I love New Years Eve weddings! Something about bringing in the New Years as a newlywed is so romantic. So when SaraLynn contacted me, I was beyond excited to photograph their wedding.
It was a damp and rainy day, but that was ok. We were able to get some romantic photos inside the church, which fit perfectly with the New Years Eve theme. We were even able to go outside for a few minutes to get a couple shots out there as well.
Congratulations again you two!
Kristin & James - A Gaither Plantation Wedding
I was so honored to shoot Kristin and James' wedding. I met Kristin through my husbands cousin and a couple years back she hired me to photograph her sweet family. She had told me once she gets engaged she would love me to shoot her wedding, so I was delighted to hear that James had proposed!
This past spring I shot their engagement photos and before I knew it, fall was here and so was their wedding. It was a PERFECT fall day. Not too hot, not too cold. Lovely light. Everything was perfect. I'm so glad I got to witness and capture such a beautiful wedding for you both!
Congratulations and thank you again for allowing me to capture your beautiful day!
Mariah & John - A Historic Savannah Wedding
I was so excited to shoot this wedding. I love Savannah. I love the history and the architecture. I love the oak trees covered in spanish moss. It's a beautiful city. So the opportunity to shoot a wedding there was extremely exciting.
The ceremony was in Johnson Square and then we walked and took photos before heading to the reception at Vic's on the River. It was a hot day, but surprisingly it wasn't as hot and muggy as it can get in Savannah. It was a perfect day!
A super special thanks to Sandy, Mariah and John's amazing planner. She serves Atlanta and Savannah.
http://www.popeventsanddesign.com
Candice & Cedel - A Villa Christina Atlanta Wedding
I love Villa Christina in the Dunwoody area of Atlanta. The garden ceremony area is beautiful and there are so many nice places for wedding photos inside as well.
Candice and Cedel could not have asked for a more perfect day. The early September weather in Atlanta was warm but not too hot. Everyone was happy and upbeat an I loved capturing their day, through the smiles and tears.
Thank you for allowing us to capture your beautiful day!
Cameron & Kamilah - A Historic Dekalb Courthouse Wedding in Decatur, GA
I love these two. Seriously. Cameron and Kamilah are a beautiful couple. And I am so thankful they chose me to capture their big day.
We started at the W Hotel in Midtown Atlanta. It was HOT, and even with AC you could feel the heat coming through the windows of the hotel room. Despite the heat, it was a gorgeous sunny day in Atlanta.
Once they were ready, we all headed to Decatur to the Historic Dekalb Courthouse. I love this area and the venue is lovely.
Congratulations again Cameron and Kamilah!
A special thanks to:
Event Planner
Sabrina Anthony
Crystal Pink Events
DJ
DJ Toryn
Exquisite Sounds Entertainment
Florist
Carithers
Cake
For Goodness Cakes
Chloe & Luke - A Foxhall Resort and Sporting Club Wedding
Foxhall Resort and Sporting Club is a beautiful venue right outside Atlanta, Georgia. So needless to say I was super excited when Chloe and Luke contacted me about photographing their wedding there at the Legacy Lookout.
We were a little worried because the forecast called for rain all day and the Legacy Lookout at Foxhall is all about the amazing view for outdoor ceremonies. Luckily, the rain let up just long enough to get some beautiful photos and for their lovely ceremony.
The reception had a super talented live band and was so much fun!
Congratulations Chloe and Luke and thank you for allowing me to capture such a beautiful day for the both of you!
Venue:
Foxhall Resort and Sporting Club
Florist:
Sister Act Designs
Alicia Shultz
info@sisteractdesigns.com
678-357-8730
Band:
Corbette Jackson
Jordan & Cody - A Rhodes Hall Wedding in Midtown Atlanta
I loved this wedding! I love all the weddings I shoot, but this one just had such a fun vibe. Jordan and Cody are an amazing couple. I knew from the moment we met and they told me some of their ideas that this was going to be an awesome wedding. And it was! Rhodes Hall in Midtown Atlanta is such a cool venue with so much history. I mean, it's a mini castle on Peachtree St in the middle of the business district of Atlanta. How awesome is that?
Not only was the venue amazing, but Jordan's bouquet had SUCCULENTS in it. Come on! I am a sucker for succulents.
There are certain couples that after doing so many weddings I can just tell are head over heels for each other. And these two? Definitely. There were lots of happy tears during their big day. Including the photographer, because I tend to shed a few behind the camera during certain moments in a wedding. I can't help it. I love what I do.
Venue:
Rhodes Hall
Coordinator:
Stanton (Stan) Varnadoe
The Look of Atlanta
770-596-3722
Florist:
Tammy Cottrell
One Rose Florist
404-885-7800
Makeup:
MAC Cosmetics
Ashly & Parnel's Trinidad Wedding at The North Deck
I have always had a serious case of wanderlust. As a photographer and a lover of culture, food and new experiences it was a dream of mine to travel abroad for a wedding. My dream came true when I was contacted by Parnel and Ashly last year and they hired me to fly to Trinidad and capture their wedding.
Trinidad is the larger island of the country of Trinidad and Tobago. It's know as the southern most island in the caribbean, but is technically a part of South America. Trinidad lies only 6.8 miles from the coast of Venezuela.
I arrived late in Port of Spain as my flights from Atlanta had been severely delayed. However, the Hilton Hotel was extremely comfortable and I was able to sleep well and wake up rested for the wedding. It was raining for most of the morning, however it cleared up long enough for a beautiful ceremony and to be able to get some amazing photos. The venue, The North Deck, has beautiful panoramic views to the north towards the island of Grenada. It lies about 1800 feet above sea level, but the views allow you to see all the way down to the beaches below. It's simply amazing.
Congratulations again to Ashly and Parnel, and thank you for brining me along to capture your beautiful wedding and experience the wonderful country of Trinidad!
A special thanks to the following vendors:
Venue
The North Deck
Hair and Makeup
Nyema Bennett
DJ
Soryah Pierre
Cake
Cindy Ramsingh
Caterer
Mr. Shah
Mariel & Randy's Beautiful Somis, California Wedding at Hartley Botanica
Most people who know me know I am a proud California girl. I was born in Santa Monica and lived in Los Angeles until my mid 20's. So I was beyond excited when Randy, a former classmate of mine (who also happened to be in one of my high school photography classes!) contacted me to fly out and photograph his wedding.
I worked with Mari and Randy on planning the details from opposite coasts and it all came together wonderfully. Between emails and conference calls, we were ready to go. I was also excited to have Mike Kerr, who was a classmate of mine in art college, second shoot with me.
The venue, Hartley Botanica, is like stepping into a hidden paradise nestled amongst endless crops of oranges, onions and strawberries in Ventura County. It's whimsical. And Randy and Mari's day was absolutely beautiful.
Congrats Mari & Randy!
A special thanks to the following:
Wedding Coordinator:
DNT Events
Wedding Cake:
Frost It Cakery
Florist:
Belle of the Ball Designs
Videographer:
Reel Life Pictures
Hair & Makeup:
Kelly Zhang
Venue:
Hartley Botanica
Cameron + Kamilah - Sims Lake Park Engagement
It was a perfect day in late February for an engagement shoot in Suwannee, Ga. I met up with the beautiful and amazing Sabrina Anthony from Crystal Pink Events who is coordinating Cameron and Kamilah's wedding. I could gush over Sabrina and how wonderful she is, but that would need it's own blog post. ;) Shortly after the beautiful couple showed and simply rocked their shoot. I am beyond excited to shoot their wedding in a few short months!
Making the Most of Your Wedding Photography
There is no doubt that each and every detail of your wedding day is important. From the moment the question is asked and planning starts, things like the venue, guest list and wedding colors are probably on your mind. In addition to the big things, you have all the smaller details you have to think about from cake flavors to where you plan on getting ready. Because of this, it can quickly get overwhelming when planning your big day.
Because you will put so much time and effort into making your day perfect, it’s very important to make sure all those big and small details are captured. This is where your professional wedding photographer comes in. I want to share some wonderful tips on working with your wedding photographer and how to make sure no important details are missed because once the cake is gone and the flowers are wilted, your photos will be the one heirloom you will be able to share with your children, grandchildren and for generations to come.
Find Someone Who Specializes in Wedding Photography
When it comes to wedding photography, the most important thing is to hire a professional wedding photographer. There are all sorts of photography businesses out there, but weddings are a special niche that unless someone has extensive experience, things can easily go wrong. Photographers who specialize in weddings know how to handle any and every lighting situation and know how the flow of a wedding day goes. So if something unforeseen happens, like it rains or things run late, they know how to handle it and are still able to capture every beautiful moment.
When interviewing a wedding photographer, you want to ask to see photos they've taken indoors and outdoors as well as during the day and night. It’s very important that they excel in being able to use off camera lighting in case the photography needs to be taken indoors or your wedding goes into the night. Also, knowing how to use lighting can make even daytime photos look amazing because you wont get dark shadows on peoples faces or have uneven lighting or shadows in certain locations. It’s also important that they have backup equipment and a variety of high quality lenses for the ceremony, reception and portraits. Ask to see a variety of weddings and moments from their portfolio and look for things like color, quality and consistency.
You also want to make sure your personalities mesh well. They will be following you around during many moments of the day, including getting ready, so feeling comfortable with your photographer is important. Because of this, make sure the person you have a consultation with is the person who is going to be there during your wedding day. Some bigger photography companies use numerous photographers so it's always good to make sure you are meeting with your actual photographer.
Engagement Session
Once you have found the perfect photographer, I highly suggest having an engagement session with them. I include engagement sessions with all my wedding collections because I believe they are so important. Not only because it’s nice to have photos for things like save the dates or a guestbook, but because it’s a chance for the couple to get comfortable having their photos taken! Even if you have had professional photos done before, every photographer is a little different in how they work with their clients, so getting used to working with your wedding photographer will ensure you are relaxed with them on your wedding day!
Have A Timeline!
Another very important part of making sure you get the most out of your wedding photography is to have a timeline! If you are working with a wedding planner (which I highly suggest hiring one if you are able to!) they will help you with this part. However, even then it’s good to also work with your wedding photographer on your timeline. And if you don’t hire a wedding planner, your wedding photographer should be able to provide input on how long they will need for things like family portraits so you can work that in to your timeline. Making sure you have enough time for all the important moments of your day, and providing a little extra time in case things run behind, will ensure you get plenty of beautiful photos for your album and walls.
Also, in addition to making sure things run smoothly, a solid timeline will help your photographer anticipate what events are going to happen when so they can be in the right place at the right time.
A Shot List
Most wedding photographers will ask you for a list of must have shots. This should include the family members you want to include in the family portraits as well other shots that are important to you. You don’t need to send a list of 50 or 100 shots to your wedding photographer, as they should be experienced in capturing all of the important things like bride walking down the isle, the grooms reaction, the kiss and so on. But, for example, if you just have to have a shot of you and your aunt or you want to recreate a shot that your parents took during their wedding, definitely provide those details to your photographer so they can make sure they capture them.
And finally…
Once your big day is over and all the photos are taken, what are you going to do with them? Nowadays, many photographers provide the digitals for you to download or on a USB drive. But more times than not, those photos will just sit on your computer or in a drawer. Such a waste! Also, electronics only last so long. What if your hard drive dies or the USB corrupts? It breaks my heart to hear someone say they lost all their wedding photos. That is why it is SO important to purchase a heirloom album or prints from your photographer. While it may be easy to run to a place like Walmart with your digitals, most people don’t realize those photos don’t last beyond 5 or 10 years before they fade. This is because of the process retail places use to print photos. However, most professional photographers have access to professional print labs where the prints they provide will last decades, even generations. The process ensures your photos will fade minimally and will be UV resistant. Also, a professional wedding photographer should be able to design a beautiful album for you so all the important photos will be in one place and tell the story of your important day. That way, you won’t need to worry about digital files corrupting or getting lost!
Hopefully these tips will help you get the most out of your wedding photography and provide your with a tangible memory of the wedding you put so much energy in to planning!
The Barn At Highpoint Farms (Kenzie & Michael)
Novembers in the North Georgia Mountains are absolutely beautiful and Kenzie and Michaels wedding at The Barn at Highpoint Farms was spectacular. It has rained the entire week leading up to their day, but thankfully the rain stopped just long enough for them to have an absolutely perfect wedding day in every way. I am so thankful I was chosen to capture their day along with my second shooter, Ashley.
The Barn
Kenzie getting ready
Michael buttoning up
Getting her makeup done
Kenzie putting on her dress
The beautiful bride
The handsome groom
Amongst the autumn colors
A moment in the barn garden
Happiness.
We took a golf cart ride up the hill to see the breathtaking view
Those colors.
She is glowing.
It was beautiful.
You may now kiss the bride....
Ladies
Strong ladies...ha!
A goat!
Yum!
The first dance
Father daughter dance
A night portrait outside the barn
A kiss outside the barn
The perfect ending to a perfect day...
Thank you for allowing me to capture your amazing day!
Thistlewood Farms (Rachel & Wesley)
I have been looking forward to Rachel and Wesley's wedding since I did their engagement photos earlier this year. It was the PERFECT day at Thistlewood Farms in Byron, Ga.
It really was a perfect day for a fall wedding.
The wedding dress
Rachel getting her makeup done
Bride.
The wedding rings
Wesley getting ready
A beautiful bride
Before the ceremony
Heading to the ceremony
Rachel walking down the isle
Wesley reaction. A beautiful moment.
The sand ceremony
Married.
In the pecan grove
Rachel and the groomsmen
A beautiful couple
Love.
Stunning.
Candycorn and peanuts
The first dance
Cake smash!
Before the bouquet toss
A night portrait
<3
The end to a perfect wedding.
Thank you for letting me capture your big day!
Derrike & Landon (A South Carolina Wedding)
It was a BEAUTIFUL day. I drove up the day before and stayed in a hotel in Myrtle Beach. That morning my husband (who was my assistant) and I showed up at the amazing beach house in Garden City, South Carolina. It was the perfect South Carolina beach house for a wedding.
Garden City, SC Wedding
Bride getting her hair done.
The dress
Derrick getting her makeup done
The rings
Landon getting ready
Bride and bridesmaids and their dresses
Bride and her dress
A mimosa before getting dressed
Landon right before the ceremony
Groom and his groomsmen
And there she was....
Beautiful reaction.
Bride and her bridesmaids
United.
A kiss after sunset
First dance
A perfect beginning...
Congratulations Derrike and Landon and thank you for letting me capture you're beautiful wedding!
Morgan & Grant (A Georgia Wedding)
It was seriously the most PERFECT September day at Beautiful Beginnings Farm in Newborn, GA. I had shot Morgan and Grant's engagement photos this past February and I was excited their day had finally arrived. The venue was perfect for a a rustic, country wedding.
Congratulations Morgan and Grant! I wish you two a long, happy life together. <3
Finding The Light
What's the secret to AMAZING photography? Any photographer will tell you there are numerous elements to amazing photography. But there is one element that can make or break a photograph: light.
Photography, at it's core, is capturing a light onto a camera sensor. Prior to the digital age, it was capturing light onto film.
Understanding light and how to use it to create mood and composition is the key to becoming an amazing photographer. The lack of light can cause quality issues in a photograph, but if understood it can be used to create dramatic portraits that evoke emotion.
Ambient light is not always available, and even if it is it isn't always quality light. In these situations, as a photographer, we need to understand how to use tools to create the light we want. Strobes, speed lights, modifiers, and the like can help a photographer bring their vision to life. It's essential to understand what these tools do and how to use them, especially in wedding photography.
I am currently on a journey to become AMAZING at off camera flash. I already have a pretty good understanding of it and how to use it. But I intent to become the one of the best.
I won't stop learning until I do. And even then....I will innovate.
Thanks to my wonderful husband for being my photography model. Even if you did get eaten by mosquitos for this shot ;)
Suzanne
Rustic Wedding Venues in Georgia
It's WEDDING WEDNESDAY!!! Woohoo!!!
What does that mean, you ask?
It's means that starting today every Wednesday I will pick a wedding theme relating to photography and post about it. Why? Because I love weddings and I love photography and I am pretty much obsessed with both things. And it just sounds neat.
Today I am going to share a little about some rustic venues I have shot at here in Georgia. As you can imagine, rustic weddings are super popular right now in the South. Just imagine: a wooden barn surrounded by woods. Mason jars and burlap. Cowboy boots and sweet tea. Just add a beautiful bride and her groom and you have the perfect southern wedding.
When planning the perfect rustic wedding, one of the first things to check off your list is the perfect venue. One great venue is Antique Acres in Bogart, GA which is just outside Athens. This venue is very unique. It has two barns, one for ceremonies and one for the reception. This is perfect for summer weddings when it's just too hot and sticky to have an outdoor ceremony but you want to be able to keep it separate from the reception. Everything is air conditioned which keeps you and your guests comfortable when the humidity outside feels like you stepped into a sauna.
This California girl is NOT a fan of humidity. But that's a story for another day.
The Ceremony Barn at Antique Acres
Anyway, Antique Acres has tons of cool old things scattered around the property. Tractors, farm equipment, signs. It makes for a really rustic and fun vibe and being able to host the entire event inside helps keep those 'Skeetos at bay.
Another great venue for rustic Georgia weddings is Cold Creek Farm in Dawsonville, Ga. This beautiful barn is nestled in the North Georgia mountains. You are greeted by horses in a pasture as you enter Cold Creek Farm. Pigs, chickens and goats are also residents on the property. Even with the farm animals, you would never guess because it's kept meticulously clean and there is no trace of it actually being a real farm unless you go seek out the animals. Susan, the owner, is a sweet woman who lives on the property and you can tell she puts lots of love and pride into it.
Cold Creek Farm in Dawsonville, GA
Cold Creek Farm is perfect for smaller weddings. There is an outdoor area for a ceremony, which can be moved inside if a storm rolls through. There are tons of beautiful locations on the property for photos and for guests to just enjoy the scenery. I highly recommend this venue!
Last but definitely not least is 9 Oaks Farm in Monroe, GA. I absolutely love everything about this venue. It's newer, having just opened in 2014. The property is HUGE. There are cabins for the bride and groom to get ready, which are fully furnished. There are endless gardens than can be used for the ceremony or for photographs. And there is a huge red barn that is perfect for an amazing reception.
9 Oaks Farm at Night
The barn itself is actually two barns built together. One is an entrance area with restrooms, the kitchen, and an area for catering. The other is open and perfect for the reception with plenty of room for numerous tables and dancing. It also has a balcony inside which is great to sneak away for a second or to open the barn doors and look out on the property. I highly, highly recommend 9 Oaks Farm.
These are just three of many, many beautiful rustic venues throughout the Peach State. I will be posting more in the future, but these are three to definitely consider if you are looking to have the perfect southern wedding.
Until next time :)
Suzanne