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Wedding at Ambient+Studio Atlanta, GA | Omar & Samantha

December 18, 2018 0 Weddings
Bride Groom running up stairs

Let us introduce you to our happy couple

Many of you may remember Omar and Sam from their rocking engagement session at the Goat Farm. We had known Sam for several years but it was truly a blast getting to know Omar for the first time during that shoot. Fast forward several months and it was time for them to get married.  If their e-session was any indication, their wedding was going to be a thriller. It surely didn’t disappoint!

Our coverage began very early in the day in two separate locations. Omar and his groomsmen chose to get ready at his apartment while Sam and the girls set up shop in one of the hidden rooms at their venue, Ambient+Studio in Atlanta

What is Ambient+Studio

For those not familiar with Ambient+Studio, it’s truly a unique space for a wedding. This building was first built in 1910 and created to function as a factory for transforming raw cotton into fire-retardant fabrics. For roughly 90 years it carried on this mission until the building was abandoned. In 2007 it got a rebirth as a daylight studio. A contemporary loft-type space, which is really one large blank canvas; capable of being transformed hundreds of ways. A transformation is exactly what happened. The couple’s wedding designer and planner Jaqueline (JAX) Vizcaino with Three Thirty Design Studio, brought their understated elegant vision to life. A romantic color palette and cohesive guest experiences throughout the evening made for a wonderful celebration of love.

Let’s get ready

The getting ready portions on either side mirrored the same fun, easy-going, laid back personalities this couple exudes. A lot of storytelling, a lot of jokes, a lot of fun. As soon as the guys were ready, they made their way towards the venue but not before making one very important stop. A few miles down the road, their local Krispy Kreme store had several boxes of hot doughnuts waiting for them. Seriously, what’s more interesting than having a groom all decked out, hauling dozens of doughnuts out of a Krispy Kreme store? Not something you see every day, but these glazed treats were headed for a huge doughnut wall at the venue for the guests.

Did they have a first look

It was time for the first look. We chose a specific portion of the space that had large, elegant and expansive drapes by Unique Event Elements. This allowed the couple some measure of privacy for the first look but it also offered an opportunity to shoot through the sheer drapes for some creative bokeh-like layers for the images. As soon as they had concluded their first look we began working through a series of wedding portraits. You really don’t have to go far for interesting locations; there’s plenty to use inside the venue. The large windows, rustic floors, industrial ceilings and stairs all provide simplicity and charm for these types of photos.

So the limo arrives and we all begin to pack into the car to make our way to the ceremony. Once we get there, it’s a fairly quick service with lovely heartfelt advice from the scriptures for the couple. Fast track through dozens of family photos and before you know it we are back at Ambient+Studio to begin the reception.

Let the party begin

Not that it hasn’t been like this since the beginning of the day; but once the reception begins, our coverage goes into heavy documentary mode. Just shooting all of the little moments between the couple and their guests. All the funny dance moves on the dance floor. All the silly photo booth moments.

This was truly a dream couple to work with. From the very start they made creative photography the focal point of their wedding journey. Carving out significant amounts of time within their wedding schedule to insure artistic imagery led the way. We can’t thank them enough for placing the emphasis on this. Thank you Omar+Sam for trusting us with one of the most important days of your life.

Ambient+Studio wedding dress

Ambient+Studio dressing room

Sam had a custom-made wedding dress for her special day. She looked absolutely beautiful!

Kingdom Hall wedding processional

Kingdom Hall wedding ring exchange

Ambient+Studio wedding reception table setting

Ambient+Studio wedding reception

Ambient+Studio wedding reception first dance

Xclusive DJ Group had the everyone on their feet.

Ambient+Studio wedding reception dancing MOB

Ambient+Studio wedding sparkler exit

I know you want to see more. Click on the link to our YouTube channel for more from Omar+Sam’s wedding.

The team that made this wedding the fabulous event it was:

Planning and coordination by the spectacular: Jaqueline Vizcaíno — Three Thirty Design Studio

Magnificent venue: Ambient+Studio

Amazing hair artist: Lydia Morales

Fabulous make up artist: Veronica Rios-Lara

Wedding gown custom design by: Le Studio Rose Couture

Brides maids Gowns: Daisy Formals

The dapper groom and groomsmen tuxedos: Macy’s Blue suits

Flower and furnishing arrangements by: Three Thirty Design Studio

Drapery/Lighting: sourced through Unique Event Elements

Cake so good you have to have a second piece by: Publix Bakery

Letting go in the Photo Booth by: Shutterbooth Atlanta

Rocking the house down with: Xclusive DJ Group

Walnut Hill Farm Wedding Dalton, GA | Andrew & Danielle

November 22, 2018 0 Weddings

It’s Wedding Day at Walnut Hill Farm!

It was a cool November morning when we drove up to Walnut Hill Farm to begin our coverage of Andrew and Danielle’s wedding. Located in Dalton, Georgia this venue provides a tranquil setting around some of the state’s most scenic rolling hills. Everywhere you look shades of red, orange and yellow. Fall had officially begun making a statement. Just in time for this special day.

Walnut Hill Farm Ceremony Setting

As usual we immediately split up to begin documenting the getting ready portion of the day. Danielle and the bridesmaids enjoyed the suite above the Hilltop Farm while Andrew and the boys were clear across the property at the Carriage house.

Let’s get ready

Where nerves can sometimes set in for couples the day of the wedding, both Andrew and Danielle had a very calm and relaxed approached to each step leading up to the ceremony. The guys enjoyed a drink and some old childhood stories before swapping comfortable jeans for some sharp suits. The ladies enjoyed their own drinks while getting their hair and makeup completed.

Wedding Dress Detail Walnut Hill Farms

Bride Getting Ready Makeup Hair Walnut Hill Farm

Bride Getting Makeup Walnut Hill Farm

Bride and Bridesmaids Flower Robes Walnut Hill Farm

Bride with wedding dress Walnut Hill Farm

Bride first look with bridesmaids Walnut Hill Farm

Bride with veil Walnut Hill Farm

Walnut Hill Farm bride with bridesmaids portrait

Groomsmen enjoying beer Walnut Hill Farms

Groom relaxing with groomsmen Walnut Hill Farm

Groom putting on vest Walnut Hill Farm

Creative angle of groom getting ready Walnut Hill Farm

Groomsmen putting boutonniere on groom

Groomsmen putting boutonniere on Groom Walnut Hill Farm

Funny portrait of groom with groomsmen Walnut Hill Farm

Before it seemed possible, the time had come for the first look. We took the couple outside and under a long extended trellis surrounded by roses. They took turns reading personal notes before turning around to see each other. After giving them a few private minutes together we were ready to begin shooting bridal portraits.

Groom with groomsmen walking Walnut Hill Farm

First look couple ready letter to each other Walnut Hill Farm

Couple first look Climbing rose trellis Walnut Hill Farm

Wedding portraits in this setting…ahhhhhh

What a spectacular day for photographing a couple outside. The sun was shining, the temperatures were comfortable and the property had a beautiful garden around the Carriage House. Nonetheless what made their portraits so fantastic was the chemistry they obviously have with each other. To know Andrew and Danielle is to know they are incredibly good-natured, selfless and always positive. That’s not an exaggeration. It’s truly how they are. But above all else, their love is evident at every turn.

Bride and Groom first look Walnut Hill Farm

Bride with bridesmaids walking Walnut Hill Farm

Bridal portrait Walnut Hill Farm Dalton GA

Bridal portrait gate Walnut Hill Farm Dalton GA

Creative shadow portrait couple Walnut Hill Farm Dalton GA

It’s show time

Finally the time had come to begin the ceremony. Overlooking the valley they united for their vows. Surrounded by family and friends and one of their service dogs too; they made it official. A big sweeping kiss and several family photos later, it was now time to party!

Groom before ceremony Walnut Hill Farm Dalton GA

Bride and father walking down aisle Walnut Hill Farm Dalton GA

Wedding Ceremony with service dog Walnut Hill Farm Dalton GA

wedding ring and first kiss ceremony Walnut Hill Farm Dalton GA

recessional walnut hill farm dalton ga

reception entrance with flower girl ring bearer walnut hill farm dalton ga

first dance with father daughter mother son walnut hill farm ga

party dancing service dog walnut hill farm dalton ga

garter toss reception walnut hill farm dalton ga

couple dancing wedding reception walnut hill farm dalton ga

creative portrait wedding sunset walnut hill farm dalton ga

sparkler exit walnut hill farm dalton ga

And in the end…

We are so grateful we met Andrew and Danielle. It was truly a pleasure to cover their entire journey from engagement to the moment they said: “I do”!

We couldn’t have done it without the talents of the following:

Wonderful venue: Walnut Hill Farm

Hair artist: Katey Guffey – The Retreat Salon and Spa

Make up artist: Ellen

Wedding gown: Martina Liana at Formally Yours

Brides maids Gowns: David’s Bridal – shades of Guava and Bellini

The dapper groom and groomsmen tuxedos: Men’s Warehouse

Flower arrangements by: Amanda Williams – Devine Designs by Amanda

Catering:  Jasa Joseph

Cake(s): Jennifer White

Dancing courtesy of: John Cox

Click below to see their day as it unfolds:

Destination Wedding Photographer at Secrets Capri Cancun, MX | Miguel & Lauren

August 27, 2018 0 Destination, Weddings
secrets capri photo on dock

Destination Wedding Photographer in Cancun Mexico!

It’s 84 degrees with 71% humidity and a slight breeze at 10 miles per hour. A typical day in July you might say? No, actually this was the setting for a balmy December day as we stepped off the plane in Cancun, Mexico. This represented the beginning of our adventure covering Miguel and Lauren’s fantastic destination wedding. This is the life of a destination wedding photographer.

A quick stop for a cool drink while our gear is loaded on the shuttle bus and just like that we’re off. Roughly 40 minutes later we arrive at the resort. Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun is a lovely property located in the Playa del Carmen area of Quintana Roo. After getting our room settled, we begin to explore the grounds. What a fantastic setup! The entire lobby of the resort has a constant breeze blowing through the grand staircase located in the very middle of the building. A beautiful pond sits inside the hotel just under the stairs. But… this place is all about what’s outside. So as we make our way around a pool that almost stretches the entire length of the property, we encounter our couple enjoying the sun with their family and friends. The party has already begun and the wedding is still a couple of days away. Herein lies one of the advantages of a destination wedding. It’s like having a reception before the ceremony. Except everyone is in the water with an umbrella drink; relaxed and having a blast. Miguel and Lauren warmly welcome us into the festivities and we take a moment to catch up with them on some small details.

So…how did we get here?

We first met Lauren while working a styled shoot in a very high-end wedding venue in Atlanta called Ventanas. Sporting sweeping all glass views of the city, this location offers a helipad for the ultimate in wedding exits. Not to mention the best spot in the city to photograph bridal portraits with epic sunsets. It was impressive to see Lauren handle everything like a pro. It was an extremely hot summer afternoon in Atlanta that day and she was modeling a very delicate and expensive Zuhair Murad dress ($13,000) from Elite Pour La Vie. Despite the heat, the hectic pace of the schedule and having so many other folks pulling at her, she was always cool, calm and collected. In passing we heard her mention to someone that she was engaged. Of course a statement like that always makes a photographer’s ears perk. However we sort of assumed she already had a photographer for her wedding by that time. So we proceeded to complete the shoot and a few days later we delivered all of the images. Several weeks passed and we jumped into our fall wedding schedule. The heaviest time of the year for us which included two weeks in Iceland shooting a couples session and a wedding. When we finally got back into town we received great feedback from Lauren of the photos from the Ventanas shoot. So at that moment we struck up the nerve to ask if she had secured a wedding photographer, thoroughly expecting to be turned down. To our surprise she had not settled on a photographer and was hoping that we were still available for her December destination wedding. Before we knew it we were booked with plane tickets to the Yucatan Peninsula. Funny how things come together.

So here we are, on the beach scouting the property for photo locations. While we were on the job, Lauren wanted to make sure we had a day to ourselves. This blessing gave us a little time to unwind from the non-stop wedding schedule we had completed through the fall. We even managed to get a spa day in prior to the wedding. By nightfall all of the guests had arrived on site and everyone was enjoying a breezy evening on the beach for the rehearsal dinner (after a downpour). A great time for us to meet and get to know everyone better.

secrets capri riviera resort front

secrets capri riviera beachview

secrets capri riviera beachfront

Wedding day is here

So Saturday morning arrives. It’s wedding day! It’s about 7AM and a family of White-nosed Coati greets us on our patio. In case you’re wondering Coati’s are Mexico’s version of a raccoon. Just so much more exotic in appearance. Totally unafraid, they tap on our glass doors. They even swipe an apple from our hand. In the distance a huge iguana keeps a close watch on the scene. While all of this is great fun we’ve got a wedding to shoot. So we grab all our gear and head off to our individual assignments.

The getting ready portions were simple, relaxed and very straightforward. There was one challenge. The girls lost power to their suite for a significant amount of time. Nonetheless they kept moving forward with their activities. This gave me a chance to photograph the details for Lauren outside their suite. Check out Lauren’s beautiful wedding gown by Martina Liana Bridal.

Let’s meet our bride Lauren

One look at Lauren and it’s easy to understand why she’s a model. A stunningly beautiful woman with a personality to match. She’s also an actress with commercial, film and television credits to her name. However, perhaps her proudest accomplishment would be teaming up with her sister and Matron of Honor Lena and creating their own line of high performing natural and organic cosmetics called Adeline Campbell.

secrets capri riviera wedding dress

secrets capri wedding shoes

secrets capri suite girls getting ready

Secrets Capri Riviera bride looking at miror

secrets capri suite unique perspective wedding dress

Secrets Capri maid of honor bride dress

Secrets Capri Riviera bride portrait

Secrets Capri Riviera bridal portrait

secrets capri riviera father daughter first look

Secrets Capri Riviera bridal suite bride prepared

Let’s meet the groom…Miguel

Miguel is a personal trainer and a program manager for one of the largest fitness companies in America. He lives and breaths exercise and graciously shares ideas and tips across various platforms for shaping a healthier lifestyle. (Check out his instagram feed for exceptional workout demos). His efforts have changed the lives of many people in Atlanta.

So Miguel and his groomsmen had it a little easier. They had full power and as is the case with most guys, they were dressed so quickly they had time to hang out and have a chess match.secrets capri MX groom shaving wedding

secrets capri ensuite bathroom groom

secrets capri groom getting ready

secrets capri MX groom reading bride letter

Secrets Capri Cancun MX groomsmen

secrets capri chess room pieces

secrets capri MX chess room

Secrets Capri Riviera groom portrait

Secrets Capri Riviera groom portrait

secrets capri groomsmen front blg

It’s show time!

Finally it’s time for the ceremony. A beautiful flower trellis stands right by the shoreline of the beach. All the guests have been seated and Miguel makes his way to his spot. From a distance it’s a picture perfect postcard of an intimate wedding. Here’s when the emotions begin to flow. Miguel begins to tear up the moment Lauren turns a corner escorted by her father. A truly genuine feeling that lasts well into the ceremony. After a ring exchange and a sweeping kiss, it’s official. They’re married!

Secrets Capri Groom waiting beach

Secrets Capri Riviera Bride father processional

secrets capri wedding emotional groom

Secrets Capri bride walking down beach

secrets capri MX grooms look ceremony

Secrets Capri couple looking each other ceremony

Secrets Capri Riviera unique ceremony

Secrets Capri Riviera ceremony emotional bride

secrets capri wedding groom tear

Secrets Capri first kiss on beach

Secrets Capri MX beach recessional

Next stop, bridal portraits!

One of the best parts of any wedding for photographers, particularly when you’re in paradise. There’s only one problem. Storms are building in the distance. So we have a limited amount of time to take advantage of the views to secure some epic shots while also completing the family photos. Somehow, some way we’re able to grab all of the essentials before the clouds open up and drop buckets of rain on us. Everyone scurries indoors and we continue our coverage inside. Thankfully this resort offers a vast array of interior locations to create gorgeous wedding images. The bride and groom take a few minutes to freshen up and before you know it we’re shooting again. Just about every corner of the building offers something unique to shoot with. From the large Mexican paintings on the wall to the expansive ornate hallways to the grand staircase and the golden dome ceiling at the very top of the hotel. However the lantern foyer is truly a unique spot that everyone remembers fondly.

Secrets Capri Riviera wedding couple photo

Secrets Capri Cancun couple on beach

Secrets Capri bridal portrait

Secrets Capri Resort bride front iron gate

secrets capri night portrait inside resort

Secrets Capri lantern room portrait

secrets capri riviera lantern room portrait

Secrets Capri unique angle portrait

Thankfully Miguel and Lauren appreciate the importance of photography. So we had plenty of time to create a variety of images before having to head back to attend to their guests.

Secrets Capri suite couple getting ready

couple intimate private moment

 

Let’s get this party started

The reception was a fast moving series events. A beautifully tender first dance from the couple was followed by tearful dances with their parents. The toasts were heartfelt but hilarious and straight to the point. The dinner was fabulous and the cake cutting was playful. But make no mistake about it. The focus for this evening was on getting down. So the dancing began. This wasn’t a 400 guest wedding. It was a much more intimate group. Yet they could party like nobody’s business!

Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun entrance

secrets capri first dance

secrets capri parents dance

secrets capri father toasting head table

secrets capri groom getting garter

secrets capri reception dancing

secrets capri riviera wedding exit

Final thoughts…

In the end we are truly grateful we had the opportunity meet and work with Miguel and Lauren. Not only are they beautiful people on the outside, better yet they a beautiful people on the inside. It was a privilege to watch their story unfold before our eyes and we are excited for their future moving forward.

If you are recently engaged and planning a wedding anywhere in the world, we would like to visually tell your story through images that stand the test of time. Your adventure can begin right here!

Atlanta, GA — Ponce City Market/Beltline Engagement | Michael & Grace

May 31, 2018 0 Engagements
couple back to back stain glass window

Weather in Georgia for an engagement session can be…

By Georgia standards Atlanta had a very strong winter. Temperatures stayed unusually low throughout the spring and rain seemed like a constant fixture almost every other day. Then out of nowhere we get a day in the low 90’s with scorching sun for Michael and Grace’s Ponce City Market and Beltline engagement session. That’s okay since this couple has all the warmth to match the setting.

A chance meeting

Grace and Michael met through their church. She had recently moved to Atlanta and really didn’t know many people. Thankfully her sister-in-law arranged a big lunch with many friends and invited her to come along. That’s where Michael came into the picture. They bonded immediately over the terrible Chinese buffet food they just had and how much they loved talking trash about each other’s favorite NBA teams. The rest is history as they say.

The details on their proposal

So, when the time came, how did he propose?

“He proposed at the Garden Lights, Holiday Lights show at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in front of the lighted trees that changed colors according to the musical arrangement. It was magical and I was shocked (had no idea it was coming)!”

We met inside Ponce City Market which has quickly become a favorite spot for most Atlantans. Located on the Old Fourth Ward, this old Sears, Roebuck & Company building was renovated into a contemporary marketplace with a focus on food that reflects many of the flavors of this great city. The Atlanta Beltline connects right up to the market providing quick access to 45 great neighborhoods such as Virginia-Highland, Midtown and Inman park. The Beltline itself is a 22-mile loop of multi-use trails, parks and streetcars – all based on railroad corridors that formerly encircled Atlanta. It runs right through Piedmont Park (Atlanta’s version of Central Park) and it is packed with murals and sculptures from an eclectic mix of artists; becoming the largest temporary outdoor art exhibition in the south. As you can imagine, a location like this feels like a gold mine for both art-loving couples and photographers.

Our session began inside the market so we could take advantage of the backlit colored windows located throughout the Central Food Hall. Not to mention the air conditioning was cranking! A perfect way to kick off an engagement session with a couple so they could ease into the process. This couple truly has a blend of modern style with timeless elegance. Michael was rocking a navy bespoke suit with Allen Edmonds wingtips. His suit was a surprise gift from his future father-in-law during their most recent trip to Taiwan. Grace was glowing in a bohemian hunter green dress with Clarks Spiced Ava sandals. Both providing great contrast against all the backgrounds we used across the afternoon. From there we jumped directly on the Beltline so we could photograph one of their favorite murals at Paris on Ponce. A richly colored flower mural with a mini faux Eiffel Tower sculpture. The heat was starting to kick in a bit so we huddled up in a slightly shady corner of this display to catch a few silly moments with a rusty gorilla. Then we were off again, doubling back to the cartoon mural just over North avenue and a somewhat new favorite; the Tim Frank columns sculpture. Once again we scurried for some shade and managed to find some interesting green benches under an overhang adjacent to the entry back into Ponce. It was cooler there which gave us a chance to grab a few quick shots before we had to move on. Grace and Michael had some other murals they wanted to photograph with so we hopped in the car and drove a bit further down the Beltline so we could keep them nice and cool in their nice outfits. That trip brought us to two very popular pieces of art. First up their personal favorite, the Hense mural by Alex Brewer. Or as they call it, the “bubble” mural. As one can imagine, a beautiful warm day in Atlanta means there was a lot of foot traffic going through this area. So, we decided to incorporate shots of joggers and bikers coming through our shots using a slow shutter drag. Directly on the opposite side is the second point of interest. Brandon Sadler’s / Rising Red Lotus masterpiece. A large mural featuring a circular pond of brightly colored koi.

Before we knew it almost 3 hours had gone by since we first began the shoot. A testament to how much fun we had with this couple and their incredible disposition. They were willing to go along with every crazy request we threw their way to obtain the most artistic imagery we could create on the spot. Battling large crowds, long walking distances and blistering temperatures in a suit and dress, no less. Thanks Michael and Grace for allowing us to share our love of artistic photography with you. We can’t wait to continue our adventure with you this summer at your wedding, where we look to document so many friends and family coming in from various destinations from around the world to share in your special day!

couple laughing stain glass window

couple face each other laughing black and white

bashful couple in corner hugging

intimate couple close up lips black and white

shy couple against corner facing each other

editorial pose couple side by side

editorial pose girl giddy over boy black and white

From there we jumped directly on the Beltline so we could photograph one of their favorite murals at Paris on Ponce. A richly colored flower mural with a mini faux Eiffel Tower sculpture.

editorial paris at ponce couple walking hold hands

couple editorial paris at ponce hold hands

romantic kiss outside hug

The heat was starting to kick in a bit so we huddled up in a slightly shady corner of this display to catch a few silly moments with a rusty gorilla.

whimsical kiss with metal gorilla watching

couple walking on beltline bridge sunglasses

Then we were off again, doubling back to the cartoon mural just over North avenue and a somewhat new favorite; the Tim Frank columns sculpture.

couple sitting back to back graffiti pink pig

couple hug from below metal posts

couple kiss from behind metal posts artwork

Once again we scurried for some shade and managed to find some interesting green benches under an overhang adjacent to the entry back into Ponce. It was cooler there which gave us a chance to grab a few quick shots before we had to move on.

whimsical couple sitting side by side on bench

couple sitting on bench flirting

Grace and Michael had some other murals they wanted to photograph with so we hopped in the car and drove a bit further down the Beltline so we could keep them nice and cool in their nice outfits. That trip brought us to two very popular pieces of art. First up their personal favorite, the Hense mural by Alex Brewer. Or as they call it, the “bubble” mural. As one can imagine, a beautiful warm day in Atlanta means there was a lot of foot traffic going through this area. So, we decided to incorporate shots of joggers and bikers coming through our shots using a slow shutter drag. Directly on the opposite side is the second point of interest. Brandon Sadler’s / Rising Red Lotus masterpiece. A large mural featuring a circular pond of brightly colored koi.

creative mirror reflection couple and cyclist peace sign

creative mirror reflection couple bubble art mural beltline

couple bubble mural beltline

couple face each other along bubble art mural laughing

couple facing fish mural beltline with cyclist

editorial portrait front of fish mural beltline

ring shot black and white atlanta beltline

couple embrace back to chest fish mural beltline

playful couple tickling fish mural atlanta beltline

romantic couple front of ponce city market sign

fun couple hug on parking lot stairs

Marietta, GA — Sope Creek Engagement | Jose & Jennifer

May 29, 2018 0 Engagements
couple hugging on rock

What an amazing day with Jose and Jennifer

It was a very muggy summer afternoon after the rain when we met up at Sope Creek Park along the Chattahoochee River in Marietta, GA. But, these two were troopers and never once complained. They were happy to be together, enjoying the afternoon and the beautiful scenery around us. Have I mentioned we’ve got the best couples. Our couples are always ready for adventure and accommodating every odd request we asked of them for the shot.

Jose and Jennifer met a few years back while doing some volunteer work. A year went by until they would see each other again. They briefly talked and once again lost contact. Jennifer was invited to attend a training school to help her better evangelize to those in the community and guess what?, there he was again. This would be the first time they actually had a conversation (Jennifer’s words). At that time, he was on his way to Bolivia for 5 months, but that didn’t stop that initial spark they had for each other from developing. They maintained communication while he was away and with time confessed his interest in Jennifer. They both agreed it was best to keep things open until his return. After his return from Bolivia, it was now her turn to leave the country and so she went to Colombia to volunteer for a few weeks. All this time he never stoped thinking about her and upon her return, they officially began dating. And in her words, the rest, well, is history…

Couple embrace in old mill ruins

playful couple facing each other

couple walking thru ruins and ring shot

Mosquitos…what mosquitos?

couple enjoying each other along ruins

private moment of couple near window in ruins

walking along stone wall ruins

couple hugging on rock middle of chattahoochee river

couple snuggle middle of chattahoochee river

couple sitting on rock of chattahoochee river

couple talking on fallen tree along river

Looking forward to their wedding in the fall.

West Midtown Atlanta, GA — Goat Farm Engagement | Omar & Samantha

May 29, 2018 0 Engagements

The kind of vibe we were looking for

If you know us or anyone who knows us, you’ll find out we love people, we love couples, and we love, love. We don’t get tired of it. It just makes us happy. We get to meet so many people, from our couples to their families and then their closest friends. Well, let me introduce you to Omar and Sam. We’ve known Sam for some time since we’ve hung out with mutual families from time to time. Talking about the small world again. It’s an ongoing theme. In any case, her wedding planner is a personal friend that I met when we first arrived to Atlanta, *ahem…*cough, cough* 20 some odd years ago. I can’t believe it’s been that long. Oh, focus Lissette, focus. Going back to our little story. I get an inquiry from our web site from our friend Samantha (although I know her by Sam so that threw me off). Well it so happens it wasn’t Sam emailing us, it was the planner letting us know our little Samantha is getting married. That caught me off guard again, I didn’t know she was dating anybody.

So, off to meet Omar and Sam for our consult. We had to find a convenient location for us to meet due to schedule conflicts and we end up at Starbucks. So what was my impression of Omar? Answer: a gentleman. While Sam and I were talking at our table, Omar excused himself for a minute and bought us all coffees. What a sweetheart! The planner Jaqueline had Sam so organized with a big binder with everything she needed to do for her wedding. Sam realized she didn’t need all that for us so we just talked and talked about the vision they all came up and all the vendors that were going to see this vision through. It sounded amazing and at a venue I hadn’t had the privilege to photograph. I was definitely looking forward to what Jaqueline and her team were going to create for their amazing wedding at Ambient+Studio.

Back to the engagement session. Omar and Sam wanted something rustic, abandoned, an urban vibe and we had that light bulb moment immediately….The Goat Farm. That’s it. They both LOVED the idea and were excited to work with us there. At first they were a little apprehensive when we started, they’ve never been in front of a professional camera before. But within a few minutes they were well into getting a modeling career going.

Talk about forgetting we were even there.

They are so much fun together. And literally forgot we were there. Just the way I like it.

We were having so much fun, I almost forgot to take a ring shot. I like taking these type of shots with a human element. It brings it to life. What do you think?

Sam’s getting the hang of this. That look, girl!

As the night was winding down, we decided to go by and grab a cup off coffee at the Warhorse Coffee Shop

Here’s a little more from their engagement session at The Goat Farm Atlanta.

Downtown Roswell, GA Engagement | Michael & Elisabeth

May 29, 2018 0 Engagements
couple hugging front of flowering tree

Small town…or small world

It’s a small town or better yet, a small world. I first met Michael through where we usually meet our couples, through our online contact form. It so happens we have a mutual friend in common and I hadn’t seen our friend in a while. It’s so refreshing to have connections between people. There’s not enough of that in the world right now. In any case, we set up a time to invite them over and talk about their upcoming wedding. Elisabeth came first after work that evening and asked how her drive was. I was surprised to hear that it wasn’t so bad. She actually works right outside our community at a local dentist office. Talk about small world. A few minutes later, and Michael arrived. Well let me tell you, she lit up as soon as he entered. It was beautiful to see these two together. They are so kind and genuine. We talked and talked about their plans and the venue and how they envisioned the beginning of their new lives together. So much talk that we lost track of the time. We’re so happy to have been a part of your day!

So Michael and Elisabeth decided they wanted to have their engagement session in downtown Roswell. It fit just right for them since they’re familiar with the area and their wedding was being held at Primrose Cottage.

They just light each other up. Adorable.

We walked around a bit and ended up at Primrose Cottage and decided to take some photos here. Although it was a cold and cloudy day, they seem to bring out the warmth within each other.

Continuing our walk through downtown Roswell, we took a break and stopped by Provisions.

Can’t help but get excited with a solid blank wall. And they were having a ball being goofy with each other.

We’re so happy for you. Your wedding did not disappoint. Want to see their engagement slideshow. Well, wait no more.

Lindale Mill, GA Engagement | Michael & Tyler

April 15, 2018 0 Engagements

A different type of engagement session

From the very start Michael and Tyler always wanted something different for their engagement session. While they appreciate images of couples on a beautiful countryside or next to a glimmering lake, they were looking for something that could offer a unique visual experience. Something with rustic character, able to offer a wide array of scenes with varying textures and uncommon colors. In the past the Goat Farm Arts Center always fit the bill for similar requests with other couples. However this time around that venue was not available and we wanted to try something new all together. So where to go? Thankfully we came across Joe Silva and the Lindale Mill!

Is it a Mill or is it a movie studio?

Dating back to 1896 this structure served as a textile mill providing hundreds of jobs for Floyd County for roughly 105 years until the mill closed in 2001. During the next 9 years these buildings slowly began falling apart until a family from Seattle moved across the country to give this special place a brand new start in 2010. Currently the Lindale Mill is quite relevant again but with a brand new purpose. Providing spacious industrial locations, the mill is now used for wedding celebrations, stylized photography shoots and film projects including music videos and motion pictures. Most recently the Mill was used to film several scenes of the The Divergent Series: Allegiant

In particular the Mill provides cavernous rooms filled with rusted scaffolding and machinery, endless walls of original brick, a creek that can double as a moat and over 100 years of paint textures in vibrant shades yellow and teal.

This was the perfect spot to give Michael and Tyler the look they were envisioning. Talk about searching for that industrial vibe and hitting a home run!

Just as wonderful as the location, this couple was an absolute thrill to work with. Michael is smooth and easy going and Tyler is energetic and adventurous. Together they share a love for volunteer work and good food. They also share a love for cars. How can you not like a couple that love to race drift cars!

In any case our photo session was filled with so many options it almost went beyond 3 hours. Every time we turned a corner at the mill a new spot would appear with at least 5 different shot options. We are so thankful for the opportunity of working with Michael and Tyler on this engagement session. We also look forward to returning to the Lindale Mill with another couple sometime in the near future, as we’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible at this fantastic location.

 

Need to see more? Take a look at their video slideshow.

Piedmont Park, Atlanta GA Engagement | Jef & Sara Lynn

April 3, 2018 0 Engagements

A day at the park…Piedmont Park, Atlanta

Engagement sessions aren’t always easy for some couples. Some folks are camera shy or simply don’t enjoy being the center of attention in public. Thankfully just about all those people open up half way through a session when they see how much fun one of those shoots can be. Then you have couples with absolutely no inhibitions about letting loose in front of the lens. They could have a thousand eyes staring at them and they wouldn’t have a care in the world. Such was the case on a March afternoon when we caught up with Jef and Sara Lynn. This lovely pair are professional film, television, stage and voiceover actors. Jef has multiple 2018 TV roles in production and has worked on projects for Lifetime, OWN, Discovery, Audible and others. He is perhaps best known for his voiceover work with Scientific American and the New York Times. Sara also has various TV and film appearances including projects with NBC/Universal, HGTV, Lifetime. She is also a graduate of the distinguished Dell’Arte International. Currently they both run the Springer Film Institute based in Georgia. So, it’s easy to see how a couple of actors could make this shoot so fantastic. From the very start they were relaxed and up for any adventure as we navigated through Piedmont Park. Honestly though, the success of this photo session was truly based on their sincere love for each other. That was the star of the show. Mix in their wit and unique sense of humor and it was all we could do to keep up with them. This could have easily gone on for hours but unfortunately, we ran out of time. Thanks again Jef and Sara on such a wonderful afternoon!

We had so much fun with Jef and Sara Lynn at the park. They forgot we were even there.

A little wind action on the dock giving us an unexpected Marilyn Monroe moment from the classic movie The Seven Year Itch.

Wedding at The Georgian Terrace Atlanta, GA | Jibran & Leia

March 9, 2018 0 Weddings

A spectacular wedding at the Georgian Terrace

The word special doesn’t begin to describe Jibran and Leia’s wedding. It goes far beyond that. Exceptional, noteworthy and outstanding are adjectives that also play a role in describing this remarkable union. It just feels like a more unique or sophisticated synonym is required for such a brilliant couple. Jibran and Leia hosted their wedding in Midtown, Atlanta. One of the most popular areas of the city known for its cultural attractions. On this Saturday afternoon their family and friends enjoyed a truly unforgettable day.

We first met Jibran and Leia during the winter many months prior to the wedding. It was there we began to document their story. Perhaps you may remember some of the images from their engagement session. They both met on the steps of the Carlos Hall shortly after beginning college at Emory University. They hit it off right from the start and the rest is history as they say. With budding law careers on the rise these young professionals were ready to move on to the next stage of their lives; marriage.

So the planning began. To say they had a lot to prepare is also an understatement. The fusion of Pakistani traditions with American traditions to generate one wedding weekend requires careful consideration. Nonetheless they were able to create a 3-day wedding weekend that incorporated everything they needed from each culture.

In particular guests were treated to a lavish ceremony and reception at the iconic Georgian Terrace hotel. An architectural landmark in Atlanta that combines modern luxury with southern sophistication. Dating back to 1911 this beautiful building hosted the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Calvin Coolidge. It allowed Arthur Murray to start teaching his dance lessons and it was the site of the Gone with the Wind premier. Yet with all of its modern amenities and contemporary upgrades, you’d think it was designed just recently.

All the details and decorations mirrored the brilliance of the setting. Jibran and Leia looked impeccable in their attire. Though what really stood out about their big day is what always grabs your attention every single time you’re in their presence. It’s their kindness. It’s their personalities. Most of all it’s their sincere relationship. There’s always a warmth to their interactions. Their first look was a perfect representation of this. Tears flowing endlessly, which later cascaded into their ceremony. It’s no wonder so many people gravitate to them. They are loved for who they are and how they share that with others.

Jibran and Leia, all we can say is we truly had a fantastic time documenting your wedding. Your parents are endearing and your friends are wonderful. Thank you for placing your trust in us to deliver these moments in photographs. We are grateful to have taken this journey with you!

The Pronovias princia style wedding dress was jaw-dropping.

Leia’s Pronovias wedding dress was a lace gown with train, fit and flair/mermaid fit and included a long sleeve, lace jacket worn for the ceremony.

Jibran wore a traditional black tuxedo, white shirt and bow tie from The Black Tux.

These lovely ladies below wore a fabulous Monique Lhuillier‘s back cutout pleat tulle bridesmaid gown in the color sea.

 

Planning and coordination by the spectacular: Hannah Sabolik — Like the Dazzling

Magnificent venue: The Georgian Terrace

Amazing hair artist: Adore Hair Studio

Fabulous make up artist: Jessica Marie Beauty

Wedding gown: Pronovias at Sweet Elegance Bridal

Brides maids Gowns: Monique Lhuillier in sea color purchased at Nordstrom

The dapper groom and groomsmen tuxedos: The Black Tux

Majestic flower arrangements by: Tina Dockery

Luxurious linens: Cover Ups sourced through The Georgian Terrace

Cake so good you have to have a second piece by: Frosted Pumpkin

Sensational string trio: Perfect Harmony

Rocking the house down with: Nice Entertainment

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