Above: Steve Atkins holds a bear cub while Mama Bear is collared and tagged as part of a research study.
“I would want to be called to do an event because they saw something in my images. That’s the ultimate compliment—when my work resonates with someone enough that they want me to be part of their most special day.” – Steve Atkins
Vendor Spotlight: Steve Atkins of Fox Cove Photography
When you meet Steve Atkins, it’s impossible not to like him. He has this way of making you feel like an old friend within minutes of meeting, with his warm smile and easygoing nature. Steve Atkins is the kind of person who lights up when he talks about the things he loves—his family, his music, and of course, his photography.
“I guess you could say my bread and butter isn’t one big loaf, but a lot of little biscuits,” Steve says with a laugh. That’s how he describes his photography—it has a mix of everything he loves; weddings, elopements, engagements, portraits, 360-degree high profile photos for big hotel names like Marriott, and rock photography. And while he’s dabbled in a little bit of everything, it’s clear his heart lies in capturing love stories in natural, intimate settings. “I just love photographing love,” he says simply. “Every time I shoot an engagement, I’ve actually cried.” He pauses and then says with a smile, “Yay for love!”
This may be the guy you want shooting your elopement or small wedding.
The Journey That Led to Love of Photography
Like so many of us in our careers, Steve Atkins didn’t originally set out to be a wedding and elopement photographer. In fact, his career has been anything but typical. For more than 20 years, Steve had run a business installing and maintaining saltwater aquariums. “Keeping ridiculously amazing aquariums has been a part of my entire life,” he says. It was a niche he loved and still is involved with, but over time, it became clear that photography was his pure passion.
That passion started at home and on his 30 acre property with his kids. “They were changing so fast, and I was already nostalgic for what was in front of me,” he recalls. Like all parents, he wanted to capture all the fleeting moments but he intuitively wanted shots with much deeper meaning. “I started finding the art in it—not just taking the same pictures everyone else takes. I wanted to show the beauty in what I was seeing.”
And his talent grew naturally.
And then his work started to get noticed. 
Before long, he was taking on projects that were pretty unique, like when he spent a year documenting black bears in Asheville for the Urban Bear Study many “Ashvillians” knew about because of the sheer number of bears who live amongst them. For a year he followed biologists who collared them and weighed their cubs. And all the while he loved capturing their behaviors on camera. “It was one of the best things I’ve ever done,” he says. His photographs from the study earned a spot in a published book and a poster at Malaprop’s, an iconic Asheville bookstore.
Then came the concerts and festivals. It became clear that what Steve loved most is photographing people at their happiest, and at festivals it was nothing shy of a smorgasbord. His knack for capturing emotion and energy both on stage and in the crowd got so palpable he even landed in Rolling Stone. “I was happiest capturing interesting and happy people at the zenith of their joy,” he says. “That’s what drew me to weddings and elopements.”
Why Elopements and Small Weddings?
Big weddings aren’t his thing. “While they can be wonderful to witness, as a photographer doing them can be really stressful,” he says. “People can be pushy, like, ‘Here are nine bridesmaids, now go make them stand in this or that weird pose.’ That’s just not my style.” But he adores small weddings, elopements, and engagement shoots—where people can relax, be themselves, and truly show some genuine, authentic love towards one another without the stress of everyone watching.
“There’s just something so special about elopements,” he says. “It’s the best moment of their lives—who wouldn’t want to be around that?” And to him, this is where his photography shines because he has such an easy way of connecting with people. “I think my best pictures reflect the love between couples,” he says. “I have a way of capturing what they get between them because I’m dearly in love with my wife (Jean), and when I see it in other people, I make a connection with them.”
Steve’s style is rooted in authenticity and he prefers natural light and outdoor settings. This may be why he makes Weddings Over Waterfalls a perfect match and partner. “My best pictures are outside in a beautiful environment,” he says. “I was never drawn to studio work. Natural light, the outdoors—that’s where the magic happens.”
A Photographer Perfectly Matched to Weddings Over Waterfalls
Steve’s a storyteller with a lens who aligns perfectly with the landscape at Weddings Over Waterfalls. Consider the waterfalls, moss-covered trails, the giant boulders, the surrounding enchanted forest, and add in an intimate ceremony? It’ll create the ideal backdrop for Steve’s love for capturing…. love.
Why Choose Steve Atkins of Fox Cove Photography?
Steve Atkins isn’t just a brilliant photographer—he’s a warm, passionate, and deeply genuine person who finds personal joy in a love story. His work with not just couples, but rock legends, children, and families all reflect emotion.
For couples who choose Weddings Over Waterfalls as their venue, for photography we consider him an incredible partner.
To see more of Steve’s work or to book him for your special day, visit Fox Cove Photography.
Steve’s a pro at capturing your best angles,
but at our Airbnb retreat, the waterfalls do all the work. No filters, no hashtags, just pure romance!
