Haitian Beaches, Mountain Dreams: An Interview with Hunter Kittrell

It’s rare in life to find someone with such goodness, such grace, that they take your breath away. Hunter Kittrell is that man. With a heart of gold, a love for children, and the beard of a God, Hunter draws his inspiration from years of living, and serving, in Haiti.

Having adopted two of his four children from Haiti, Hunter’s passion for the country transcends his time as a volunteer. In fact, after working in a local orphanage he and his wife found one particular need wasn’t being met; the transition from orphanage to adult.

From this they started Emmaus House. Rooted in Christian values, the home allows a productive and gradual transition out of the life a youth knew and into helping the economy of Haiti. According to the Lumos Foundation, there are around 760 orphanages in Haiti and some alarming statistics regarding youth in institutions. In fact, these youth, “are 40 times more likely to have a criminal record, 10 times more likely to enter prostitution, & 500 times more likely to commit suicide.” Continuing education, housing, and responsibilities are all part of the Emmaus House’s mission.

A few years after development, Hunter and his wife found that Emmaus House was able to survive, and even thrive, without them. Since they focused on employing local Haitians within the home, it was time for them to return back to the United States.

When they arrived, the transition was hard. Island time was no longer their M.O. and being able to lead a productive life meant increasing their speed. But the one thing they have never lost is their connection with one another and the emotions they feel.

It’s this passion for others that shows through in Hunter’s photography. He’s able to find the moments of in-between that really show what a couple is about. This skill was something cultivated on a tropical island and perfected in the mountains of Tennessee.

We hope you enjoy hearing about his journey as much as we did!

Hunter Kittrell is an Adventure Wedding Photographer based in East Tennessee.  His photography career started in Haiti by working with the growing tourism industry, promoting local businesses and job creation, shooting national ad campaigns, and advancing humanitarian aid work through his photos. He moved with his family to Johnson City, TN in 2017.  As a native to East TN/SWVA and the surrounding Appalachian Highlands, Hunter has taken his photography skills and his passion for storytelling to position himself as a top Adventure Wedding Photographer in the region.