Lori and Matt's Album | Silverbelle Pavilion Emory

I finished the first draft of Lori and Matt's 10x10 Whistlestop Book today and stopped by their home in Conyers to show it off. I love putting the book together and meeting with couples to see their reaction to the design. Here's a link to Lori and Matt's wedding album design.

And here are a few of my favorite spreads:

Kate Opens Album | Atlanta Wedding Photography

I was excited to hand-deliver Kate and Kyle's wedding book today. Kate is leaving to visit family in California and I wanted to make sure she had the book to show off when she gets there. Kyle is already in California waiting for Kate to join him. Sorry I missed seeing you, Kyle! Here are a few photos of Kate opening and viewing her album:

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Kate and I attended Candler School of Theology together, so I decided to surprise her with a special gift. Here are a couple of images of Kate with the surprise accordion book gift:

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Cindy Brown, Georgia Documentary Photographer  

Perfect Wedding Guide Networking at Purple Rain | Atlanta Wedding Photography

I had the privilege, along with my best photo friend Manuel Llaneras, of photographing the Perfect Wedding Guide networking event at Purple Rain last night. If you've never been to this amazing tapas restaurant lounge, then you need to plan a trip to Duluth. It's worth the trip. Here are a few images that will give you a sense of the place:

Purple Rain | Atlanta Wedding Photographer

Purple Rain

drinks and decor at Purple Rain

And here are some photos to give you a feel for the event.

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Blue Sky Productions Atlanta

PWG Networking Event at Purple Rain

Fun at PWG event at Purple Rain

Business Photographer in Atlanta

Joy and Matt's Wedding Album Design | Destination Wedding Photography

I'm happy to say I'm covered up in wedding album designs. I love pulling all the photos together to tell a story. Here are a few favorite designs from Joy and Matt's incredible St. Petersburg/Isla Del Sol wedding. We had a blast photographing your wedding!

Wedding Album Design

Wedding Album Layout

Wedding Album Design | Transiation Spread

Wedding Reception Spread

Departure Spread

Destination Wedding Photographer

Nicole and Patrick's Wedding Album | Atlanta Wedding Photography

A wedding photojournalist's job is to capture the emotions, the hugs and kisses, the family and friends, the love that tell the story of a wedding day. And the wedding album design is the culmination of a wedding photojournalist's work. I've actually worked as a photojournalist, picture editor and designer for newspapers in previous careers and I bring this experience to the task of designing albums for the couple's whose weddings I document. Except I don't consider it a task. I love doing it.

Here are a few spreads from a recent design, an album for Nicole and Patrick.

cover of coffee table book wedding album

Getting Reading Album Design

Atlanta Wedding Album Design

Wedding Album Design

Wedding Album Design

Coffee Table Book Design

Album layout and design

As you can see, the designs are clean, classic layouts ... designed for an heirloom that will last a lifetime. Atlanta Dpcumentary Wedding Photographer

Halloween in Pine Lake | People and Pets in Costume

As is the custom in Pine Lake, the neighborly burg we live in these days, friends and neighbors met at the clubhouse Saturday night to celebrate Halloween. Kids and adults wore costumes and decorated Halloween cookies. We arrived late, so we didn't get to see who won the costume contests. This family might have won best costumed family (even though clearly there was no theme tying the costumes together -- at least I haven't figured out the theme yet):

Lalah, Kevin and Kylin in costume

Fairy and Power Ranger Halloween in Pine Lake | Atlanta Event Photographer

Halloween in Pine Lake, GA | Atlanta Event Photographer

Dogs in Halloween Costume | Atlanta Wedding Photographer

If we had arrived on time, we figure one of our three dogs would have won hands down. What do you think?

Roux in Halloween Costume Ears | Atlanta Pet Photographer

Dog in Halloween Costume | Atlanta Wedding Photojournalist

Atlanta Wedding Photojournalist

Zoo Atlanta -- Yes, It's a Wedding Venue, Too

My best photo friend (bpf) Manuel and I had the pleasure of touring Zoo Atlanta's wedding and event facilities, thanks to my buddy from ISES Andrea Smith, Event & Catering Sales Coordinator at the zoo. She showed us the many event spaces at the zoo, from the Gorilla Deck and Conservation Center to the Ford Event Pavilion and Grand Patio. My favorite was the Chinese Plaza and Panda Veranda. If you're looking for a wild and wonderful place for a wedding, you'll have to ask Andrea for a tour yourself, because while I came back with lots of photos from the zoo ... all the best ones are of the animals. Here a few of my favorites:

Baby Tiger at Zoo Atlanta

Elephant at Zoo Atlanta

Lion at Zoo Atlanta

Lion at Zoo Atlanta | atlanta wedding photojournalist Cindy Brown

Baby Tigers playing at Zoo Atlanta | Atlanta Wedding Photojournalist

Using Photographs in Combination | Lori and Matt's Decatur Wedding Photography

When I worked as a picture editor for the Indianapolis Star, one of the techniques I liked to pull out of my back pocket when appropriate was the use of photographs in combination. I now use the same idea in slideshows, blogposts, and wedding album design. There are several reasons to use photos in combination. In this example, the photos are used in a series of three to show the changing expressions on Lori's face. Capturing emotion is at the heart of wedding photojournalism, but often expressions and emotions flow from one to the next -- a series helps capture this flow.

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Father of Bride with boutineer

Groom and Groomsmen

Bride Combo | Decatur UMC

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Another reason to use a combo of photographs is to show a small detail, Lori's Dad's boutineer, and then how it is used. Here the series contrasts Matt with one of his groomsmen and his Dad, all in similar poses, but with slightly different expressions. Action combos, like the one below, work best if all the characters from one photo, Lori, two bridesmaids and Mom, appear in the next. The contrast in this combo comes simply from the far away view of Lori in her dress vs the close-up dress detail. When using this type of combo make sure the detail is especially interesting. In this combo we see a scattered group of family and friends come together in community to pray. This final series uses three images to show unfolding action. The tiny arm movements before the wedding become a dance when put together in a series. Rock on, Lori!

Atlanta Wedding Photojournalist

Funny aside: How not to put on a boutineer. (In case you're wondering, they never figure out where the boutineer is supposed to go.)