Delaney and Lauren's Cascade Heights Backyard Wedding

On a pleasant Saturday afternoon in October, Delaney and Lauren celebrated their marriage with two ceremonies.

Seeing Delaney in her dress for the first time as she walked down the aisle was important to Lauren. And taking posed portraits early in the day before guests arrived was also a priority.

The solution: an early ceremony for family, followed by a posed portrait session, and then a larger ceremony with family and friends, followed by food, drink and fun.

Delaney and Lauren touch base before their first ceremony.

Lauren sees Delaney in her dress for the first time.

Lauren and her Mom share a moment during the later ceremony.

The rings … as unique as the couple.

Married … two times over.

The posed portrait session.

The first dance on the driveway beside their home.

First dances with Moms.

A portrait with all the guests.

A reaction to a toast.

Lauren ready to play her bass with Delaney’s Dad.

2022 Q2 and Q3 WPJA Award Winners

Always honored when I find out I’ve won a Wedding Photojournalist Award.

Thanks to the couples who trusted me to photograph their weddings.

The bride’s sister responds after catching the bouquet.

Big sister admonishes her little sister before they walk down the aisle together.

The officiant celebrates after pronouncing Patrick and Vincent legally wed.

The best man gives the groom a bit of advice before he walks down the aisle.

Renee and Jeffrey's Daytime Wedding at The Retreat at Hiawassee River

Some of you might think a daytime wedding to be a naturally tame event.

Well, you need to think again!

Renee and Jeffrey’s midday wedding at The Retreat at Hiawassee River in North Georgia was anything but tame, partly because the bride’s energy was off the charts from start to finish. But, mostly because the wedding guests came ready to celebrate.

Friends and family alike shared the excitement of the day with smiles and hugs, cheers and laughter. A few of the older guests had to take a break, but managed to hit the dance floor with gusto later in the afternoon.

A whisky tasting bar gave everyone the opportunity to sample from several bottles of the potent beverage. After a barbeque meal and a few samples, any reluctance to dance and sing went by the wayside. Young and old alike twisted and shimmied, crooned and shouted, line danced and congaed.

After a bouquet toss (caught by the bride’s sister), the wedding concluded with a bubble exit in front of a rustic barn.

Stone Mountain Park Engagement Session

Christine pulls Michael to an imaginary Theater event.

Christine and Michael’s first date was delayed by two days because a packet of fake blood exploded the wrong direction (right into Christine’s eyes) while she was onstage. Instead of going on a date, Christine spent the evening in the Emergency room.

Despite the episode of the fake blood, which sounded a bit suspicious at the time, Michael agreed to meet two days later for their first date. And, as they say, the rest is history.

Both Michael and Christine perform on stage … Christine for a living as a theater director and performer and Michael part-time as an improv comedian.

So, it’s not surprising that laughter and emotions show up in their engagement photos.

Christine enjoys the illusion of being taller than Michael.

I’m looking forward to their wedding at the State Botanical Gardens in Athens in January.

If you’re looking for a wedding or engagement photographer, give me a call or shoot me an email.

Yeah, That Greenville Christmas in July

Nothing like a Christmas in July party to get folks excited. The folks from the Greenville Visitors Center brought snow, Santa and holiday music to the middle of downtown Atlanta. After entering the Switchyards event center through a flurry of snowflakes, guests were treated to holiday music, amazing food and drink, holiday music, Santa and one of his elves … and of course gifts for all.

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Henry and Jacy's Oakhurst Baptist Wedding

Jacy and Henry’s wedding started off with a first look at Agnes Scott College, Jacy’s alma mater. After a quick portrait session with the entire wedding party, everyone fled the heat and headed to Oakhurst Baptist Church.

Once at the church, Henry and his crew waited for the ceremony in the church library while Jacy and her crew waited in the church’s parlor, what used to be home to the Love sunday school class.

photo by sharon mcmahon

Jacy couldn’t find her vows, which led to several minutes of dismay, evidenced by Jacy holding her hand to her head. Finally someone printed the vows out for her bringing the stress level in the room down dramatically.

Photo by Sharon McMahon

The ceremony itself was heartwarming and funny … and not very long. :)

The wedding rings.

A laugh during the first dance.

Jacy dancing with her Dad Jerry to the song “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

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Pine Lake is one of my favorite places for an engagement session

If you’ve followed my blogposts or looked through a few pages of them, you’ll notice how many of them feature Pine Lake, my home town.

This photo from a Pine Lake engagement session recently won a WPJA Diamond Award.

Redfin contacted me recently asking me if I knew of any great places to take photos in the Atlanta area.

My response?

You guessed it. I sang the praises of Pine Lake. My comments about Pine Lake appear in The Unique Angles of Atlanta: Explore Your City One Photo Op at a Time on the Redfin site.

Under the trees in Pine Lake.

Atlanta engagement photography

Album design from North Georgia lesbian wedding

I’ve been enjoying myself the last few weeks designing and redesigning Ashley and Marley’s wedding album. I’m delighted to report that they’ve asked me to add two extra spreads.

Spyglass Lodge, Mineral Bluff, Georgia

Now all they have to do is choose a cover — linen, velvet or leather (171 materials) — color of cover — debossed, cameo or photo strip — box, slipcase or custom box. Design for the debossing or photo for the cameo or photo strip. Slipcase design or custom box design.

So many choices.

North Georgia Wedding Photographer