The “What Lifts You” Wings: A Nashville Photo Guide
Kelsey Montague’s angel-wings mural in the Gulch has been Nashville’s most popular photo op since 2016. Here’s how to get the shot without the wait.
The essentials
| Where | The Gulch (11th & Pine area), Nashville |
| Cost | Free · public wall |
| Best light | Early morning (soft + no line) |
| The catch | Long lines by mid-morning |
| Bonus | Smaller wings beside it for kids/pets |
How to get the shot
Stand centered so the wings frame your subject symmetrically, and leave a little room above so the tips aren’t clipped. A phone or wide-ish lens from a few steps back keeps the whole mural in frame. There’s a second, smaller set of wings just to the right — perfect for children or pets.
Beat the line
The single biggest tip: go early. By mid-morning the line can be long, and the harder overhead light casts shadows across the wall. Early gives you soft light and an empty wall.
💡 Local tip: The Gulch is dense with murals — the geometric Jason Woodside wall and others are steps away. Build a short early-morning mural loop and you’ll have several distinct backdrops before the crowds arrive.
Make it a story
Playful and uplifting, the wings make a fun engagement or milestone backdrop. See our proposal photography page.
Plan your shoot
👉 Book a Nashville Photographer →
👉 See Nashville Photography Packages →
FAQ
Where are the What Lifts You wings in Nashville? In the Gulch neighborhood, near 11th and Pine. It’s a free, public mural wall.
When should I go to avoid the line? Early morning — you get soft light and usually no wait. Lines build by mid-morning, when the light also turns harsh.
