Carla Bender Photography

02/17/2026

Last night was a subtle ending of a good day, whereas this morning just blasted on the scene…

01/16/2026

In the tapestry of dawn, find the threads of hope, the threads of gratitude, and the threads of love.
-unknown

09/30/2025

Leaving on a jet plane for the first of my 2 October CA shoots with some treasured clients…yes, I will travel across country for you!

02/17/2025

They’ve been here for a few months, hiding in secluded areas, but have been putting on a show lately…

01/06/2025

Frigid temps following a morning rain and we have some 2025 magic

12/31/2024

And sometimes that unicorn just shows-up…

Too hard to see so small, but note the license plate 😊

01/18/2024

Dancing Cranes from the Hiawassee Wildlife Reserve Sandhill Crane Festival

01/16/2024

Hard to believe this was yesterday at the at the Hiawassee Refuge. Chilly, but beautiful morning and the cranes were so active!

12/20/2023

Merry Christmas from Watts Bar Lake!

08/12/2023

So blessed to be able to photograph my daughter during this precious time.
As photographers we spend so much time capturing our clients special moments that this photo shoot with Marley Marie and my new granddaughter-to-be and was pure joy ❤️
Love you to the moon

08/12/2023

This looks like fun!

Are you visiting the Great Smoky Mountains with a high-clearance vehicle and wanting to feel more immersed in nature from the comfort of your vehicle? Parson Branch Road might be the one for you.

Parson Branch is a one-way 8-mile gravel road that provides a fun, more remote experience in the Great Smoky Mountains. The road is located about halfway through the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road and ends on US 129, otherwise known as The Tail of the Dragon. Be forewarned, US 129 is a dangerous curvy mountain road on the border of the park, where many accidents have occurred, and might not be suitable for some visitors. Beware that Parson Branch Road may be closed during inclement weather, so be sure to check road conditions on our Twitter page before venturing out.

Allot your time accordingly for this adventure. It typically takes visitors about an hour to an hour and a half to complete Parson Branch Road and another hour from the exit of Parson Branch to the city of Townsend via US 129 and Foothills Parkway. Make sure you have enough gas, food, and water before exploring!

Photo Credit: Kevin Kubiak