The puppy love of my life

If you know me at all, you know I am best buds with my dog Roux. He’s my canine soulmate.

I even write poems about him. Here’s a Roux Haiku.

White with red freckles,
My quiet canine soulmate,
Snorts and licks my face.

Roux is part beagle, part cattle dog. I found out recently that cattle dogs have strong eyes. They use them to stare down a cow to get the cow to follow his directions. We call this heavy stare his stink eye.

Back Yard Weddings: Always Fun

Backyard weddings are all the rage these days. Looking for the perfect solution to Covid restrictions? DIY your wedding in your own backyard … or a friend’s … or your parents’.

Even before Covid, backyard weddings have been a favorite of mine.

Three backyard weddings I’ve photographed have received Wed Elope awards from the Wedding Photojournalist Association. The Wed Elope awards were created to celebrate skilled visual storytelling at smaller weddings.

Photographers enter 12 photographs from one wedding with no more than 30 guests. The photographs taken as a whole are judged on how well they tell the story of the day.

Here are links to those weddings on the Wedding Photojournalist Association’s web page.

Tracy and Heidi’s Backyard Wedding Wed Elope Award

Keena and Lori’s Backyard Wedding Wed Elope Award

Josh and Daria’s Backyard Wed Elope Award

If you’re planning a backyard wedding or something grand, I’d love to document the story of your day.

Give me a call (404) 298 6263 or send me a message from my contact page.

Best of 2020: Part 3

2020, for all it’s difficulties, was a good year for me, as far a photo contests go. I won 17 from the Wedding Photojournalist Association for photographs I took that year.

Here are a few of my favorites that did not win awards, because we all know, awards are only worth so much.

Best of 2020: Part 2

A broken metatarsal has distracted me from blogging for a couple weeks. But, I’m feeling better now and ready to share more favorite photos from 2020.

In part 1, I shared photos from the first part of 2020. Here, I share photos from the middle of the year, after COVID quarantine.

Stephanie Morales, a neighbor in Pine Lake, fed police officers and other first responders for several months from her souped up food truck here in Pine Lake. Officer Palms, at right, organized a surprise Sam’s Club food donation and celebration. First responders gathered in the parking lot to show their appreciation.

Students were robbed of the chance to attend graduation, so a Pine Lake neighbor set up a graduation photo shoot for her daughter and a friend.

Josh, groom in my first COVID-aware wedding, sees his bride for the first time, as she walks down an aisle created in his parent’s backyard in Tucker.

All Sam's Planning Paid Off Big Time: She Said "YES!"

About a month ago I got a call from Sam asking if I photograph proposals. “Of course,” I replied. “I love them.”

Sam planned to ask his girlfriend Katie to marry him in early January. He wanted to surprise her with the ring while I documented the moment from afar. Once Sam decided to propose at Orpheus Brewing, where the couple had their first date three years ago, Sam and I worked with Alicia from Orpheus to set up the surprise. The trick was to have me close by, but inconspicuous.

This morning Alicia opened the brewery a half hour early, so Sam could propose to Katie in relative private. Sam texted me when he and Katie grabbed an Uber to the brewery and again when he arrived. Alicia gave me a tasting cup of their Atalana, a sour saison, so I could look like a customer hanging out.

Sam and Katie brought a couple of beers to a side deck of the brewery that overlooks Piedmont Park. I was on an upper deck, pretending to talk on my phone waiting for the knee drop. Once Sam started to propose, I started down the steps to the deck they were on to get a better view of the reaction on Katie’s face.

Katie was so excited when she saw Sam on one knee opening a ring box. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind what the answer would be.

After celebrating together for a while, the pair decided to FaceTime Sam’s parents to share the good news. Katie’s parents already knew. I didn’t ask, but I think Sam had asked for their daughter’s hand in marriage before he proposed.

Atlanta Engagement Photographers

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.

Delivering Porch Portrait Books

I’ve been having fun the last week or so delivering copies of Surviving Quarantine to my neighbors here in Pine Lake, as well as to a few friends around the Decatur area. Pamela Poole was especially delighted to receive her copy.

My niece Kate commented that this photograph is very meta. I can’t wait until I have an outdoor gallery of photographs Pamela can pose in front of while holding her photo in the book. Meta meta. :)

The book is a collection of porch portraits of some of my Pine Lake neighbors (39 photos total) with commentaries about quarantine from those in the photos.

You can buy a book and have it shipped directly to you right here.

Thanks,
Cindy

Cabin Elopement in Blue Ridge, Georgia

Tori and DeLani traveled from Canada and Florida, respectively, to tie the knot.

Due to COVID travel restrictions on travel from the US to Canada, the two were stuck apart from each other. So, they planned a romantic getaway elopement at a rustic cabin near Blue Ridge.

Here are a few favorites from their big day.

Elopement Photograph in the North Georgia Mountains