Best of 2020: Part 1

Putting together a year-end summary of favorIte photos is always revealing.

While I don’t have as many photos to choose from in 2020 as I had in years before COVID, I still have several favorites. And the favorites tell a story.

Most folks won’t be surprised to find out that several of my favorites are from February, before things close down.

Here are a couple of award-winners from my son’s wedding reception at The White House in Biloxi. Thankfully, they planned their reception for February while folks could still gather safely.

Before COVID broke loose, I also had the chance to document the Elevate Conference created by K2 Productions for Bell Partners. Here are a couple of favorites.

In November, my friend Kim Jackson was elected state senator from the district I live in. I couldn’t be happier for her and for the citizens of the state of Georgia. Kim is a force for God’s work in the world. She is an Episcopal priest at the Church of the Common Ground. She serves worshippers who are unhoused. Here are a couple favorites from the weekly foot clinic, Common Soles, that was still taking place in February.

Once Georgians were asked to lockdown in April, I began a documentary project in my tiny city of Pine Lake. I took portraits of folks on their porches and asked them to write a paragraph or two about how they were thriving or at least surviving quarantine. Here are a couple of favorites from the project.

COVID weddings are precious and few

2020 has been a strange year for wedding photographers, as well as event planners, florists, cake artists, etc. Needless to say, COVID has cut deeply into our livelihood. The weddings we have photographed since March have been small. Many we had booked have been postponed or downsized.

That makes the few weddings we were able to photograph this year that much more special.

Here are a few recent award-winning images, the first two from a COVID-aware October wedding and the last from a February reception.

Covid Wedding Tips from a Georgia Couple

Erin and Emily’s plans for a large wedding fell through just a few weeks before the March date they had booked. Even after rescheduling, they found themselves still bound by the safety concerns of COVID-19.

So, here are a few things they did.

1) They created a sign that included safety instructions such as: “Thank you for keeping 6 feet distance,” and “We’re not hugging,” and “Thank you for wearing a mask.”

2. They set up chairs by family groups, with members of a single family sitting together, but more than 6 feet from another family seating group.

3. They had masks made to match their color scheme for the day.

4. Masks, in three different sizes, were left in a box near the ceremony seats, so guests could pick one upon entering.

5. Close family members quarantined for 14 days before the wedding, so they could hug and dance together.

Missing those second shooting gigs

COVID-19 has cut down the number of weddings we’re booking and the size of the weddings we do book.

And, because weddings are so much smaller these days, other photographers have stopped calling on me to second shoot. A wedding with 10 or 12 guests can be covered adequately by one shooter. And who wants an extra photographer, when he or she could be an additional source of virus spread?

So, while I’m waiting on the second shooting opportunities to return, here’s to the memory of second shoots from 2019.

Happy Belated World Photography Day

Wednesday August 19th was World Photography Day, “ an annual, worldwide celebration of the art, craft, science and history of photography.”.

I did not know there was such a day—one dedicated to the celebration of photography. Many of you may have been clueless, as well.

So, here’s my Happy World Photography Day Belated blogpost, photos of people taking photos at weddings..

COVID wedding change of venue to parent's backyard

Due to COVID 19 and the restrictions created to keep it from spreading, Daria and Josh revamped their wedding plans from a big celebration at the Dekalb History Center, into an intimate backyard ceremony and suburban-home reception.

The intimate ceremony, dinner and party to follow was filled with laughter, love, good food, good cake and a little bit (or maybe more) of champagne.

Daria got help with her dress from her Mom.

Josh’s best man adjusts Josh’s tie.

Daria makes Josh laugh during the ceremony.

The happy couple after they are wed.

A quiet moment after all the excitement.

The posed photo session included Gaston, an important member of the wedding party.

The wedding topper toppled.

Locking arms for the traditional champagne toast.

Daria’s bridesmaid makes Daria and Josh, and the rest of the guests, laugh.

Cheers!

Tiny Wedding at Chateau Elan comes with a Big Surprise

When Cynthia first called to tell me that she and her beau were planning a tiny wedding at Chateau Elan, I had no idea what big surprise awaited. I’m not sure Cynthia even knew at that point.

Cynthia and Brian had to postpone their wedding several times due to injuries and COVID-19. By the time the final wedding date came around, Cynthia had cooked up something romantic, fun and beautiful for their wedding day … a carriage ride.

Check out the photos below to see Brian’s response to her entry atop the carriage, and to see more photos of wedding prep, ceremony and the subsequent horse-drawn carriage tour of the property..

Photo by Sharon McMahon

Brian’s face when he saw cynthia arrive in her carriage.
Photo by Sharon McMahon

Photo by Sharon McMahon

Coming soon … posed photos from Cynthia and Brian’s wedding.

Wedding venue: Chateau Elan Winery & Resort

Elopement photographer Atlanta

Wedding Guests From Afar

Those looking for a way to conduct a wedding in the midst of the coronavirus crises might want to consider a wedding like Penny and Tonya’s that took place near Cleveland, Georgia last fall.

The two were not self quarantining. They simply wanted a quiet ceremony with no fuss.

So they hired an officiant and decorated their home and invited two guest to join them online. They set up an iPhone and an iPad on the altar they set up in their home. The ceremony took place where the guests could see what was happening.

Before the ceremony, Penny and Tonya waved to their guests and afterwards they showed off their rings.

Then they moved to the kitchen, along with their online guests, for a toast.

North Georgia Elopement Photography