Congrats Aubrey and Clint!

Secluded on a hill just west of Indian Springs State Park in Flovilla lies the Indian Springs Resort. It was on the steps of this 1820's mansion that Aubrey and Clint were united in their wedding vows.

I was invited to the resort in March to go over the wedding day plans along with Aubrey and Clint. Owner Frankie Willis carefully explained the features and gave us a tour of the grounds. I am sure that I surprised her with my questions, "Can I put a camera here? Can I go here? and Are we allowed here?" But each time she smiled and said "Sure! No problem."

Arriving on wedding day, the bride and bridesmaids had their hair styled upstairs in the two room bridal suite. Ten foot ceilings, beautiful window lights and mirrors, Lisa captured the afternoon in an artful fashion.

The new garage addition with the second story apartment proved to be very relaxing for the groomsmen. With a pool table, large screen TV and nice comfortable chairs, I was wondering if there would be some resistance when I needed to take some outdoor photos.

As the sun sank on the backside of the home, family members smiled with joy for Aubrey and Clint. The reception followed in the meticulously landscaped back area of the resort.

We enjoyed sharing this day with their family members. We enjoyed the one location for everything. A beautiful venue that lends itself to amazing photographs. Frankie was very pleasant to work with and very helpful in the ceremony. I am now a fan of the Indian Springs Resort. Congratulations Aubrey and Clint! May you be blessed in your new life.

Randy

One Half Million Views

Last week our galleries rolled over 500,000 views! We are excited and we thank you for your support! We are grateful for our growth and our opportunity to serve you and the community as photographers.

This week found us shooting an engagement session with Scott and Christy. It was our second attempt due to the weather and this week looked like rain, also, but this is the south and Monday morning met us with brilliant sunshine in the 60's. It was a beautiful day indeed.

A few weeks back we had lunch with Scott and Christy to plan the engagement session. Both love the outdoors and Christy mentioned waterfalls. So we decided on a multi-area session that included lots of water and natural settings.

We began the morning at a park filled with waterfalls and scenic stonework. We had some hiking to do, but both were excited to be there. I have been wanting to use this area for many years. Lisa and I had scouted the area while she was pregnant with Riley and also before in the late '90s when I was shooting some bands. This was the day!

I usually let the couple pose naturally with little or no interaction from me. Then I record the morning in a candid/photojournalistic fashion.

Believe me they did not need any input. I was amazed at how at ease they are in front of the camera. The session included three different parks with a wide variety of scenes. I pushed them to almost three hours of shooting and no one ever complained.

We look forward to their upcoming wedding. We have a few secrets planned for photography that I am looking forward to make happen. Nope, sorry, I won't reveal Scott's big plans! Thanks guys for a fun day behind the cameras! Only a few weeks until your big day.

Randy

Seems Like Yesterday...

It is always a pleasure to photograph families. Our relationship with Calvin and Nicole began several years ago with their engagement session. Since then we have had the pleasure to watch their family grow through our lens. It seems like yesterday that I received a call from Calvin at the hospital to photograph their newborn son. And it was this week that we recorded his one year photographs. What a cute child!






















Both children were a joy to work with, very relaxed and cooperative. Thanks Nicole for timing the nap! And dressed in outfits that said "Spring".






































I see our little Riley daily so it is only when I look back at photographs of her that I see the growth. But when I see Calvin and Nicole's children every few months, I have to say wow.

I have written before about saving time in a bottle. And the closest thing that I have found to saving time is in photographs. I am glad when several of our clients like Calvin and Nicole see the importance in photographs of their young children.

Randy

Congratulations Tiffany and Salvatore!

While the winds and thunderstorms raged around outside, inside Lambert Place in Midtown Atlanta, there was a celebration. The weather predictions called for rain all day so we went to plan "B" for our outdoor photos. When I met with the groom and his groomsmen at the hotel in Buckhead, I had to smile as the sun filled the secluded park. Against all odds, we got some good outside photographs. Atlanta weather can be so unpredictable.

Lisa enjoyed the same as she captured the bride getting ready in her home. I was really proud of Lisa for the shots she was able to get.

































Tiffany brought some great photo ideas and we all had some big laughs making them happen. It has been a while since I have seen a bride smile and laugh so much.














I saw the spot lights on the dance floor and quickly turned off the flash and dialed in the available light. I like how the guests stayed back from the floor to make the bride and groom appear that they were all alone.




















The ceremony was so beautifully filled with smiles, love, joy, and laughter. I did not even know there was a monsoon outside until I went to get fresh batteries. Only later did I learn of the fierce storms and high winds in the metro area.

I cannot take credit for teaching Lisa. She is an artist that is awakening. I do love watching her work and, the truth be known, I am learning from her.

Here's another shot that Lisa nailed just after the ceremony -- sure to be a part of their family history.














As we headed outside for their departure, the rain had cleared and there awaited the classic Rolls Royce limo...Wow!

Once again, Lisa records the moment in the photojournalistic style.














Thanks Tiffany and Salvatore for trusting us with your treasured day. We had so much fun! Best wishes to the both of you!

Randy

An Almost Perfect Day

This week's weather in Atlanta began with light snow in the 30's on Monday, windy and 40's on Tuesday. But on Thursday it was nice! And thanks to the spring break at the local schools, we had a smooth drive to Kennesaw, Georgia for a morning engagement session.

We first met Katie and Michael at the Georgia Bridal Show and then again for a one-on-one consultation. They were so relaxed around us that I felt really good about our photo shoot.

Taking advantage of the morning light, we positioned them to let the sun backlight their hair.

Less than five minutes into the shoot we had some great photographs. A great start! We drove to several other locations including the mountain view and the local city square.

We are very flexible with our engagement sessions. Multiple locations are a great way to add some variety to the selection of photographs received

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I feel like I have known Katie and Michael for years already. Full of smiles and so relaxed, throughout the day we gave only minimal directions. We are looking forward to photographing their wedding.

As I downloaded the images to my laptop for editing, I smiled. This is why I love what we do - an almost perfect day.

Randy

Navy Aircraft Pilots and NASCAR Drivers - a lesson learned?

This week had me recalling a now humorous event from my days in the Navy. I was an aircraft electrician returning to the aircraft carrier aboard a S-3 Viking aircraft. After many sudden jerking moves to test me, the pilot asked me how I was doing. "I'm just fine! You can't scare me!" The two pilots turned and looked at each other with wide grins. In an instant we were flying sideways with one wing straight up in the air pulling some serious G's!

I dug up a photo from the Navy days. That's me walking on the left in my "Old Navy" garb aboard the USS America somewhere in the Indian Ocean. Fearless, but isn't everyone at 20 years old?

This week had me shooting at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bob Bailin, a New York Director of Photography and the CEO of Feature Systems Inc., brought his new street legal NASCAR to drive on the track along with some friends taking the SpeedTech Racing School.

Bob Bailin #13

This car is impressive. Jeff Lyman of Jeffrey's Auto Body, Inc. has delivered a drivable work of art! What attention to detail! A brilliant idea for advertising Feature Systems lighting equipment and grip on a street legal head-turner. Nice work!

What fun I had following the guys around and photographing them driving the SpeedTech cars. They insisted that racing instructor and former NASCAR driver Randy Baker take me around for a few hot laps. "Sure," I said, "that would be great!" Then something was said about me being scared and needing a diaper. Ha! You guessed it. I said it. "You can't scare me!" The next few minutes I will relive for all of my days to come. My words can't bring me close to describing the exhilaration and excitement of riding in a NASCAR around AMS several feet from the wall at 175mph! I didn't get scared, in fact, I was yelling at the top of my lungs for joy! After the ride, I asked Randy just how fast we were going. "About 175 mph," he said.

I can still close my eyes and feel the ride in the S-3 aircraft as we landed on the carrier catching the wire with the tailhook and my body still shakes from the ride with Randy Baker in the #3 Dale Earnhardt car. But there is something that I will forget and I have erased from my vocabulary - something about "can't scare me!"

Thanks Bob Bailin for an unforgettable weekend!

Randy