Laura E. Partain

Portrait + Music + Editorial Photographer | Nashville + Everywhere Else.

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NOW STREAMING - Laura E. Partain #MyFilmStory - A Photographer's Journey on the Appalachian Trail

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Coming soon with #IlfordPhoto #MyFilmStory

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Award-winning TV and film composer, Robert Duncan | Feb 2026

A recent newcomer to Nashville, the acclaimed composer who notably scored the hit television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Rob requested a photoshoot that felt quintessentially Tennessee. Barns, fences, fields, that sort of thing. As someone who isn’t exactly a newcomer as I enter my 15th year in town, it’s easy to forget just how striking middle Tennessee can be. Rob’s gentle and curious spirit reminded me to reconsider the structures and landscapes that inundate my day to day. As we worked, I was really inspired by Rob’s own awe as we walked around the location. It reminded me to not lose that awe.I knew however that I wanted to merge the feel of Rob’s musical works with the location, which we ultimately joked produced a “barn noir” sort of feel. A lot of people move to Tennessee. Honestly, way too many people. People like Rob however are the people who help make places like Nashville so great. These creative, gentle, and endlessly curious souls who come here humble and open to the powers of creativity, community, and music. You rule, Rob. We're happy to have you here in Music City, so happy. Thank you for pushing me creatively and working with me on this shoot. Thank you to the lovely Justin Hadley for assisting!

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Today marks two years since I departed Springer Mountain in Georgia, and began my walk and @americanpilgrimsbook project to Katahdin, Maine. It was the most difficult thing I had ever done in a year’s time. It was baptism by fire, water, snow, and one tornado. It was the most sacred use of my time I have ever known. Today as I wade through the madness of modernity, I miss the trail deeply and painfully. Anytime I am having a hard time, I cling to that silly little plastic yellow AT tag, my Katahdin permit with my trail name on it, hug my ratty old backpack, and I especially pour myself into the work I’m carving into a book. It helps me live in the experience day after day, and admittedly I hope you too will get a hiker high from the work. Thank you to everyone who has watched my KEH Camera video, and thank you to everyone for following along on my adventure as I turn the journey into a book. I don’t take for granted the collective interest. You can support the work on Patreon, or if you’d like to privately donate DM me. You can also support the work by following the project’s account, sharing/liking the YouTube video, and in general just hanging around. Working as hard as a scrappy lil freelancer can on this. More to come, what a trip! #appalachiantrail #theappalachiantrail #thruhiker #thruhiking #thruhiker #springermountain #amicalolafalls #amicalolafallsstatepark #hasselbladxpan #fujitx1 #ilfordphoto

#ilford #delta400 #lauraepartain #lauraepartainphotography #americanpilgrimsbook 

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New collab video with KEH Camera about my Appalachian Trail thru hike and photo book project! Be sure to like, subscribe, and share.

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Happy birthday, Logan Ledger. You are truly one of the finest artists I know. If I had a penny for every time I bragged about you or recommended your music to someone, I'd be a rich man. From your solo work to all of the great stuff you're doing with our wonderful friend Margo Price, I'm proud of you. And I'm grateful for all of the times you've happily allowed my camera in front of your face. Have a wonderful day, my friend.

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Spent the first near two months of 2026 in the trenches with my @americanpilgrimsbook project, but I'm getting back to the ye ole grind that i'm more known for this week. Had a double serving of pro soccer portrait days Monday/Tuesday and an equally lovely short form music editorial today. I'm properly exhausted but a good time was had by all. Feeling really good about this year and am really grateful for each experience my cameras take me on.

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@thewoodbros | Jan 2025

I used to turn my nose up to frames that had light leaks or other artifacts that felt more like a ruined image than something to find beauty in. In a digital age with AI humming not so quietly at most corners of our modern life, maybe those light leaks brought on by being the last frame of a roll, being the least protected by that 120mm paper backing, maybe it's a bit more like magic to enjoy rather than a flaw to be forgotten. I remember earlier this year after developing and scanning this frame, that those imperfections are part of what I love about it. With immediacy and a pursuit of perfection in the modern age, perhaps an analog image with light leaks is a reminder of how delightful imperfection can be; if not preferable.

Photo Assist by @houstonokay

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I recently talked with my friends at #KEHCamera to talk about my work, and my #appalachiantrail project. You can read the full interview at the link below. Enjoy!

In Conversation with Laura E. Partain

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Guitar maestro @crittereldridge from a few years back.

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Actor Laura Osnes for The Free Press | Nov 2025

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George Gruhn inspecting a guitar backstage at the @opry | Oct 2024 I always love running into George for so many reasons. As much as I enjoy music, George and I very quickly tend to dig deep into our passions regarding animals. One time we ran into one another in a pet store, and we talked for over an hour about servals, jungle cats, house cats, all things cats from wild to tame. We equally have went into multi hour conversations of the herpetological sort, musing on snakes, lizards, and listening as he talks about his impressive snake collection. He's such a brilliant, interesting guy. I've never shared this image I made of him last year, but I really love it. He can be in sea of people and still isolate into obsessive study and deep conversations. George is a Nashville legend and a Nashville treasure. One of the coolest cats around. Seeing him backstage is always such a delight. I can always count on a nice, long talk with him. Second image is a magazine cover I shot of George about a seven years prior, and to this day may be my favorite magazine cover I've ever shot. ❤️🎸🐍

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Photographs of the one and only Alec Newnam | Bassist, band leader, chart writing extraordinaire, eclectic and open minded explorer of life's adventures, and also - my guy. In our near 8 years together, I think this is our only sleek studio shoot. Love ye, Alec

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A few photographs of mine from the interior packaging and gatefold of @lukebellofficial 's "The King is Back" album, which was released this month. My head is filled with words for Luke, his music, and he as a person, but nothing seems to write itself down as well as I would like. Beyond the friendship, I'll forever have so many fond memories of our big photoshoot almost 10 years ago, and all the times before and after snapping a frame here and there. He forever lives on not just through music, but through the joy he brought his friends and family. This album is such a perfect tribute to our friend Luke. Always and forever a golden voice of country music.

Thank you @fetzerdesign for helping bring this beautiful album packaging to life. This is so amazing ❤️

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@missmargoprice for @bust_magazine from our December 2023 issue. So hard to believe this editorial was from two years ago. Congrats Margo on your @grammys nominations! They are SO well deserved. Thank you @mrs_columbo for the wonderful assignment and for also featuring me in the contributor spotlight ❤️

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For this week's edition of musicians in flight - Andrew Golden | July 2025

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New work for Andrew Leahey & the Homestead - Now available as of last week! It's a good one, don't sleep on it!