure.
Jake Hicks
Assistant Photographer
Meet Jake, my amazing assistant photographer that's been working along side me for the last three years. Jake is dedicated to ensuring every shot is perfect, providing seamless support and a keen eye for detail. Known for their friendly and professional approach, Jake helps create a smooth and enjoyable experience, capturing the beautiful moments that make your special day unforgettable.
Availability
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0
15 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Rachel is consistently praised by multiple reviewers for her exceptional photography skills and professionalism. Reviewers highlight her ability to make clients feel comfortable and beautiful, capturing stunning and memorable moments from engagement sessions to weddings. Rachel's communication, responsiveness, and attention to detail are commended, with several reviewers expressing excitement to have her as their wedding photographer. Clients emphasize her talent in creating timeless and beautiful photos, making her a highly recommended choice for any special occasion photography needs.
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Top reviews
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Trinity B
5.0
2/04/2025
Rachel is an absolutely amazing photographer. She did an excellent job on our wedding and she sent our photos back to us very quickly. She is so sweet and I would highly recommend her to anyone getting married!
response02/04/2025
Thank you so much Trinity! It was so great meeting you and I am so grateful to be a part o...
f your special day, it was truly a beautiful wedding!
Jasmine G
5.0
11/23/2024
The pictures came out amazing and the experience was so great! She made us feel very comfortable and relaxed. I can’t wait for the wedding 🤍
response11/26/2024
Thank you so much Jasmine! I'm so happy I got to meet you guys and cannot wait to capture ...
your love story!
Any questions?
Samantha S
5.0
11/11/2024
If I could give Rachel more than 5 stars on here then I would because she is AMAZING! I loved our engagement session with her and she made me feel beautiful and our pictures turned out so good! Rachel really knows how to position you in each picture and always finds the best spots to take your pictures and make your visions come to life in each picture! Rachel is so easy to get along with and is always available to answer any questions that I may have and is easy to get ahold of and will respond quickly which is really important! If you are looking for someone to take your pictures for ANY occasion then Rachel is your go to woman and believe me when I tell you that you will not be disappointed! I am super excited to get the rest of my pictures back soon and even more excited to have her as one of my wedding photographers! Thank you again Rachel! I love my engagement pictures and we had a great time with you the other day!
Apri; B
5.0
7/01/2024
We could not have asked for a better photographer for our wedding day! From our initial meeting with Rachel, we knew that she was the right choice. She is professional, organized, and extremely talented. She captured our day so perfectly! The photos tell a story and spark memories of each moment, which is truly special. She was patient and checked in with us throughout the evening, while also keeping an eye on the weather to ensure we got all the shots we wanted. Not to mention, her partner, Jake, is a gem! Thank you so, so much!!
response07/01/2024
Thank you so so much April! Your wedding day was truly one to remember and we are so thank...
ful we got to be apart of it! Sending all the love to you guys on this new chapter and if you're ever in Tennessee please let us know!
Hannah P
5.0
3/13/2024
Rachel is the most amazing photographer! Extremely down-to-earth and flexible, but also professional and so knowledgable. We could not have asked for a better wedding photographer and plan to continue using her for all of our major life events in the future. HIRE HER!!! You will not be sorry you did :)
PJ H
5.0
1/22/2024
The best decision we made when planning our wedding was booking Rachel as our photographer! She was so professional and sweet as could be. Her talent is unmatched and she has the best personality on top of it. She went above and beyond on our wedding day to make sure things were going smoothing and provide a helping had where she could. We got previews within a few days and all of our pictures back in a timely manner and have been obsessed with the results. I can’t speak highly enough of her as a photographer/ person. Hire her, you won’t regret it!!!!!
Victoria S
5.0
1/20/2024
Rachel was wonderful to work with! She did our engagement photos and was an absolute joy to work with. My fiance and I are not big picture people and she made us feel so comfortable and the pictures came out beautiful. Highly recommend!
Camryn R
5.0
8/06/2023
Rachel is the sweetest person with an amazing gift. She’s incredibly helpful with instructions and helping you feel comfortable and confident. She goes above and beyond to make sure her clients have the best experience possible. I can’t thank her enough for the incredible work she’s done for me. She’s easy to communicate with and very professional. I can’t wait to have her take more pictures for me when the time comes!
Hailey S
5.0
5/31/2023
I couldn't have asked for a better photographer throughout this whole experience. Rachel helped me through each and every decision i had to make when it came to not only the photography aspect but also by giving me other vendor recommendations and help along the way. I did my engagement shoot, boudoir shoot and wedding photos all with rachel and felt so comfortable and relaxed the whole way. She listened and went with all my changes and i ideas as well as helped me stay in the moment and not get pulled away or interrupted the whole wedding day. By the wedding day it she truly felt like a friend which helped with any nerves or anxiety that came with getting the photos done. I will recommend Rachel till i cannot any more.
Marina S
5.0
12/14/2022
Rachel was the absolute best! My husband hates taking photos, and she had him laughing the whole time. Rachel got all the photos we wanted quickly and efficiently, and we had so much fun during the whole process. Our photos came out so beautiful, and we have not stopped getting compliments on them!
response12/14/2022
Thank you so much Marina! I am so happy I was able to meet you guys and document your spec...
ial day! Sending all the love on your newest adventure!
Jamie B
5.0
6/27/2022
Fantastic photography skills! Rachel made me feel comfortable and happy the entire time she was taking my engagement photos. We just got our engagement photos back today, I can't even imagine what our wedding phots will look like, I am beyond excited! She was able to capture beautiful moments that looked too good to be true. I would recommend her far and above anyone else! If you do not book Rachel for your wedding/engagement photos, you're missing out.
Kayla C
5.0
6/21/2022
Rachel is by far the best photographer I have seen. I work in video editing so I heavily researched several photographers before committing to her and she beyond exceeded my expectations.
Her packages are perfect and having the engagement session prior to the wedding is the perfect way to get comfortable with your partner on camera with rachel. She’s funny, very calm, and extremely easy going.
She got every single shot from my shot lists and blew me away with her talent.
The pictures are all you will have left when you wake up the day after your wedding. This is the investment that matters and you should absolutely go with her for any photography needs.
Me and my husband already have the idea of doing an at home Christmas session just as an excuse for more beautiful pictures!
Megan J
5.0
4/24/2022
Rachel was 100% everything we could have ever wanted in a photographer. From the moment we first spoke, I felt like she was a friend and would vibe well with my (now) husband and me. Our engagement session was fabulous, we felt so relaxed and comfortable and Rachel truly captured us and our relationship beautifully.
When I did my bridal shoot with her, I had the best time and felt so confident. I promise you that Rachel will be your ultimate hype girl, that was one of my favorite things about her. Months later I am still obsessing over the bridal shoot photos.
When it came to our wedding, I just can't even say enough good things. Our original date had to be changed due to COVID and she worked with us to be sure she was available on our new date, she was just so easy to work with and was so accommodating. The day of the wedding, it just felt like Rachel was one of our friends there for the wedding who also happened to be taking our pictures. We fully trusted Rachel and her suggestions, guidance, and ideas. We are absolutely in love with our wedding photos and could not be happier. She captured our most wonderful day perfectly, with all the best moments and emotions. We are forever grateful for Rachel and her talent, we will be booking her for all our future photo sessions!
Jannae V
5.0
6/25/2021
Jannae V
Ellen S
5.0
5/08/2021
Loved Rachel so so much. She was everything and more I wanted for my wedding photographer. She got the most beautiful pictures and it felt like one of my friends. She was so sweet even though I made her get up at the crack of dawn for my brunch wedding. I wish she was closer to me because I would do pictures all the time
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Rachel ILY Photography
Rachel Thomas
|
Owner/ Lead Photographer
Typically responds within 24h
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