RECENT WORK FROM ERIN LEE ALLENDER PHOTOGRAPHY.
Nashville Corporate Event Photography - Awards Ceremony County Music Hall of Fame Rotunda
Photographs from an awards ceremony dinner following a conference in Nashville in the Rotunda at Country Music Hall of Fame.
Award ceremonies are something I photograph often as part of Nashville corporate event photography, especially for conferences that wrap with a dinner or recognition program. They move quickly, people are coming from all directions, and you don’t always know where the next recipient is seated, so you have to be paying attention at all times to stay ahead of it.
I was hired to photograph an awards ceremony and dinner in the Rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It’s a beautiful space, but it’s also known for being dark with some challenging lighting. I’ve worked at the venue for years and know how each space behaves, so I’m able to adjust quickly and stay focused on what’s happening without missing anything.
If you’d like to see more events like this or additional work at the Country Music Hall of Fame, you can visit my Nashville corporate event photography page.
Documenting the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation 20th Anniversary | Nashville Corporate Event Photography
I had the privilege of photographing the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation’s 20th Anniversary at the iconic Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. This inspiring event celebrated literacy with stunning book-themed decor, keynote speeches by bestselling authors Bethany Barton and Peter H. Reynolds, and heartfelt community support. Discover how professional photography brings such meaningful corporate events to life.
Documenting the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation 20th Anniversary: Corporate Event Photography at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame
Last year I had the honor of photographing the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, held in the stunning Event Hall at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. This remarkable venue, along with the Carlton Family Terrace where guests enjoyed cocktail hour, offers breathtaking views of the Nashville skyline — the perfect backdrop for a night dedicated to celebrating literacy and community impact.
About the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation
The Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring every child in Tennessee has access to books and literacy resources for their first 5 years of their life. Building on former Governor Phil Bredesen’s initiative, originally championed by Dolly Parton, to send free books to every child in East Tennessee, the Foundation has expanded this vital program statewide. Their mission is simple yet powerful: to improve literacy rates by giving children the tools to succeed before they even start school.
Event Highlights: A Literary Celebration
The atmosphere was truly immersive. The event bar featured a creative backdrop of open book pages, setting the tone for an evening focused on the magic of reading. On stage, elegant décor mimicked book pages falling from the sky, beautifully symbolizing the spread of knowledge and imagination.
Guests enjoyed cleverly themed appetizers like “James and the Giant Peach” crostini, adding a playful culinary nod to beloved children’s literature.
Former Governor Bredesen — who expanded Dolly Parton’s program — current Governor Bill Lee, and former Governor Haslam all spoke in support of the foundation.
The evening’s keynote speakers included celebrated authors and literacy advocates Bethany Barton, known for her engaging and imaginative children’s books, and Peter H. Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of inspiring titles like The Dot and Ish. Attendees had the special opportunity to meet these authors and have their complimentary books personally signed.
A Personal Connection
As a parent, this cause resonates deeply with me. My son received free books from the foundation for the first several years of his life, sparking a lifelong love of reading. Being involved with this event was not only a professional highlight but a personal passion.
If you live in Tennessee and would like to enroll your child, you can do so here.
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Why Early Literacy Matters: Corporate Event and Meeting Photography in Nashville
Photographing events like the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation celebration allows me to capture moments of inspiration and community impact. If you’re planning a corporate event, fundraiser, or meeting in Nashville, especially at iconic venues like the Country Music Hall of Fame, professional photography can elevate your story and showcase the meaningful connections your organization creates.
For high-quality corporate event photography in Nashville and beyond, I’m here to help you document your next gathering with authenticity and style.
Planning of this event was by Cook & Company!
Nashville Indian Wedding Celebration - Aparna and Shiv
Aparna and Shiv’s colorful and joyful Indian wedding at Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN.
Give me all the color and all the wedding traditions. Aparna and Shiv were married last year at Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville in a glorious Indian wedding celebration. Besides the couple, the outfits, the henna, the flowers, the music, the traditions, Shiv’s Jordans, and the food, my absolute favorite part of the day was the baraat. Traditionally the groom processes in on his own but Aparna and Shiv did it their own way and they entered together standing out of a jeep. Music courtesy of DJ Jay ATL was thumping out of the back of an open sprinter van while guests walking next to vehicle danced and waved ribbons. The atmosphere was so joyful that I would say it was one of my top favorite 5 things I’ve ever photographed. There were three gorgeous outfit changes and the florals were out of this world. Wait until you see the mandap! The reception had enormous crystal “chandeliers” suspended over the tables. It was a work of art by Elliott Events and Bloom. Aparna and Shiv were the sweetest couple and so much fun to work with. It was a pleasure to work with them and their families. Please enjoy a few of my favorite images. We photographed for 15 hours so there were A LOT of images! Vendors are listed below.
Here are a few more Indian inspired weddings-
Country Music Hall of Fame - Kari & Devin
Kimpton Aertson Hotel - Cynthia & David
Nelson Green Brier Distillery - Shirley & Sean
Special thanks to their vendors -
Planning & Design: Elliott Events
Venue: Country Music Hall of Fame
Hair and Makeup: Canvas and Coif
Florals: Bloom
DJ: DJ Jazz ATL
Calligraphy: White Ink Calligraphy
Hotel: Omni Nashville
Winter Country Music Hall of Fame Wedding - Jacquelyn and Anthony
Jacquelyn and Anthony’s beautiful wedding photographed at Country Music Hall of Fame and Vine Street Church.
My first wedding of the year was an incredible one. I so enjoyed working with Jacquelyn and Anthony and their very lovely families. Everyone was kind and sweet and a joy to be around. From the start of the day, It was very apparent that Jacquelyn and Anthony have a very strong support group. Their friends and family love them and love them together. Everyone was overjoyed that they were getting married, all nearly 400 of them! A friend of the bride’s family married the couple giving the ceremony an intimate feel. The toasts were hilarious and the dance floor was never not packed. It was a great night. Please enjoy their sneak peek. Special thanks to their vendors-
Venue: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Wedding Planner: Christina Logan Design
Band: Az-Izz
Bridal Hair: Lindsey Haynes, Locks by Leslie
Bridal Make-up: Gracie Shelly
Bridal Salon: Adorn Nashville
Designer: Enzoani
Cake/Dessert: La Creme Wedding Cakes
Cocktail Hr Music: Modern Mozarts
Draping: Events Plus
Flowers: Stella Rose Floral
Groom's Suit: The Black Tux Designer
Lighting: Bright Event Productions
Rentals: Please Be Seated
Invitations: The Write Impression
Ceremony: Vine Street
Videographer: Colling Films
Painter: SCR.art
Country Music Hall of Fame Wedding - Leslie and Blake
Leslie and Blake’s wedding among the Nashville city lights at Country Music Hall of Fame.
Leslie and Blake had a gorgeous wedding at Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. I don’t know if I’ve ever had a groom tear up as much as Blake did. It was incredibly sweet. The ceremony took place on the Carlton Terrace on top of Country Music Hall of Fame and concluded just as the sun was going down and the city lights were turning on. The reception followed in the event hall and the couple and their guests danced to the live band with the city as their backdrop. It was magical. Please enjoy some photographs from their wedding!
Special thanks to their vendors:
Venue: Country Music Hall of Fame
Planner: Elliott Events
Florals: Echoes of Eden Florals
Hair: The Dry House
Wedding Dress: The Dress Theory
Calligraphy: White Ink Calligraphy
Cake: Baked on 8th
Getaway Car: Matchless Transportation
Nashville Corporate Event Photography | RCA Studio B Donor Concert with Buddy Miller
Concert & Event Photography of Buddy Miller for Historic RCA Studio B and Country Music Hall of Fame.
Another really cool event that I got to photograph for Country Music Hall of Fame. This time it was a donor appreciation party at Historic RCA Studio B with a concert with Buddy Miller! I miss photographing at Studio B and working with their crew. Fingers crossed those will start back up too!
Nashville Corporate Event Photography | Nightfall at the Hall with Hunter Hayes
Event and Concert Photography at Country Music Hall of Fame’s Nightfall at the Hall featuring Hunter Hayes.
In the “before times” I often got to photograph big events and concerts for Country Music Hall of Fame’s creative department. Many of the events that I was hired to shoot were for their Troubadour Members. This membership provides multiple marketing events as well as parties and the big Night Fall at the Hall party. There were games, food, drinks and the night concluded with a private concert by Hunter Hayes.
Nashville Corporate Event Photography | Country Music Hall of Fame with Emmylou Harris
Photographs of a panel discussion of Emmylou Harris and The Hot Band in the Ford Theater. Corporate photography for Country Music Hall of Fame.
Another fascinating panel that I got to photograph at Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater. This time it was Emmylou Harris and The Hot Band! If would like to watch the panel, there is a video at the very bottom of this blog. It is differently worth your time!
Here is the livestream video from Country Music Hall of Fame!
Hindu Christian Country Music Hall of Fame Wedding - Kari & Devin
Kari & Devin’s wedding was my final to photograph in 2019. It was a gorgeous Hindu and Christian Ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN.
My last wedding of 2019 was with the fantastic Kari & Devin! Another one of my Vanderbilt Residency Squad, Kari and Devin are THE CUTEST. The couple had their wedding and reception at Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville. The ceremony was a mixture of Christian and Hindu traditions and had so many beautiful moments to photograph. The reception with its colors and mandap was a stunning nod to Devin’s Indian heritage. Wait until you see BOTH of Kari’s dresses. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect couple to end out my year with. Congratulations to Kari and Devin. Please enjoy their Hindu Christian Country Music Hall of Fame Wedding Sneak Peek!
Special Thanks to their Vendors-
Planning, Design, & Florals: Elliott Events
Venue: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Hair & Makeup: MHD Beauty
Cake: Katelin Hayes Desserts
DJ: DJ Adam
Officiant: Ralph Griggs
Stationery: Dear Addie
Country Music Hall of Fame - Ray Charles Panel with Travis Tritt
Photographs from a panel in the Ford Theater on Ray Charles’ Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music with Travis Tritt, John Burk, Shannon Sanders, and Valerie June. Live Event Marketing Photography for Corporate Client Country Music Hall of Fame.
Another one my most favorite corporate clients is The Country Music Hall of Fame. I guess you could say what I do for them is live event marketing photography. Before the shut down and right before my son was born, I was out there at least several times a month photographing. The marketing shoots could range anywhere from a live event to school children’s songwriting camp. I love it there. I wasn’t a country music fan prior to moving to Nashville or for many years after that, but after working with the staff at The Hall and meeting and listening to so many artists, I have a newfound appreciation for the genre.
Here is an event that I photographed in The Ford Theater. It was a panel discussing the re-release of Ray Charles’ Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music. I absolutely love Ray Charles so this panel was fascinating to me.
The panel Included (From Country Music Hall of Fame’s Website) - “John Burk, Concord Records president and producer of Charles Grammy-winner Genius Loves Company; Tennessee-born singer-songwriter Valerie June, who works in both blues and country; Shannon Sanders, a Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, and musician known for his work with India.Arie, John Legend, and others; and Grand Ole Opry member Travis Tritt, who recently appeared on An Opry Salute to Ray Charles, and in 2002 appeared with Charles for a CMT Crossroads concert special.
If you would like to watch a video of the discussion click here!
Country Music Hall of Fame Panel- Keith Whitley
Corporate photography for Country Music Hall of Fame of Keith Whitley Panel in the Ford Theater.
Here is another panel that I photographed for Country Music Hall of Fame. The topic of discussion was Keith Whitley and his all too short career. Panelist were Keith Whitley’s wife Lorrie Morgan, record producer Garth Fundis, and Former RCA president Joe Galante. The afternoon ended with a performance by Lorrie Morgan and her son Jesse Keith Whitley! You can watch the discussion and performance HERE.
Country Music Hall of Fame - Justin Moses
Photographs from Justin Moses and Sierra Hull American Currents performance at Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN. Concert photography for Country Music Hall of Fame.
More Country Music Hall of Fame Photographs! This time I photographed Justin Moses performing for Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents series. His wife Sierra Hull joined him on stage as well. If you’re bored during quarantine, make sure that you watch the video of the performance HERE. They did a really stellar rendition of “Oh Death” from Brother Where Art Thou.
About Justin Moses from The Country Music Hall of Fame’s Website- “Accomplished acoustic musician Justin Moses plays mandolin, resonator guitar, guitar, banjo, fiddle, and bass. In 2018, he was named the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Dobro Player of the Year. He has appeared on stage with Joe Diffie, Jerry Douglas, Peter Frampton, Barry Gibb, Emmylou Harris, Bruce Hornsby, Sierra Hull, Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, and Brad Paisley, and recorded with Ricky Skaggs and Dan Tyminski.”
Opulent Country Music Hall of Fame Wedding - Elaina & Taylor
The gorgeous wedding of Elaina & Taylor photographed at Country Music Hall of Fame and Christ the King in Nashville. The couple brought in Chick-Fil-A as their late night snack!
A year ago I met Elaina and Taylor for the first time when I photographed their engagement party. I instantly fell in love with them and their families and still continue to ask to be an honorary member of their family. You cannot help but love Elaina’s infectious energy and Taylor’s sweetness. They are adorable.
This past Saturday was their wedding at Christ the King and Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN. All week the weather was predicting a 90% chance of rain. The day of their wedding we watched the storms move later and later into the day. It didn’t end up raining until the bride and groom’s grand entrance into the reception! You can see the rain in the first dance photos. We were so fortunate. Besides Elaina’s veil flying off the walking bridge (thanks to my second shooter for rescuing it), everything went off without a hitch. The night ended with a late night snack from Chick-Fil-A and a second line exit. Please enjoy their Opulent Country Music Hall of Fame Sneak Peek.
Special Thanks to Their Vendors:
Planning, Design & Florals: Elliott Events
Church: Christ the King
Reception: Country Music Hall of Fame
Hair & Makeup Bride: Cali Jeffries Lightcap
Hair & Makeup Bridesmaids: Hunter Paige Salon
Wedding Gown: Eve of Milady from Bridals by Lori
Wedding Cake: Dulce Desserts
Drape: Quest Events
Lighting: Bright Event Productions
Band: The Downtown Band
Late Night Snack: Chick-Fil-A
Calligraphy- White Ink Calligraphy
Rentals: Please Be Seated
Linens: La Tavola
Invitations: Dear Addie
Signature drinks- Nashville Ice Lab
Videography: Zane Karl Studios
Country Music Hall of Fame Bar Mitzvah - Evan
A rock-n-roll, glow-in-the-dark, graffiti bar mitzvah at photographed at Congregation Micah & Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN.
Evan is the sweetest kid/teen you could ever hope for. He and his whole family are simply lovely and I have so enjoyed working with them over the last year. Last Saturday, Evan, a man of very few words, stood up in front of his family and friends for his bar mitzvah and he did FANTASTIC! I had the pleasure of photographing his service, luncheon and then his amazing rock-n-roll, graffiti, glow-in-the-dark party. Here is a sneak peek of the festivities!
Special thanks to his vendors:
Planning & Design: Fete Nashville
Temple: Congregation Micah
Venue: County Music Hall of Fame
Table Decorations & Florals: Enchanted Florist
DJ: Kagan Entertainment
Entertainment: Spangler Entertainment
Lighting: Bright Event Productions
Rentals: Quest Events
Table Numbers: White Ink Calligraphy
Cotton Candy: Pandy Cotton Candy
Candy Bar: Nashville Sweets
Photo Booth: Details Nashville
Basketball Game: Interactive Entertainment
Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame Wedding - Johanna & Alan
Photographs of The Nashville Wedding of Johanna & Alan at Country Music Hall of Fame with Fete Nashville.
This past Saturday I was fortunate enough to work with Johanna and Alan and their families on their SPECTACULAR wedding. As always Sara Fried and her team at Fete Nashville gave me something incredible to photograph. So not only did I have a beautiful canvas, but a sweet and stunning bride and groom AND three adorable children with British accents. Seriously guys, the jackets and shorts on the ring bearers! Be still my heart. Also be on the lookout for the Hatch Show Print Escort Wall. Congratulations Johanna & Alan! Please enjoy their Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame Wedding Sneak Peek!
Planning & Design: Fete Nashville
Ceremony- Wightman Chapel Scarritt Bennett
Venue & Catering: Country Music Hall Of Fame
Florals: Enchanted Florist
Lighting: Bright Event Productions
Makeup: One10Beauty Grace Wickman
Ceremony Musicians: Russ Davis
Band: The Downtown Band
Rentals: Please Be Seated
Wood Escort Sign: White Ink Calligraphy
Poster Design: Darby Cards
Poster Printed: Hatch Show Print
Linens: BBJ Linens
Cake: Dessert Designs
Nashville Corporate Event Photography | Country Music Hall of Fame's Gospel Easter Brunch
Country Music Hall of Fame's Gospel Easter brunch photographed by Erin Lee Allender of Nashville, Tennessee.
I often shoot marketing/promotional shots for Country Music Hall of Fame. Here are some of the photographs I took at their Gospel Easter Brunch with the always amazing McCrary Sisters! They had quite the impressive food spread for their guests too!
Classic Scarritt Bennett Wedding - Heather & Dan
Heather and Dan's Classic All White Flower Wedding at Scarritt Bennett and Country Music Hall of Fame photographed by Erin Lee Allender in Nashville, Tennessee.
Heather and Dan were married at Scarritt Bennett in May of 2014. Their reception followed at the Country Music Hall of Fame. It was an elegant and classic wedding that centered around the bride and groom and their families. There were lots of happy tears and the bride and groom looked at each other adoringly all day. Heather just radiated happiness and Dan was stunned by Heather. This wedding contained some of my favorite candids that year- the photograph of Heather crying when she showed her dad the veil that her mom painstaking hand beaded, the photograph when the doors opened and the light from the chapel hit Heather’s face and she began to walk down the aisle towards Dan, and the photograph of Heather’s mom crying while watching Heather and her dad dance. Like I said, lots of crying. The night ended with an exit in a horse drawn carriage where we left the guests behind and took night photographs around the city.
Special thanks has to go to the incredible vendors that put this together- Camie Occasions, Enchanted Florist, Country Music Hall of Fame, Scarritt Bennett, Blue Tone Music, Dessert Designs by Leland, and Matchless Transportation.
