From Atlanta to Charleston to Folly Beach!

A month or so ago my little black Honda accord drove me all the way from Atlanta to Charleston. While in the city, in the midst of brunch, horse-drawn carriages, and the quiet shores of Folly beach I was able to meet up with a couple of life-long friends of mine. Kelsey and Jeff recently moved to the Charleston area in order to start taking over the world (starting with the small city in South Carolina). 

Since I crashed their lives for the better half of a weekend we had ample opportunities to explore the city, camera in tow. These images will grace the walls of their new house and act as a gorgeous reminder of their Charleston start. 

Hilton Head Wedding - Hilary and Erik

Hilary and Erik were wed at Westin Hilton Head, a beach resort in South Carolina...a perfect wedding destination. The wedding was intimate and we had a BLAST (as evidenced by a few instagram photos from that night...). The bride rented a gorgeous necklace from Rent the Runway and the details of the wedding ceremony and reception were perfect. We celebrated and danced through the night (see gallery below for more details.. :)).

Necklace via Rent the Runway! 

Look at that light fixture!

And here's the full gallery!:

A modern wedding at the Atrium in Norcross

Lin and Dan have been married and legal for a little over a week (congrats, guys!). As they enjoy a hopefully warm and beautiful honeymoon, I hope that you enjoy their wedding highlights! The two were married at the Atrium in Norcross and had an incredible party afterward. Lin looked stunning in her Romona Kevaza dress and I loved her red reception dress. A DJ spun and mixed all night as the crowd danced and shared laughs. One of the best parts of the night was the first-dance-flash-mob... which Lin and Dan organized for months before the wedding. They met once a week with the bridal party to coordinate a one-of-a-kind first dance. I can't wait to see the video!

Enjoy their full gallery below! 

I love this post-ceremony portrait of Dan and Lin. We snuck over to the side for a private moment.

Sunset on the Vineyard- A Montaluce Winery wedding

I have too many favorites from Ellen and Rish's Montaluce wedding, but this image of Rish and his bride at sunset is one of my favorites.  

I love the reflection in the water, the light on the vines, and the GIANT hug he's giving her. Perfection.

Sneak Peek - Laura and Will's engagement session!

Laura and Will love outdoor activities: going to the lake, hiking, fishing, camping.. So a less formal and rustic setting was the optimal choice for their engagement shoot. After having to reschedule 4 times due to summer rainstorms, we finally met up at Nash Farms in McDonough, Georgia for their session. I can't wait to see them again for their wedding this November! Congratulations, Laura and Will!

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Paige and David's wedding - Ashton Gardens

Paige and David were childhood friends in Texas before moving to Atlanta, Georgia. Friends and family gathered from all over the country to see the couple married in the chapel at Ashton Gardens in Atlanta. The ceremony and reception were beautifully decorated with florals by Abby Florals. My favorite part of the day was their "First Look"... the couple had been together for a long time and it was an emotional and highly needed moment to calm nerves before the big "I do!". 

BEAUTIFUL forals arranged by Abby Florals

Here is the full gallery! :

Wedding at the Beachview Club | Congrats, Caroline and Wes!

Caroline and Wes were married at the Beachview Club in Jekyll Island, Georgia. The weather was gorgeous and the bride was beautiful! Plus, it's always a bonus being so close to the ocean. Here are a few of my favorites and the rest of the gallery. LOVE the trees as the backdrop for the photos and the ocean as the backdrop for the ceremony!

I'm at Disney World!

If I seem to be silent this week, it's because I'm at Disney World....watching some precious kids have the time of their life! This is the week of Bert's Big Adventure!  BBA is a "nonprofit organization that provides a magical, all-expenses-paid, five-day journey to Walt Disney World® for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families." I'm so excited that I get to be a part of their adventures.

Paris-style engagement shoot | Atlanta photographer

Can't you see Paris in these photos? This engagement session was one of the most amazing shoots I've had. The inspiration for the shoot came from the idea of strolling through Paris in the afternoon. I think that Hilary and Eric dressed perfectly for the occasion, and I love everything about this engagement shoot. 

Here is a sneak peek of the beauty that is to come: 

Christ the King and Emory Conference Center Wedding | Atlanta Wedding Photography

This Morehouse/Spelman romance was years in the making. The Mr. and Mrs. knew each other awhile before jumping on the romance bandwagon. The bride and groom invited tons of family and friends they made along the way, yet the wedding felt small and intimate. This winter bride wore an elegant Jenny Packham dress (pics below!) and a gorgeous smile.

BBA - Counting down ONE month!

It's almost here!! We are one month away from another Big Adventure and I couldn't be more excited! This month, BBA held an orientation for families from Atlanta and around the country at Atlanta's "Imagine It" Children's Museum. The best part was that the kids (okay, adults too...) celebrated with lots of pizza and laughing. 

Bert's Big Adventure is a nonprofit organization that provides an all-expense-paid journey to Walt Disney World for children with chronic terminal illnesses and their families. To learn more about Bert's Big Adventure, go to http://www.bertsbigadventure.org.

Bert's Big Adventure: Family reveals for 2014

Last Thursday was the start of the new year for me with Bert's Big Adventure! Though several other families from outside of the state have already been revealed to, this was one of Atlanta's first reveals for the new year for BBA! Each year Bert's Big Adventure takes families of kids with chronic and terminal illnesses to Disney World for the trip of a lifetime. It's an all-expense paid trip, and you've never seen smiles so big. 

Here are the photos from last week's reveals! We took the Fur Bus around town and surprised the families at their homes. Welcome to the family Gus and Maddie!!!!

Ashley and John- Birmingham, AL Wedding

As I finish Ashley and John's Birmingham wedding, I found two images that I think  belong together. These two portraits were taken right after all of the craziness of the wedding had ended, and right before the chaos of the reception. It was just us and the night!  

Since the days are getting shorter we ended with darkness at 6pm meaning we needed to improvise for pictures. I love the result, and the images are almost narrative. 

Taken outside St. Francis Xavier in Birmingham, AL

Bert's Big Adventure Pool Party!

We had such an awesome time photographing the Bert's Big Adventure families at the first (but annual!) pool party! Thank you so much to the Piedmont Park Conservancy for allowing us to rent out the pool for a few hours on a hot summer day. The kids and families had a wonderful time and it was so great to see everyone. So much joy.  

A dip into Southern Charm | Augusta Country Club Wedding

When I think of Augusta, like many people, the first thoughts I have are centered around green jackets and Tiger Woods. While that is one of the reasons that this historic Georgia city is remembered, it's also knows for the gorgeous history that presents itself through historical buildings, soda shops, and streetlamps.  

Kimberlyn and Greg were married in her hometown in a breathtaking church built in the 1800s. The shun shown just perfectly, and the bright colors of the bridal party complimented the dark neutrals throughout.  

Every detail of the day was meticulously planned and carried out. KImberlyn, being the Kate Spade princess that she is, is the epitome of class and sweetness. Greg looks on at her with loving eyes and keeps her grounded on the occasion that something sparkly over-excites her. 

Check out their gallery below: 

Oh the gorgeous Georgia light. Augusta had the perfect southern charm during the bride and groom portraits that evening.

City Club of Buckhead- A modern wedding in the heart of Atlanta

Erica and Scott were married a few weeks ago in an intimate ceremony under the skylights at the City Club of Buckead. This venue boasts towering glass ceilings, marble hallways, and a hidden courtyard garden. It has a little bit of everything. 

Being that Erica and Scott have been together since high school, this wedding was not only a celebration of marriage but a wonderful reunion for friends and family. The group partied away during the evening to a fabulous (and acrobatic!) band. Congrats to you Erica and Scott :)  

*All images courtesy of associate photographer Amanda Woodall

Check out the full gallery here: 

A date in midtown- Chrystal and Melvin's engagement

Shooting in midtown Atlanta is one of my favorite things to do. Not only do I live there so it's completely familiar, but the area offers a myriad of settings and backdrops. Chrystal and Melvin wanted to incorporate both a modern city setting and a more intimate natural backdrop during their session. To midtown we go! We were able to use the High Museum of Art as the first setting and moved across the street to a gorgeous secluded park for the end of the shoot. What you're seeing in the pictures is the two of them acting up and performing in front of the camera... I think they are professionals, right?  Big thanks to Amanda for holding lights, bags, and poles during the shoot.

Enjoy their gallery: 

See the entire gallery below:

Vinewood Plantation- Summer Wedding

It's not yet officially summer, but summer is basically here in full force. Rain storms followed by bright, sunny, afternoons are what made this Vinewood Plantation wedding a true 'summer wedding'.  

Georgina and Chris had a beautiful day just for them. The two are extremely laid back and if they were worried about the storms of doom they didn't show it.  

Here are a few of my favorites from the day. Thank you to Maria, Jamie, and Tra at Vinewood for pulling off one hell of a night. 

Georgina wore Maggie Sottero.

Gorgeous styling and makeup by Claudia Mejerle. 

Beautiful flowers and arrangements by Southern Stems

Georgina and Chris are so sweet together. I love this moment after the ceremony.

Georgina! You are stunning.

See below for a larger gallery from their day. 

Alys Beach Wedding, a perfect groom reaction

This past weekend I had the privilege of shooting with Genya of VUE Photography for a beautiful and intimate wedding in Alys Beach. I'm currently pouring through my set of images, but you should definitely check out VUE for the full collection! The day was perfect. Perfect weather, a beautiful couple, relaxed timeline, and love to go around. ​

​In perusing through my images from the day, I found this one of David seeing his bride for the first time. 

​My heart leaps. Every woman wants to be looked at in this way. 

Summerour studios... an Atlanta wedding

Remember the post about the drug pushers? Well here they are again! This time, we have a full post of their fabulous wedding. ​

Kyle and Michelle wanted nothing more than a party and a celebration with their family and friends. Both of them are extremely low-key and laid back. Their wedding was a perfect reflection of that. As we discussed which shots they were most interested in from the day, it was repeated over and over about how they just wanted images showing them having great time with people around them. Their night was designed just that way, and I loved the intimate nature of Summerour mixed with the attendance of the people that mean the most to them.  

​You can view their full gallery below: