We spend a lot of time on social media for work and for fun and wanted to share with you our favorite Asheville Instagram accounts. In part because we are photographers ourselves, we can’t help but be psyched about all of the awesome work that others in our community are doing. It’s inspiring! We are big believers in community over competition and think it’s important to help bring exposure to others. Many of the people we are featuring we are lucky enough to call friends and all of them are super-talented. If you’re tired of the same old thing on social media, give these people and their accounts a look, we think they are some of the best in Asheville. (All photos below are taken by their owners unless otherwise stated. If you believe we have made an error, please let us know and we’ll fix it asap.)
@ashevilledatenight – Asheville Date Night Guide
Want to go out but not sure what to do or where to go? Leave the thinking to the ladies at Asheville Date Night. They’ve got you covered with great ideas and fun contests and their feed is all local all the time.
@authenticasheville – Erin McGrady and Caroline Whatley
Making a shameless plug for our own Asheville Instagram account here. We feature content from the Asheville area as well as beyond. You’re going to see everything from beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain shots to food and drinks from local restaurants to the quirky things around town that make our home so special.
@la__samantita – Tracy S Calderón – Colón
Tracy’s account is one of those accounts that can send you down the rabbit hole. And I mean that in the best of ways. She has a unique way of composing her shots, minimal yet with lots of feeling, and her feed flows with a cohesion to it that makes it seem more like a well-thought out music album that you want to play over and over again.
@adventureavl – Jason Tarr
If you’re looking to follow someone who consistently gets out and explores the Asheville area, look no further than Jason’s account. He was a finalist in the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition (2015-2016) and is improving his photography skills all the time.
@ameliafletcherphoto – Amelia Fletcher Photography
Self-described wanderer, beekeeper and INFJ, Amelia is one of our photography heroes. I actually wrote to her when I first moved to Asheville, mostly to tell her that I LOVED her work and that her photography was unlike anyone’s stuff that I’d seen in a long time. Much to my surprise, although not anymore now that I know her, she actually wrote back and we’ve become friends. If you want to see pictures that catch the nuances in both daily living and big moments (weddings, engagements, etc.) then follow Amelia. Hint: check out her #peopleofsugarhollow body of work. It is awesome.
@carolineperdue – Caroline Whatley
Caroline’s feed is a curated feed of food, travel, and lifestyle photos from our time spent doing van life. She’s a full-time Asheville based content creator who has worked with numerous brands, both local and international.
@chefkatiebutton – Katie Button
Does she really need an introduction? Katie Button of Curate and Nightbell has a feed that is just downright fun to follow. It feels a little bit like entry into the behind the scenes of a real life super chef. There’s no pretension but there are lots of delicious food pictures to look at. It’s cool when the local celebrity seems super down to earth.
@chelsealane__ – Chelsea Bollhoefer
In addition to Amelia who I mentioned above, Chelsea is the other Asheville photographer that I really wanted to meet. Her work told stories to me and I wanted to know more. Her niche is small weddings and small businesses and it is very, very good. Follow her if you want a regular dose of beautiful in your feed.
@darrellcassell – Darrell Cassell
New on my radar is Darrell Cassell. I saw his work only three or four days before writing this story. His work is striking and makes you want to get a big cup of coffee and get lost in the stories behind his pictures. I think he is a rising star.
@derekdiluzio – Derek DiLuzio Creative
Adventure and Derek go hand in hand. If you want inspiration to help you get out into the outdoors, start following Derek. He’s guaranteed to deliver the shot of the day and it could be anything from backpacking to kayaking to running to epic landscapes. Few are better than him in capturing the Asheville area and those who work and play in it.
@dustinspagnola – Spagnola
You don’t really need a reason to follow Dustin Spagnola other than his art is awesome.
@e.mcgrady – Erin McGrady
Check out my personal Instagram account. I share as lot of landscape photos, some food, some funny stuff, a good bit of local-to-Asheville content, trail running, cylcing, and more. Many of them are taken with my Google Pixel phone because I’m a #teampixel ambassador. I love the outdoors and frequently share about my experience as a queer, brown woman living in the south.
@felipe_santander – Felipe Santander
Though Felipe’s pictures are a welcome treat when they pop up in my feed, for the full experience you need to see all of his work together as one. He uses a lot of negative space to frame his pictures and the effect is stunning. His macro photography is beautiful and mixed in with design and architecture work as well as people, it is nothing short of awesome.
@_whatissamdoing – Sam Kearney
I think I smile (and sometimes laugh out loud or nod my head in earnest) whenever I see Sam’s Instagram posts. She is both a visual storyteller as well as someone whose writing I really enjoy. Her graphic design work is mixed in with upcoming photos of t-shirts and stickers that she made as well as photos of the mountains we call home. Her account is both real and fun at the same time and proves that work can actually be fun if you do it with your whole heart.
@thebewilderment – Glenn English
If I had to count the number of times I head for the kitchen when I see Glenn’s photos pop up on IG, I’d be out of fingers! He is just as apt to post about a local dining experience at one of Asheville’s restaurants as he is to share something he made at home. Follow him if you love food and also appreciate the beauty of the Asheville area.
@nicolemcconville – Nicole McConville
Mention photography and Asheville in the same sentence and you’re bound to hear someone mention Nicole McConville’s name. And for good reason. She is patient, she is humble, she is honest, she is sincere. And her work reflects all of that. Her Instagram account takes this a step further in that almost all of her images are coupled with words that deepen the story she’s telling with her camera.
@shoniejoy – Shonie Joy Kuykendall
A unique take on life, Shonie’s Instagram feed is refreshing, like spring after a long winter. It’s well worth your time. Her portrait game is on point and we particularly like the bike polo shots that appear from time to time.
@smallmeasure – Ashley English
We love Ashley’s writing as much as her photos. Her feed offers up what she describes as “living with gusto, looking for awe in the everyday in a forested cove in the mountains of NC” and we think she delivers on all fronts. This published author is simply a treat to follow!
@speedsquares – Michael Mclure
Michael McClure sees the world in a different way and always seems to have a perspective on both projects and life that keeps me checking back to see what he’s up to. I’m not sure how he would describe his photography style but to me it is unique and inventive and fun. It’s lacking the hard and fast rules that a lot of people apply to their accounts and for that, I love it.
@spoonandhook – Anneliesse Gormley
If you are inspired by people who make things as well as the stories behind the makers and the things they are making, then make your way straight away to see what Anneliesse is making today lol. In all seriousness her stuff is super cool and her feed is really pretty to scroll through. There’s also a link in her bio that’ll take you right to her shop should you see something you want to make yours!
@tarletonw – Tarleton Walmsley
I could list out about 15 reasons why Tarleton’s account is awesome (she has a great eye for pictures, she posts interesting things, her captions are funny) but I’ll stop at three in the hopes that you’ll go see for yourself. When I’m lacking creativity I sometimes make a pitstop at her Instagram account and it gets my brain thinking in a different way. For this reason alone I love her account.
@wedgebrewing – Wedge Brewing Company
Do pictures of really sexy beers ever get old? Not in our eyes.
Recap of Our Favorite and Best Asheville Instagram Accounts!
There are so many photographers in Asheville that we couldn’t help but highlight some of our favorites. That said, we’re already nervous about who we may have left out. This is in no way an indication of all the amazing talent in Asheville. If you think someone should be on this list, please share their name and handle with us in the comments below. We love learning about new photographers and are excited to discover others whose work inspires you.
Erin McGrady and Caroline Whatley are travel writers, photographers and the authors of Authentic Asheville. You can follow their Instagram accounts online at @e.mcgrady and @carolineperdue
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