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Atlanta Wedding Photographers Take Advantage of the Rain and the Beautiful Photo Opportunities It Brings

Don’t let the rain dampen your photo session.  It is a great opportunity to make lemonade from lemons.  Rain can add a fun spontaneous element to your photography session!

Some of my favorite photos I have taken have been in the rain, whether it be an early morning engagement session, a wedding or even a maternity session!  The rain adds a whole new dimension to the photos that make them stand out against the usual photos you see.

The first time I shot in the rain was years ago at Flint Hill.   I always carry a white umbrella for such occasions. When we arrived at the venue the bride and groom did not want to do photos since it was pouring and went straight to reception.  As it got later the rain let up.  I got my second photographer and we set up a test location outside in the courtyard area.  Once we had the exposure correct for the conditions we invited the couple to the area and took a few photos.   In a matter of minutes they had a few fun photos that had a rain reflection that also reflected their fun personalities.  

The one that came next was a lot of fun too.  I could tell that this bride was the adventurous type.  I checked the weather and saw where there was a chance of rain in the future. I grabbed a couple of umbrellas to help keep the wedding party dry when they went from the reception area to the ceremony area.  After the ceremony we started the formal photos with the family. Once we were done I grabbed the umbrellas.  The bride wore some simple slippers so when we went outside in the rain I asked her if she wanted to take them off.  That is when we got these fun photos of a bride walking barefoot in the rain.  

One of the great things that happen when it rains are reflections.  The water on the pavement reflects whatever light is around, may it be street lights, stop lights or fairy lights at a wedding venue.  During movie scenes cinematographers will often wet a street or sidewalk to get these glorious reflections. 

I have had so many delightful photo sessions in the rain.  I have had a few at Piedmont Park, at the Greystone, and Aquatic Center where they have these magnificent arches, and columns.  Peachtree street, and the Georgian Terrace Hotel along with the historic apartment building across the street also make for perfect dreamy backdrops.  

Recently I had the honor of photographing my second photographer Tara when she got married at the Fulton County Courthouse.  I could not go for the ceremony for security reasons so I waited outside in the rain for her and her husband.  We took a few photos in front of the entrance on the large steps.  It is one of my favorite wedding photos ever.  It shows true excitement and two people that are ready to take on an exciting experience together.

When a couple is in the rain they have kicked their adventure level up a notch.  I know that they will have fun and that the magic will happen. The next time you see rain in the forecast don’t cancel your photo session but prepare to have a great time!

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again!

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Atlanta Wedding Photographer Captures Next Chapter at Naylor Hall

The easiest thing for me to write about are things I care about. This includes photography, brides and some of my favorite places to shoot at.  All of those things came together when Madaline, a bride of mine I worked with a few years back, contacted me and told me she was pregnant with her first child.  I told her during her engagement shoot the only time I do maternity sessions is if I have shot their wedding.  I love seeing couples in their next stage of life.

She contacted me a few months ago when she first got pregnant.  I was so happy for them!  We started talking about ideas.  Since she got married at Naylor Hall I mentioned that to her and she said “Perfect!”.  I immediately  coordinated with Abbey at Naylor.

We met there Sunday afternoon in front of Naylor Hall.   I was sitting on the front steps waiting for them when Madaline’s mom showed up who was the designated dog wrangler. We caught up and she told me how much she is looking forward to being a grandmother.  

A few minutes later Madaline and JJ showed up with their dog “Naylor” who was named after Naylor Hall.  It was such a fitting tribute to a landmark in their life.  Naylor is a two year old with plenty of puppy still in him.  JJ got him to focus with some treats.  We took a few photos in front of Naylor’s namesake, then grandma came in and took Naylor away so he could play with her and not be distracted during the photoshoot.  

One of the things I noticed Madaline did during her wedding was that she wrote thoughtful notes to all her bridesmaids, her parents and her inlaws.  I could tell how caring of a person she was and how appreciative everyone was when they got their notes.  To mimic that here I got a note pad so that they could write notes to their baby.  We took a few photos of each of them holding the notes over the baby bump. I did not let them see each other’s note so it would be a surprise when I sent them the framed maternity photo with the notes in it.  

I am so honored to be an Atlanta wedding photographer and document so many special occasions.  I am looking forward to meeting their newest member of their family!

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Atlanta Wedding Photographers Share Tips on Wedding Planning

Since this is the beginning  of wedding season we will go over some wedding planning tips. The first piece of advice I give any couple is the most important and overlooked: It is your wedding!  When you start to tell your friends or family that you are going to get married they all start to give you advice, but at the end of the day all the wedding decisions are between you and your partner.  Those are the only people you need or can make happy.

A few things you want to discuss with your partner is what kind of wedding do you want?  Do you want a large wedding with lots of guests or just a small ceremony with a few friends and family?  Either way you will be just as married.  If you are going to do a larger wedding you need to discuss your budget.  If you agree on a budget in the beginning then there are no surprises down the road.  You don’t want to start your marriage with a lot of debt. 

For planning purposes I would say getting a location would be one of the first things you need to do because the popular locations book up fast.  Then you can start checking on availability for the rest of your vendors.  It quickly narrows down who is available on your date.  Remember not everyone you want is going to be available on your wedding date but there will be many talented and kind people to help you.

When hiring vendors take the time to interview them to see if your personalities click and if you have the same vision for your wedding.  You will be putting together your team of experts for your wedding and you'll want to feel comfortable around them since you are going to be spending all day with them on a potentially stressful day.  

When you are thinking of details of your wedding I would suggest having fun with it.  You don’t have to have any expensive accessories but you can create details that express your personality and your guests will enjoy the unique experience.  

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Atlanta Wedding Photographers Looking Forward to Engagement Season

This week we are going to cover one of my favorite things to do, engagement sessions.  They are much more fun and relaxed than the wedding day. This is why engagement sessions are included in most of packages we offer.

I like to start my engagement sessions very laid back with a slow steady pace since we are not in a rush.  I start out the engagement sessions with general conversational questions so we all get to know each other.  We start to talk about family, such as how many brothers and sisters they have, how many brothers and sisters they have, whether they come from a big family, what their grandparents and extended family are like.  This tells me how many people will be in the group photos.  We also may touch on where their family comes from.  This will tell me some local traditions that are from that area such as cajun or southern.  

As I am walking around with the couple I will ask about their wedding.  Has she already picked out the dress?  Do they know what they are going to do for their first dance? How many are in the wedding party?  Have they been to the tasting?  What is the one thing they are looking forward to most at the wedding? As they answer all these questions I get a feel for their personality and their family.

The whole time we are talking I am stopping along and looking for locations and lighting.  We make a brief stop, take a few photos and move to the next location chatting the whole time.  The most important thing abouy the engagement session is that they are getting comfortable with me and I am getting comfortable with them.  That way I won't feel like a stranger to them on the wedding day but an old friend who is documenting their wedding day.  I know the best pictures come when everyone is relaxed and the whole process is natural. 

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Atlanta Wedding Photographers capture Big Day and St. Ives

This week’s wedding is one filled with a lot of good vibes.  Our couple is Lisamarie and John.  They met later in life but are very young at heart.  When we had our first meeting on the phone they were like giddy kids excitedly planning a party for their friends.

The wedding took place at St. Ives Country Club in the ballroom on the top level of the clubhouse.  The ballroom is large with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the shooting range and golf course.  The large windows bring in beautiful natural light and make the huge ballroom even seem even larger.  The the chairs face the large picturesque windows so the guests get a great view of the wedding action with a background that makes you want to grab your camera.  

Lisamarie got ready downstairs in the bridal suite. It is a large suite that holds many people and has natural light which is great for makeup artists and hairstylists.  Lisamarie had her family and some of her. It was like a little prewedding slumber party.  While she was getting ready John was upstairs handling the last minute details and hanging with the groomsmen which were some of his oldest friends.  John set up a camera so the wedding could be streamed to friends and family who could not make it to the wedding.  John and Lisamarie got ready and met downstairs for a first look.  I placed John on the patio facing away from the door.  Lisamarie came out the door soon after.  She walked behind John and tapped him on the shoulder.  John turned around, saw the love of his life.   They hugged, kissed, laughed and were ready for the big day! 

When the wedding time came the guests streamed into the ballroom and took their seats.  The wedding party lined up outside.  The bride’s nieces came in first then John’s sister.  John walked up front with his best friend of many years.   Lisamarie came in with her brother then about halfway down the aisle she was escorted by two old friends that have supported her for many years.  The ceremony was very sweet.  They did their own vows full of heart and humor.  The pastor placed the wedding knot which is a symbol of unity over their hands after the ring exchange.  After that the pastor pronounced them husband and wife.  They were not shy of displaying public affection!  Lisamaire and John turned around and went back down the aisle as husband and wife with much fanfare!

While the guests enjoyed cocktails and snacks in the clubhouse the crew was flipping the ballroom for a sitdown dinner, installing a dance floor and setting up lights.  The club’s staff were like setup ninjas, spreading wedding details throughout the room.  

The guests came into the ballroom for the reception and dinner.  They were served a wonderful dinner.  When the dinner was done the toasts started.  There was a very heartfelt toast from John’s oldest friend then sister.  One the highlights was when John’s sister put to music a poem that he wrote to Lisamarie.  It was a very wonderful marriage of music and lyrics that everyone enjoyed.  

After the dancing and celebrations the party had to end.  The guests went outside and lined up for the sparkler send off. The guests cheered on their favorite couple as they ran through the gauntlet of friends and family filled with love and cheer.  A perfect ending to a perfect wedding!  

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Atlanta Wedding Photographer Captures Engagement Photos At The Historic Callanwolde Arts Center

This week’s couple is Aaron and V.  They met a few years ago and there was an immediate connection.  The relationship grew along with their love for each other. They were together in Atlanta for four years and now because of Aaron's job they are in two different cities.  Aaron is in south Georgia and V is still in Atlanta and together they are  making it work!  They have such a wonderful partnership where they complement each other wonderfully.

They are getting ready to have their wedding in India and they wanted a few photos before the ceremony there.  They contacted me a few weeks ago.  When Aaron called me it was cold and rainy which is typical for this time of year.  I suggested an indoor location.  We agreed on Callanwolde Arts Center in Atlanta.

Callanwolde is one of my favorite places to shoot at.  It was built in 1920 and was originally the home of Charles Howard Candler.  Mr. Candler’s claim to fame was purchasing the rights to Coca-Cola from a local Atlanta pharmacist.  The mansion is considered a modern approach to the late Gothic Revival style of architecture.  Some of the coolest features of the mansion are the white oak flooring, large windows in the dance studio,  large ballroom with tall ceilings accented with european arches along the walls.   The main focus of the interior is the grand staircase that has a two-story tall stained glass window on the middle landing.

Aaron and V met me Monday afternoon at Callanwolde.  V was wearing a tasteful cocktail dress that went well with Aaron’s tuxedo.   They made for a dashing couple.  We did a few shots reenacting the proposal where Aaron gives V the ring.  They were so much fun hamming it up for the camera.  After a few portraits V changed into a long flowing gown that gave her a little more movement. 

We checked out the different locations in the house.  They practiced their first dance in the ballroom.  We even played around with the dramatic lighting from the roof lights.  We then moved to the dance studio where they played around by the windows and long curtains.  Then we could not miss the grand staircase where we did several open portraits.  They were so much fun.  I was sad when it was time to wrap up.  

They are a great couple with such a wonderful future!  Congrats to Aaron and V!

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Wedding Photographer Share Insights to Some of the Best Atlanta Wedding Venues

As an Atlanta wedding photographer I have the honor of shooting at so many wedding venues in the area.  Each venue has its own personality.  I want to share a little insight into some of my favorite wedding venues and why I love them.

I have to put Nayor Hall near the top of my favorite wedding venues.  It is a historic venue in the heart of Roswell’s historic district.  It can accommodate weddings in size from 50 to 200.   The smaller weddings can be held in the main ballroom and for the larger weddings they have an expansion on the side that they can open up for the rest of the guests. The front lawn is the largest in all of Roswell.  You have a grand entrance to the facility and plenty of room for an outdoor wedding and catering in the spring or fall.  The front porch is great also!  You can have your wedding there and I have even seen people do their first dance there.  However, what really makes the venue so special to me is the people!  You have Abbey at the helm with a wonderful and gracious team behind her to make your wedding day go smoothly.

I also like Payne Corley House.   If you are looking for a turnkey wedding venue then this is the one. The owners Krista and Micheal Ganley have many years of wedding and catering experience.  They both come from the corporate world but started the Payne Corley House so they could have a venue that they could make their own.  Krista and her family have grown up in the area and are personally invested in the community there.  They have made Payne Corley one of the premiere venues in the Atlanta area.  If you book there you have a professional chef who cooks fresh on the premises.  They even have a flower shop next door.  When you don’t want to deal with a bunch of different vendors Payne Corley is your one stop shop!

I also like Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in the heart of metro Atlanta.  It is a beautiful venue located on a 12-acre estate with a rolling garden and large front yard.  Another thing that it has that is rare in Atlanta is plenty of parking!  The venue is such an Atlanta icon that many movies have filmed there and have used it as a backdrop.  When you get into the interior of the facilities you get to the gothic revival style architecture that was the style in 1917 when the facility was built.  There are wooden floors throughout with walnut paneling.  The star of the interior is the large staircase that leads to two-story stained glass windows that make a grand statement for your wedding photos.

If you are looking for a more modern facility with a great view of Atlanta I would suggest Ventanas.  There you are surrounded by large floor to ceiling windows that showcase the Atlanta Skyline while overlooking Centennial Park below. To the west you are overlooking the Atlanta Aquarium and to the east you see the Large ferris wheel and Mercedes Benz Stadium.   If you thought that could not get any better they have a helicopter landing pad that you can take photos from to get an unobtrusive 180 degree view of the Atlanta Skyline.  If you are feeling really adventurous you can have a helicopter wedding exit in style!

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Atlanta Wedding Photographers Celebrates Unique Weddings

It is the start of the new year for this Atlanta Wedding photographer. I have had a moment to reflect before the next weddings come along.  Of all the Atlanta weddings I have shot, the ones that I remember are the ones that were so unique,  where the wedding reflected the bride and groom's personality. The one piece of advice I always give to every couple is that “this is your wedding”.  They undoubtedly get well meaning unsolicited advice from friends and family but at the end of the day “this is your wedding”.

A few years ago when I met a bride and groom,  one of the questions they asked me was if I was a Dr. Who fan.  When I heard the question I was giddy with excitement.  I shared that I am a Dr. Who fan from way back!  They wanted to do a Dr. Who themed engagement session at Oakland Cemetery based on one of the episodes of the show.  It was a blast!  Then on the day of the wedding they had Dr. Who accessory boutonnieres, Dr. Who pendant and a Dr. Who cake topper.

This year we also had a friend of my wife’s contact me about her wedding south of Atlanta.  She explained that she and her fiance are bourbon lovers and wanted a speakeasy themed wedding.  She started sharing the details of the wedding.  All the guests dressed the part and during the reception the bride changed into a flapper dress with beautiful glass beads.  It was truly a celebration of their personality.

I also like a wedding when a couple celebrates their culture.I recently had a bride that wanted to celebrate her Cajun culture so she did something that I have never seen before.  There is a cajun tradition where the bridesmaids grab the ends of bracelets baked into the bottom layer of the wedding cake and pull on them. Each bracelet will have a lucky trinket and a card with their fortune or a pearl of wisdom.  It was a really sweet thing for all the girls to do.

 Last year I shot my first Koren tea ceremony at the couple's home.  I felt so honored to be the only non-family member there and got to document a very intimate moment in the family’s history.  I have also gotten the opportunity to capture Muslem and Jewish religious ceremonies as well as same sex weddings. 

The one thing that all weddings have in common is love.  A wedding is a celebration of love between two people and shared with the people that are the most important to them.  When I do a wedding I am reminded that God’s greatest gift is love.  I am thankful for that gift.

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting and helpful! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Atlanta Wedding Photographer Shares his Inspiration for Great Photography

This week that I have had off from my regular job I have been reflecting on how to be a better wedding photographer.  I got up last night and started reading a book and lit a candle.  As the candle burned it coughed and flickered to stay lit.  While observing the candle I started to notice the light.  It made shadows on the table and illuminated certain things in the close vicinity of the light it was giving off.  That reminded me of one of the most important principles in photography which is light.  By definition photo means light and graphy means drawing.

As I look back on my favorite photos, I am reminded of what inspires me. It is always the light.  No one says that photo is great because they shot it with the xml mark 5 from Thingamajig.  The best photographers always notice the light.

If you have been following me I have a particular fondness for black and white photography.  I love black and white for many reasons.  Most importantly it breaks down the image to the simplest form, light and shadows.  You start to notice the contrast of lights and darks.  Also you get enamored by the subtle grays in between.  You look at how the light gives form to the subject, and notice where the light is coming like a window, a door or a sunrise.

When you start to notice where the light is coming from you notice how it affects the subject. For instance you backlight the subject you get a halo around the subject which gives it a romantic feel.   Lighting the subject from the side accents the contours of the subject.  When you light it from above the light acts like rain and drapes the subject with light.  Lastly, putting the light in front flattens the subject and you start to see how light dissipates with distance.

Great photography is mastering the basics.  Photography is understanding light and exposure,  how to use existing light and how to add light when needed,  how to over expose and when to underexpose a frame to get the best out of your subject. 

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting and helpful! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Atlanta Wedding Photographer Looks Back At 2023 Weddings

This time of year as a Atlanta wedding photographer, I reflect back on all the weddings that I photographed in 2023.  I am humbled by being a small part of such special occasions.  There have been couples getting married late in life and younger couples just starting out on their journey together.  All of them have been such a joy.

One of the first weddings of this year was close to my heart.   Tara, my second Atlanta photographer, got married at the Dekalb courthouse to longtime boyfriend Joe.  They were going out of the country to have a reception with the family and friends but wanted to get married in the states before they left so they got their marriage license at the courthouse.  It happened to rain on that day but that did not dampen their mood.  We took some playful photos outside the courthouse and I gave them some champagne to celebrate their first night as a married couple.

When things started getting warmer in the spring we had lots of engagement shoots.  We had Rebecca and Jon who were getting married in October.  Two weeks later we had Collin and Taylor.  Collin was doing a surprise wedding proposal at Ponce City Market. It was a beautiful day and Taylor was totally taken off guard.  She eagerly said yes when Collin asked her to be his wife.  Then there were David and Lauren's engagement photos at Oakland Cemetery.  You may think that that is a strange place to take engagement photos but actually it is a beautiful historic cemetery with lots of brick and stone walkways, old stone walls, old magnolias and beautiful flowers.  It was very charming and fun.  Then there was Saainya and Faizen who wanted to do a Bollywood engagement session at the railway museum in Duluth.  It was a hoot reenacting the scenes from their favorite movies growing up.

Then it was time for our spring weddings.  There was Jaylen and Megan's wedding at White Fox Cottage.  I have known Meagan since she was a little girl and it was great to see her get married to such a wonderful man like Jaylen.  Her family have been close friends of ours for over 20 years so it was such a treat to photograph her wedding. It was like a class reunion seeing everyone again.

There were a couple of weddings this year with furry friends represented.  We had Lindsay and Ryan’s wedding with their dog Harper at the Epicurean Hotel in downtown Atlanta.  Harper led the way as Lindsay and Ryan came down the aisle.  Harper was dapperly dressed with a bow, tutu and flowers.  She was the belle of the fall.  Then there was Shane and Allison and their dog Dizzy. Dizzy was a true champ.  She was comforting Allison on her wedding day and a friend to guests and the wedding party.

Then there were the older couples that got married this year who taught me you are never too old to fall in love! There was Art and Judith who met each other a couple of years ago after Art lost his wife to cancer.  They started out as friends and quickly fell in love.  Mohamed and Monika met as friends also.  Mohamed was smitten with Monika and won her over with his charms.  They had a small elegant wedding at the Georgian Terrace that was attended by a few friends and family.

So many weddings and so many memories.  It was an honor to do so many unique and exceptional weddings with such wonderful and kind people.  I am looking forward to what 2024 brings!

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting and helpful! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Atlanta Wedding Photographers Capture a Speakeasy Themed Historic Wedding

As an Atlanta wedding photographer I love when a couple's personality comes out on their wedding day. Rachel and Chris wanted to have a 30’s speakeasy themed wedding.  They both had a love of early 20th century fashion and bourbon, which made for a delightful wedding day.

The wedding was held at Lela's Place, a historic venue in Peachtree City.   It is an early century farm house with a large porch out front.  There is a gazebo, wooded area and event area outside the venue for many options for your ceremony and reception.  In the front of the house there is a large wooden arch and benches for sitting.

The wedding invites explained the theme and dress code for the wedding.   They had little bourbon bottles with a key on them for wedding favors.  The note on the bottle said “The key to happiness is love….and the ability to open a bottle”.  

On the table as you walk in they had a custom bottle of Jack Daniels with their name and the date of their wedding as well as a custom decanter and glasses with their name in a logo with the date of their wedding.  

On the memory table (a table honoring loved ones who have passed)  as you walked into the venue the couple shared family photos of family members and loved ones that had passed away.  Beside the photos was the honor flag of Chris’s Grandfather a World War I veteran.  These are the people they were missing and thought of on their wedding day.

As the guests arrived I could tell how excited they were to dress up.  The women wore layered flapper dresses that would shimmer as they walked.  The men wore suits with vests and some even had boiler hats and fedoras to match the theme.  As I looked around it was like I was going back in time to speakeasy in the 1020’s.

The wedding ceremony started when Chris and the minister entered the ceremony area. When it was time for the wedding the groomsmen came into the ceremony area dancing in the aisle handing out beers to guests like little Budweiser fairies.  Before long the maid of honor came tossing rose petals in the air and in the aisle.  After that the best dog came down the aisle dressed with a sparkly collar and a bandana that says “best dog” accompanied by the groom's nieces.  The guests loved it.  Once the bridal party was finished  the bride entered and the guests stood up.  I could tell Chris was a little emotional seeing Rachel for the first time in her beautiful wedding dress.  The ceremony was officiated by a family friend who also became emotional when he shared his love for the couple.  Rachel and Chris wrote their own vows which were heartfelt and humorous at times.  The official announced them husband and wife as the guests cheered them on for the first kiss as a married couple.  

As the guests were enjoying the cocktail hour, we took the family photos at the ceremony location. Once done I took the couple outside into the woods for some romantic wedding photos.  I could tell they were starting to relax and enjoy being a married couple.  We went around the house and gazebo taking photos.  It was a nice break for the couple.  

The reception consisted of a catered buffet of chicken, vegetables and many kinds of desserts and fancy tarts.  Everyone enjoyed their meal and toasted to the newly married couple.  As some of the guests were eating Rachel snuck away upstairs and changed into her flapper dress. It was a beautiful layered dress with long glass beads that glowed in the warm light in the reception area at night.  

Once everyone was done toasting and eating then it was on to the dancing!  There was vintage music mixed with modern dance songs.  Everyone was dancing into the night, especially Chris's sister and her daughters.   They did the usual line dancing along with old dance moves like the Charleston.  It was a fun time for all.  Once the dancing was done it was time for the exit.  Guests lined up in front of the historic house with sparklers as the newlyweds ran down the sidewalk stopping to kiss and wave to the guests.  It was a perfect ending to historic wedding!

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting and helpful! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Atlanta Wedding Photographers Capture Beautiful Wedding in the North Georgia Mountains

This week’s blog is a fun one! Mara and Chris are a bubbly couple who know how to enjoy themselves. 

 They both have a passion for video games and breweries.  As soon as Mara met Chris she knew he was honest and did not put on any airs. They met each other right before the pandemic and hunkered down together.  During the pandemic they spent a lot of time together and fell in love.  After about 2 years Chris asked Mara to marry him and she enthusiastically said yes!

The wedding took place at Big Canoe Country Club located about 45 minutes north of Atlanta,  nestled in the North Georgia Mountains at the Club house next to Lake Sconti.   The outdoor stone patio lined by Chinese cherry trees makes for a perfect backdrop to the outdoor wedding.  The reception area is spacious and overlooks the lake and golf course.  The area is accented with rich woodwork and a large rustic fireplace to give it a cozy feel.  

When the big day came Mara got ready downstairs at the club with her bridesmaids. Chris was getting ready at his father’s place at the Big Canoe community area.  Chris’s stepmom was a planner and was doing her magic outside getting the ceremony area ready.  You couldn't have asked for better weather.  It was cool but not cold with a soft breeze filling the air with a fall crispness.  Tara and I started doing the detail shots.  Like the couple, the wedding had very unique details, from the doggy treats they had for their guests' pets to the custom ring for Chris made from wood and white gold. 

Once everyone was dressed they were ready for their first look.  We did it outside below the clubhouse.  Mara was overwhelmed with emotion.  They laughed, kissed and hugged each other passionately before the ceremony.  They even included their pet dog for the first look.  It was truly a family affair.  They then gathered themselves and got ready for the ceremony.

It was a small wedding with about 50 of their best friends and family.  The guests sat facing Lake Sconti and the bridal party came down the stone steps and lined up in front of the guests.  The ceremony was very short and sweet.  My favorite part was the way Chris and Mara would glance at each other and giggle with excitement.  With an almost blink of an eye the officiant announced that they are husband and wife and said you can kiss your bride!

After the ceremony we did the usual family photos while the guests went inside the reception area for hors d'oeuvres and drinks.  We go through the formal photos very quickly.  I took the couple down the path near the 9th hole on the golf course at Big Canoe where there was a small stone bridge.  The leaves there were beautiful.  Mara and Chris were very chill and we had a very quick autumn photoshoot. 

The reception was catered and was a sit down dinner.  The guests enjoyed meals by candle light inside the reception area with a view of the sun going down behind the Georgia mountains.  There were toasts and anecdotes of adventures and loyalty.  Each time the guests would raise a glass to the newlyweds.  They did their first dance by the reception area entrance then everyone joined in and danced in celebration.

Like all good things they have to come to an end and the DJ announced that there would be a sparkler exit.  The guests lined up outside with their sparklers.  Chris and Mara came outside and were surrounded with the glow of sparklers and the friends and family that loved them so.  It was a perfect ending to a day of celebration of love and two families coming together as one.

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting and helpful! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Atlanta Wedding Photographers Capture Day of Celebrating Love between two Special People

The last couple of months I have been behind on this Atlanta wedding photographer’s blog!  We have been very busy and we have had some memorable weddings.  This week’s blog is on Trent and Leandro’s wedding held south of Atlanta at Flat Creek Country Club.  

Flat Creek Country Club is located near Newnan, Georgia.  They have an expansive outdoor space next to the golf course, there are bridges and hills that make for beautiful photo locations.  The outdoor ceremony area is simply breathtaking.  A cobbled walkway and wisteria covered stone and pine arbor brings you to a beautiful altar overlooking a hillside with a flowing creek at the hill base.  The reception space has two very open areas.  One is on the lower level with a bar and an area to sit with tables or stand by hightops so you can enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.  There is even a balcony on the side so you can enjoy some fresh air and look over the 18th hole.  The other is the open area upstairs close to the kitchen.  There you have plenty of space for dancing and dining tables.  Since it is so open with no interior walls you have many options on how to layout your Atlanta wedding.

I was recommended to Trent and Leandro by their officiant Jarrett Key. They were looking for photographers and Jarrett suggested me since he saw that I did gay weddings and he liked my style of photography.  We set up a group call and chatted on what they were looking for in wedding photos and coverage.  After a few laughs they gave me the honor of being their Atlanta wedding photographer.  

Trent and Leonardo met while doing a play in New York, starting out as coworkers and friends then falling in love.  They moved together to a couple of cities up north and ended up moving in together in Atlanta.  They had weathered a few storms such as new job locations, moves and COVID.  They knew each other very well and finally when the time was right. They wanted to get married and have a wedding where they can share their love with all their family and friends.  Let me tell you that they had some of the most thoughtful and caring friends that anyone could have.

The big day came and I got to the wedding very early so I could walk the grounds and look for photo locations.  The weather could not have been better!  When I got there the tables were basically set up and the grooms were getting ready with their friends.  Jarrett was there with his twin brother John Key from New York getting ready with Leanrdo in a side room with a golfing game and couches so the groomsmen could enjoy snacks and drinks before the wedding. Trent was upstairs with his mom and sister getting ready in another room.  About two hours before the wedding, it was time for the first look.  I got Trent to go downstairs in front of the event hall and had him face the wedding ceremony area.  Leonardo got the signal to come down and walk up behind him and tap him on the shoulder which was Trent’s cue to turn around. It was so nice to see them see each other for the first time in their tailored outfits.  That is when I got to see them being so thoughtful to each other and I could tell they were best friends and were in love.  They were so excited to get the day started!  After the first look we did the family photos and a few group shots before the guests arrived.  It helped a lot that they were so organized and the family and friends were so supportive.

It was time for the wedding.  The guests arrived and walked down to the framed ceremony area overlooking the brook and golf course.  There were guests from all over the United States from Hawaii to New Haven Connecticut.  As the guests were being seated the bridal party came over from the event space from the rear so no one could see them.  They lined up by the steps.  Jarrett came down first since he was the officiant.  Then Trent came down with his mom.  Then the rest of the wedding party followed.  Finally Leanrdo came down with his mom.  Jarrett greeted the guests and gave some beautiful anecdotes on love and shared some funny stories on when Leandro and Trent first met.  Then Al and Jocelyn Heartley, close friends of the couple shared a few entertaining and insightful stories.  Then it was time for Samara Goldberg, a friend from when they worked theater together to sing a wonderful song to the guests that brought tears to a few eyes. Then Dallas Estes, a friend from when Trent was in school read a poem for the couple.  My favorite part of the ceremony though were the vows Trent and Leandro read to each other. They were sincere, funny and heartfelt.  After all the weddings I have gone to I admit I got a little misty too.  After the vows Jerrett gleefully pronounced them as a married couple!

Then everyone headed to the lower reception area where guests were served some tasty hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and drinks.  There were a lot of people catching up since they had not seen each other in a while.  After about an hour or so it was time for dinner and the guests went to the upper reception area for dinner.  Guests enjoyed great food and conversation throughout the meal.    Then the sisters toasted their brothers while everyone was seated.  Like at every wedding there was also the first dance.  They were having so much fun!  The mothers came out after the first dance and danced with their sons.  Then as an extra twist Trent and Leandro danced with each other’s moms.  Just then the music picked up and then all the guests started to dance!  

I was truly honored to be a small part of their special day celebrating the love between two people.  They held up supportive friends and family who would do anything for such special and loving people.  Congrats Trent and Leandro

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting and helpful! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

#Atlanta wedding photographers #atlanta wedding photographer #gay wedding

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Using Classic Black and White Photography to Capture a Wedding

This week’s blog is inspired by a brides mom.  She asked me if I could make a few black and white photos to match some of her early family photos.  So I converted the whole wedding to black and white and shared it with her.  While doing so it reminded me how much I love black and white photography.  

I have always enjoyed the way black and white photography breaks everything down to the simplest things.  You get to see the shadows and that give form to a subject. You also get to see the subject without the distraction of color.  

When I converted the wedding I was struck by how it gave the whole wedding a classic documentary vibe.  You really don’t know what year the photos were taken, especially since this was a Jewish Orthodox wedding.  During their ceremonies they stick to traditions that are hundreds of years old and they do not deviate.  The men still wear the same kippah, or yarmulke, for centuries.  We even had a few men wearing Fedoras, Hoiche Hats and Platchige Biber Hats.

The whole day followed the older Jewish traditions.  The men and women were separated before the wedding.  The men gathered in one area for the Tisch.  This is where the rabbi gets the groom and family member to sign the Ketubah, the wedding contract for a jewish marriage.  At the same time the women are on the other side of the facility for the bedeken.  The women gather around in prayer with the bride and give her pearls of wisdom.  Once the ketubah is signed the men sing and come to the bride where the groom veils the bride.  It is based on the bible story of Jacob when he got married and was tricked into marrying the wrong woman.

Then it is on to the actual ceremony.  During the ceremony the men are on one side of the aisle and the women are on the other side.  The ceremony is held under the chuppah, that is four posts covered with a tallit or prayer shawl belonging to a member of the couple or their families.  During the ceremony the bride will circle around the groom seven times to create a magical wall for protection from evil spirits.  Then you have the Sheva B’rachot or seven blessings, where different friends and family will perform readings that are focused on Joy, celebration and love.  After that there's the exchanging of rings, the reading of the Ketubah, and they are pronounced married. They lay a wine glass under the groom’s foot and he breaks it then everyone yells Mazel Tov! 

Next they go to the reception and they start with some traditional songs and a celebratory dance called the Hora where guests dance in a circle.  You will also see where guests will carry the bride and groom in chairs.  It is a fun time for all!

When you capture these moments in black and white they become timeless. They are not influenced by trendy colors or fancy editing techniques.  They are classic and capture photography in its simplest form, just lights and darks telling a story as old as love itself.  That is why I love black and white wedding photography.

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it interesting and helpful! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

#Atlanta wedding photographers #atlanta wedding photographer #black and white photography #classic wedding photography

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1920's speakeasy engagement session south of Atlanta

This week’s couple is Rachel and Chris.  My wife was talking to Rachel, her friend at work who was looking for a wedding photographer.  Rachel and Chris reached out to me and we started talking.  After they talked things over they gave me the honor of being their wedding photographer.  They mentioned that their wedding is going to be a 1920’s speakeasy themed wedding.  I was so excited to shoot a fun wedding with such a unique theme.

Last week I reminded them that we have not scheduled their engagement session.  She emailed that they were free this weekend and I said great let’s do it.  One of the things she wanted was to get her makeup done before the shoot.  I said we can do it in the afternoon closer to where she lives in Fayetteville, Trilith is south of Atlanta.

I met Rachel, Chris’s brother-in law and Chris’s sister, who is also the makeup artist, at the Trilith Town Center.  If you have not heard of Trilith it is located about an hour south of Atlanta near Fayetteville, Georgia.  Trilith is also a huge movie studio with some of the largest sound studios in the world.  The town is a live and work area with these great carefully curated boutique shops and chef-driven restaurants purposefully placed in a greenspace within one block of each home.  It is amazing that they have built this whole area in about 7 years.

After chatting with Rachel, Chris pulled up in a golf cart to drive us around the area.  Chris asked where he should take us.  I pointed at the light and said wherever you see a clearing with some of that low sunset light.  We piled in the cart and headed to the park in the center of the town.  It is a cute park with a large clearing, swimming pool, playground and stone features all around.  We went to the central walkway in the park and started there.  There were some great plants with some awesome backlighting.  We did a few shots with them wearing their regular street clothes.

As the sun was starting to set I told them to change into their 1920’s outfits. Rachel wore a cute flapper dress with a hat.  Chris looked dapper in this undercoat and driver’s cap.  We went around the town center and had a blast!  Chris and Rachel really looked the part.  We took some photos by the entrance by the pool where there were some tall columns.  When we finished there it was time for them to go out to supper and for me to go home.  

This was such a fun shoot.  It was a real treat to spend some time with Chris and Rachel.  I am really looking forward to a fun wedding!

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it helpful! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Including Your Pet in Your Wedding Makes it Fun for this Atlanta Wedding Photographer!

This week’s wedding is Allison and Shane.  They came to me via a suggestion from one of my former photography students.  We set up a time to chat and found out that we had a lot of mutual friends.  As an Atlanta wedding photographer I am always surprised how small the world is.  Allison and Shane work at the Animal Hospital and I photographed the wedding of one of the doctors they work years ago.  I also know the wedding coordinator at the church Smoke Rise Baptist Church!

The day started right down the road from me at Smoke Rise Baptist Church.  It is a huge church in the community.  It has two sanctuaries, the original small sanctuary and the large add-on with 100 or more pews, chandeliers and choir loft.  The two sanctuaries are connected through a labyrinth of passageways above and below ground.  It took me a while to get oriented since a lot of these passageways do not have windows to see through.  As soon as I got there I was greeted by Lou the wedding coordinator.  I have known Lou for years and I am friends with her son because her son’s  kids how are the same age as mine and went to the same schools and played the same sports.  At the same time Lou greeted me, Chandler, the second photographer, showed up.  We got a tour of the premises and went over the rules of the church.  From there we went to the bridal room where I met Allison and her bridesmaids.  I let Chandler do the getting ready photos while I got the lights on in the main sanctuary for photos.  

When I was going back to the smaller sanctuary I saw a car pull up and a dog jumped out.  I knew it was Dizzy, Allison’s Service dog and star of the show!  Dizzy was sniffing about frantically checking out her new surroundings.  One of the groomsmen escorted her to the bridal room where she was reunited with Allison. She was so excited and all the bridesmaids treated her like the queen she is.  After the bridesmaids got dressed Dizzy was adorned with a new collar with a ribbon of flowers to go around her neck.  She was so cute and I could tell Dizzy felt pretty!  She was awesome to work with through all the photos.  She was a real pro!  Once we were done with the photos it was time for the wedding.

Everyone got seated in the small chapel.  Dizzy made a surprise visit via Allison’s cousin to get her used to the room and crowd.  After the visit Dizzy lined up with Allison and the rest of the bridesmaids.  The groomsmen entered first then the bridesmaids.  Dizzy was escorted by the maid of honor.  She got to the front of the church and laid down waiting for all this to be over so she could get back to her treats!  It was a beautiful ceremony with some light heartedness from Dizzy.  There was a special moment from the past also when they played a recording of Allison’s grandfather singing a hymn since he is much older now and has lost his tenor voice.  After the wedding we did family photos and a few photos all over the church then headed to the reception held at Vecoma at the yellow river.

We took a few photos there by the historic chimney on their grounds.  After that the DJ showed up outside and that was a surprise too since I just worked with him last month!  We lined the bridal party up for their introductions.  They came in full of sass and fun.  Allison and Shawn went straight into their first dance then the father and daughter dance.  It was a beautiful wedding reception full of old friends and family.  After a few toasts and dancing the couple had an exit in front of Vecoma.  

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it helpful! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

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Atlanta Wedding Photographer Captures Early Morning Engagement Shoot

This week’s couple is Mara and Chris.  They met online and started dating  right before the pandemic.  They got along great and felt very comfortable with each other.  They were lucky enough to find each other and put on no airs. They put on no airs, drank some beer and played video games they both love and hunkered down together.  The more time they spent together the more they felt they were meant for each other and finally one of them said I love you.  Which is a big word to throw out there and show what is in your heart.  The feeling was mutual and two people admitted they love each other.

They contacted me  a while back but we could never find a good time to connect.  After a couple of texts and emails we agreed on time for their engagement session.  The day came and I saw Mara come in hot putting on her makeup and Chris driving them in the park early in the morning. 

We greeted each other and made introductions since this was the first time we had seen each other in person.  We shook hands and made our introductions. The sun was coming up and I showed them why we got up this early.  The early morning light is so underrated.  I would point at the rays of light going across the park and say that is where we are shooting. I am no Vermeer but I know good light when I see it. Since it was early in the morning the sun was low and gave this beautiful ring of romantic light to Mara and Chris. 

As we walked around the park I asked a couple of probing questions that I don’t think that anyone has asked them before.  I asked them who said “I love you first”?  That is a big one to leave hanging out there.  I also asked them what is their favorite trait that they see in each other.  They are probing questions that can not be answered with a yes or no.  They make you think and make you vulnerable to the person you are talking about.  They were amazingly candid and thoughtful in their answers. 

When you are an Atlanta wedding photographer you get to meet so many wonderful people.  You see how people fall in love in so many ways.  Sometimes they are overcome with emotion and fall in love at first sight or they start out as friends and grow in love over time.  Each couple's relationship is unique as a snowflake that should be appreciated in their singularity.  Each one is a serendipity and should be cherished.

Thanks for checking out this Atlanta wedding photographers blog! I hope you enjoyed the read and found it helpful! Make sure you keep coming back to our blog to see what the Atlanta wedding photographers at Atlanta Artistic Weddings get up to! If you’d like to contact me go to the contact page and drop me a line at https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/contact-atlanta-wedding-photographer. I would love to hear from you!

Thanks again! Source: https://www.atlantaartisticweddings.com/

#Atlanta #atlanta wedding photographer #Atlanta wedding photographers #Atlanta Artistic Weddings