APRIL + MIKE | MARRIED AT SWOR COTTAGE

We all knew April and Mike were going to get married, well, I knew it. Even way back when they had their first photo session with me and were shy about holding hands in front of the camera. I didn’t care how shy they felt, I made them hold hands anyway. And when Mike asked April to marry her all I could think was, “I have to photograph this marriage”.

I now know why “they” say never photograph the wedding of a family member or someone who is super close to you.  

So we fast forward to a million group texts, countless snaps and a couple phone calls later- the day finally arrives! I anticipated on treating this day like it wasn’t my sister who was a bridesmaid, but just a lady named Sarah or that the maid of honor wasn’t one of my best girl friends and that I knew almost everyone in attendance. Ha! That was a joke and the joke was on me.

Stan Fields: Miss Rhode Island, Please describe your idea of the perfect date

Cheryl “Miss Rhode Island: That’s a tough one. I’d have to say April 25th. Because its not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket. 

As April 25th (yes, April 25th) wore on, the tears fell, and the stories were told I couldn’t help but be part of this day where one of the best women I knew was getting married. It didn’t help that every moment of the day was personalized from the unintentional wedding colors being the colors from the Golden Girls’ couch, to the random canoe that floated ashore and made the perfect drink station, to the bridal party singing “Hold on for One More Day” by Wilson Phillips to our bride during the reception topping off the evening by having a d.j. personality we all grew up listening to, Lewis Stokes of K Country, provide the soundtrack for the evening.

All I could do was gracefully accept a tissue from the Groom’s father, wipe my face, and keep shooting. And shoot and shoot and shoot. Would I photograph the wedding of another person this close to me? YES! As stressful and emotionally draining as it was, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Bridal Boudoir |Wedding Inspiration

Any time Whitney of Tulle & Grace asks if I want to come along on a shoot, I re-arrange whatever I have to to be there. She always brings amazing ideas to life! This time it's bridal boudoir. What a great idea for a gift to your husband to be!

The idea of bridal boudoir is a little sneak peek into the lingerie you might wear under your wedding clothing or after your wedding day. Not only is it a great gift for him, but what an amazing gift for yourself. To be able to capture the happiness and passion of who you are going into your marriage.

*boudoir doesn't only have to be as a wedding gift. it is a gift for anytime of the year… birthday, Valentines day, Christmas, or because it's Saturday.

Model: Teresa Motes Cardin

Hair and Makeup: Robn Nicole Johnsen

Wardrobe: Girl With a Serious Dream

Florals/Design: Bowman & Clark

Location: Tulle & Grace

Shawanda + John |Trolley Barn Wedding

Every detail for this Trolley Barn wedding was perfect and they welcomed me along their journey as a friend. When Shawanda told me her wedding dress was going to be PINK I had no idea what to expect. What I got was a fun, relaxed, over the top, happy bride! I believe the dress set the whole tone for the day- AH-mazing.

When they told me the wedding was unplugged I couldn't have been more excited! Turning your phone off during the ceremony allows the guests to really be part of why everyone came together…. That is why you hire a wedding photographer, so your guests don't have to take the photos. It's nice not to see 20 cell phones up in the air.

As I right this blog, I am starting to think back to the tacos (that were unlimited and oh so delicious) from the Tex's Taco truck!  If you ever see that truck, GET THE CHICKEN TACOS!

Chelsea + Jen | East Atlanta | Two Brides Wedding

Not one, but two brides? Not one, but two dresses?? I get giddy when I get to photograph one beautiful blushing bride on her wedding day, but at this wedding I got to photograph TWO beautiful blushing brides on their summer wedding day! I adored this DIY backyard wedding in my neck of the neighborhood in East Atlanta. Wait till you see what they got married in front of. Simply beautiful.

Chelsea and Jen mentioned they wanted to go by a local bar, The Flatiron, in the East Atlanta Village for a drink before the ceremony. Not only was I all over that idea because I love that bar, but because that bar was an integral part of their relationship. They laughed there, made up there, and just hung out there.

These two brides continually surprised me throughout the day… especially when the day got so hot before the reception that Chelsea decided to cut her long dress into a dress above her knees!! Yes, took scissors to her dress! Believe it or not, it looked just a amazing short as long. Take a look for yourself!

Here comes the brides!

We would love to be part of your wedding day! Contact us for more information below.

[contact-form-7 id="634" title="Contact form 1"]

Rachel + Drew | Folly Beach, SC | Wedding

It's so exciting that I am at an age where the next phone call could be that my friend is now engaged and asking me to be her wedding photographer! Rachel is one of those friends. Rachel became my sister when she and my (actual) sister were in the Army together. I couldn't have been more happy to hear that she found the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with and Drew was the perfect match for her zany personality! Everyone traveled to Folly Beach, South Carolina for this offbeat destination wedding. One of the things that makes your wedding day so special is that you can make your day however you want. Rachel and Drew's destination wedding also doubled as a honeymoon!!

People often cringe when you say winter at the beach because it's cold and usually raining, which it was raining (and flooding for that matter). The rain wasn't going to stop us! Rachel's pink wedding dress was stunning against the grey December sky. They decided to take their beach ceremony onto a trolley that drove through downtown Charleston as they exchanged vows! The ceremony and tour of downtown Charleston was followed by a sand ceremony and a low country boil by The Smoking Pot. It doesn't get any more personalized than that!

Fall family portraits

Fall in Georgia is amazing and it's even more amazing for a fall family portrait session. I first met this family when they needed head shots for one of their younger daughters. I was so excited when they contacted me for their family portrait session! After discussing a few family portrait location options, this location on the Chattahoochee River was the winner. With gloomy clouds misting and the cold air moving in we went on an hour hike (yes, an actual hike) through the woods to find the perfect location for their family portrait! I must applaud this family for taking the time out to go on an adventure for their session!! I had an amazing time collecting rocks, looking at leaves, and hearing history about this particular part of the river.

I have explored many locations along the Chattahoochee, but none quite like this… there is nothing like the changing colors of the leaves.

Jaimi+Mohom | Lake Erie Wedding

When my best gal pal said she was getting married my first thought was, "oh man, I have to be the photographer". In my mind there was no way I could attend the wedding and NOT be the photographer. Even if the photographer she hired was amazing, in my eyes they would never be doing her wedding justice. I had to convince her that hiring (first) a friend and (second) a professional wedding photographer was the way to go. I mean, how could I attend a wedding and not be the photographer. That isn't natural.. haha. Not only did I go the final dress fitting, go with her to get the rings cleaned, drank way too much coffee with her, went with her to check out locations for the portrait session, ran every errand imaginable together and was up with her till 2 am making the final centerpieces.. yea, right? So, not only did I help her with that because she was my best gal pal getting married, but I also was with her every step of the day capturing moments that would make the best day of her life.

additional photography: simply portraiture

makeup: autumn rose wood at attitudes salon

dress: belle amour bridal

hair: adrea burnett at skin laser and day spa

rings: michael tadsen's jewelry

flowers: mary's blossom shoppe

cakes: stephanie burnett of rockstar cakes and catering

boat: marinemax, inc.

music: www.the-junk.com

ceremony site: catawba island state park

reception venue: doc's beach house

Grant Park Family Session

I have found when taking a family's portrait that involve small children, like Avery who is 10 months, that you pretty much have to let them run the session! If the they get too tired, too hungry, told to sit still too many times, don't have enough interaction then in seconds your family session can take a nose dive. I even downloaded an app that made farm noises just to help the session when it hit a small lull, but all it took was playing with a few leaves.

Ashley | Florida Horse Park

"I want to do a session with my horse and my dog."

LET'S DO IT!  The Florida Horse Park is such an amazing piece of land. It was perfect for what we were looking for, heck it was perfect for other sessions too! Photographing pets versus people isn't much different… except finding a location!

But, when working with any animals for that matter there are the go to poses and then there are the poses that just happen. When working with animals you really just have to let them do their thing otherwise they will get restless and uncooperative much like when photographing children.

April + Mike | Downtown Ocala Engagement

How do you have a successful engagement session? Location! 

Work with your photographer to pick a location that works for your couple style and engagement! If your location has no meaning to you as a couple then your photographs will reflect that. Revisiting a location where you had your first date, or where you said "I love you" for the first time will help enhance the power of the images. Get creative!

Clothing!

Clothing can make or break a session. Color palettes play a huge role especially when looking at your location. As with each other, you want to make sure you are comfortable with what you are wearing. It may be hot, it may be cold, it may rain and you will be cuddling/kissing/running/walking.. dress appropriate! These are your engagement photos and a lot of people will be seeing these images.

Comfort!

But really, if you are not comfortable with your photographer and you are not comfortable with each other.. your engagement photos will show that. Finding a common ground and letting the story of love develop through the photos is the reason for the session. Everyone gets nervous while having their photo taken. Heck! I know I do. So, HAVE FUN!

Time of day!

My favorite time of day to shoot is sunrise and sunset. Yes, I can make beautiful images at high noon.. but the there is nothing that can replicate the golden natural beautiful light of the first break of day and the last rays before the dark. So, what happens when your time of day doesn't go as planned like when it rains? You go with the flow because who cares YOU'RE ENGAGED!

Congratulations on your engagement April and Mike!

23 reasons to elope!

     By definitionelope (e·lope, iˈlōp) means? verb "Run away secretly in order to get married, especially without parental consent. More specifically, elopement is often used to refer to a marriage conducted in sudden and secretive fashion, usually involving hurried flight away from one's place of residence together with one's beloved with the intention of getting married." Here are 23 reasons TO elope!

1. You can be less formal. 

Don't want to wear a ball gown like your mom thinks you should? Not comfortable in a suit and tie? Scratch all that and wear what YOU want. After all this is your day!

storyboard003

2. It's truly romantic. 

No, really.

3. You have better things to spend your money on. 

Like a house, or a honeymoon, or a family vehicle, or rent, or anything else that is NOT a wedding.

4. You can choose your location!

You don't have to find  venue that will hold 150 guests in your budget or worry about hotel accommodations either! Who is to say you can't get married in that quaint little spot in the woods you and your fiancé love so much? Or how about on a remote beach? Or over seas! The possibilities are endless!

storyboard007

5. You can't please everyone.

In the end someone will not be happy about something like the music or the food or whatever. Seriously, with so many people giving opinions on what they think is best you can loose focus of what YOU really want for YOUR day!

6. You save time.

Planning a major event takes time. And a lot of it! You're busy, we know.

7. Privacy.

Maybe you don't need everyone in your business. Not into having everything posted on Facebook and Instagram? Well, if you elope you won't have to worry about being tagged in photos! Not everyone needs a gift registry. Who wants to write all those thank you notes anyway?

storyboard004

8. You have been married before.

Yep, been there and done that. Maybe you don't feel the need for the traditional ceremony. You already did the big wedding thing and know the reasons to elope, so you can stop reading now :-)

9. Religion/Culture.

Blending various religious and cultural backgrounds may not sound as easy as you think. Eloping is a way to avoid the cultural and religious clashes.

10. THE HONEYMOON!

Who says your elopement location couldn't double as your honeymoon location? Go somewhere exotic! Remember you didn't have a wedding, so you can afford it ;-)

11. No invitations!

This person forgot to RSVP. Should we invite so and so? Wait, didn't they get divorced. What is their address? Did you invite so and so? Forget these questions because your eloping!

12. You don't want to wait.

And why should you? GET MARRIED NOW!

storyboard001

13. Complex family tree.

The idea of all families getting along is awesome, but the reality is not all families get along. Avoid the arguments and fuss of family drama and ELOPE!

14. You. Are. Pregnant!

CONGRATULATIONS! Eloping is less stress on your body. Point blank period.

15. To be unique.

Do you know any couples that eloped?

storyboard006

16. Avoid being a BRIDEZILLA!

It's inevitable. At some point someone will call you a bridezilla to your face or behind your back. Avoid this stereotype and elope!

17. NO REHEARSAL DINNER!

That is all.

18. The food.

No guest allergies to worry about. No per plate costs to consider. Eat whatever you want and a lot of it! And in most cases you will actually get to eat on your big day!

19. The PAR-tay!

2 words: OPEN BAR. Stress level -4. Now all your friends and family can join in for the celebration on a less planned scaled weeks or even months after you have eloped!

20. You have been together for-ev-er...

14 years later you decide to tie the knot. Everyone already thinks you are married.

21. Deceased family members.

Maybe your father has passed or even a sibling. After a major life event the idea of a big wedding sometimes looses it value.

22. Your Milkshake Brings All The Boys To The Yard!

Yep, you can booty shake to that song all day and not have your grandma give you funny looks.

23. THE PHOTOGRAPHY!

You can hire the photographer you want, instead of the photographer you can afford. You don't have to worry about splitting the budget between cake, flowers and dj. Photography can be the item you splurge on. Just because you decide to elope doesn't mean it can't be documented beautifully.

storyboard005

Casey + John | Rome, GA

The wonderful thing about the photography industry are the people you meet along the way. From photographers, caterers, officiants, florists, grandparents and everyone in between. But, what is really wonderful are the couples I get to photograph. Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph beside Whitney of Tulle and Grace! We photographed a wedding high in North Georgia where cell service is nonexistent, but love fills the air!

Rachel + Thomas | Outer Banks, NC

When friends Rachel and Thomas decided to elope I was so excited! But, shortly there after I realized I wouldn't be there to take the photos. So, when we started planning our annual OBX (Outer Banks, North Carolina) vacation I knew Rachel had to bring her dress. This was my chance, my chance to photograph love in one of the most romantic places EVER! We decided to start with a bridal session in Rodanthe, North Carolina. The same Rodanthe from "Nights in Rodanthe", the Nicholas Sparks book turned movie with Richard Gere and Diane Lane. THAT Rodanthe! Following Rodanthe we drove the hour back to Corolla, North Carolina and met up with Thomas. The rest of the session was done on Corolla Beach. YES! The Corolla Beach that wild horses live on.

ROMANCE, ROMANCE and more ROMANCE in the Outer Banks!

storyboard002

storyboard001

storyboard003

storyboard007

storyboard006

storyboard005

storyboard010

storyboard008

storyboard011

storyboard018

storyboard014

storyboard016

storyboard013

storyboard015

storyboard019

storyboard021

storyboard012

Children and Portraits | Atlanta, Georgia

When a Mom says, "My children are 1, 4, and 7" most people might cringe at the idea of this type of photo session. I, on the other hand, welcome it with open arms. Why? Well, this means I get to show up to the shoot in a t-shirt and jean shorts. I get to bring my secret weapon: bubbles. And I get to have FUN!

It always amuses me when the Mom starts to panic because all she can see is her children running around, not smiling, not listening. She doesn't see what I see. I do my best to calm her down and let her know that it will be fine (in the end). I try to remind her that they didn't come to Wal-Mart for their portraits, she came to me. The person who is going to take her well dressed children and throw them in the river for a portion of the shoot. The person who is going to play with them, the person who is probably going to end up in an ant bed and at the same time take some photos.

Sometimes- you just have to the let the kids BE KIDS. Not all photos need to be looking straight into the lens with a smile.

Sometimes- it can be the connection between the siblings that makes the portrait

Newborn Session | Marietta, Georgia

11 days late! Little baby Jaxton had us all on edge waiting for his arrival with tips and tricks pouring into Christine like eating eggplant, and walking and every other idea you could think of. I was so excited to photograph their first family portrait as a group of 4. We all starting cooing over newborn sneezes and yawns, but first big brother had to give me a lesson in legos!

Congratulations you guys! Thank you for inviting me into your home and letting me be Jaxtons' first photographer.

5 Tips For A Great Head Shot

By definition:"A head shot or headshot is a photograph of someone's face. Many head shots are promotional pictures of actors, models, authors, or other famous individuals." I have specialized in (children's) head shots for the last 4 years. So, what makes a great head shot, you ask? Well, you might as well ask what makes a great photo. But, here are some pointers:

1. Connection. Eye contact is KEY. You want to be able to look at the image and feel the person is looking you in the eye. If your subject isn’t intrigued then neither will the person viewing photograph.

2. Simple backdrop. We are here to see the person in the photo, not where you took the photo. If the backdrop is visible then it should support the subject and not be distracting.

3. Clothing. Simple solid colors are always best. Also, try to avoid solid white – it can be distracting. The eye tends to go toward the brightest part of the image and you don’t want that to be the shirt your subject is wearing. Also, minimal jewelry and makeup. BUT- if your client insists on wearing white and patterns pull yourself together and MAKE IT WORK. After all, you are a professional.

4. Vertical: In my experience, comp cards are generally vertical. If you take a horizontal shot, make sure you pull back enough to where it can be cropped vertical. There is nothing worse than having your client love the (horizontal) shot you took only to hear they can’t use it because it can’t be cropped vertical.

5. Posing: Head shot means just that. Pose from the shoulders up and fill the frame. Don’t “cut off” the top of the head. Proper facial expressions can also affect posing. Change up expressions!

But, most importantly, you need a good photographer! You have to have fun and feel comfortable during a head shot session or it will reflect in the photo that is primarily, well,  your face. Head shots are about capturing your personality, so make sure you bring it to your session.

Personal Work | Krisandra Evans

It's a MUST. A job is a job. It doesn't matter if it is photography or sitting at an office desk. It's still a job. And yes, while photography may seem like a super cool job (well, it really is) but there are certain photography jobs I would rather not do. Yep, you read right. There are certain photography tasks I would rather not do. Why? Because they don't ignite the passion I have for photography. They don't inspire me. They don't challenge me. It's the same as an "office desk job". I'm sure you joined the company because they had some really awesome things to say, but there are those mundane tasks that every job has that you would rather not do too! But, we still do these jobs with a smile on our face and to the best of our ability because it comes down to this- WE GOT BILLS TO PAY!

This is why I give my self personal assignments. You might find me at a tattoo shop photographing. You might find me in the Chattahoochee River photographing. You might even find me at a desk working on an extensive restoration project. Projects that I can do to practice techniques, to try new things, to "see what happens if"… To break the "rules".

Doing personal projects like this allows me to bring new ideas to all shoots. It allows me to bring my personality to the shoot.

How do I come up with personal projects? I might be on Pinterest for an hour (don't act like you're not on for long amounts of time too!) browsing around and see something that strikes me and an idea develops from that. Or I might be at the grocery store and see an interesting person and ask them to "model" for me on a shoot. Or someone might approach me with a shoot idea. Ideas come from everywhere! Movies, other people, magazines, the internet, my Mom.

It doesn't matter where the idea comes from. What matters is that the idea is executed- good or bad.

The important thing is to stay creative.

Black and White versus Color | Krisandra Evans

It's the tale old battle of which is better… Black and white or Color? When you don't know which one to post, what do you do?

99.9% of the time I will post color images. That .1% of the time I do post a black and white images it is because for some reason it caught my eye more than the color image did. Why is that?

Black and white tends to be more simplistic. Timeless. Less distracting. More dramatic. Right?

Then there are times where you want the image to grab your attention. You want to see all the colors involved because they play off each other to make the image. And sometimes who really cares how timeless the image looks because, well, it's just that good of an image!

So, you tell me.. Black and White OR Color?

6 steps to taking a better engagement ring selfie | Krisandra Evans

SO! YOU'RE ENGAGED! Time to show off that amazing ring. Here are a few tips and tricks to taking an amazing engagement ring selfie. 1.Lighting is EVERYTHING!

Sunlight is key! Go outside, or by an open window even. The natural light will do way more than the overhead yellow light bulb in your house. Trust us! Oh and did I mention the sparkle that comes with natural light. Don't' believe me? Look at how your engagement ring sparkles!

2.Get your nails done!

Seriously gals. You have an amazing ring on and your nails are chipped? Go! Get a manicure! There is nothing worse than seeing an amazing ring, but being distracted by un-amazing nails. But wait, you just can not wait to post a pic before your manicure? Ok, fine. There are many different ways to show off your ring in photos that don't include your unkempt nails.

Like, placing the engagement ring on an object like a flower or your favorite book. Did the engagement ring come with a box? Display it. Have your fiancé hold his hand open and place the engagement ring in his palm (that is if he has lotioned his hands in the last 24 hours).

3.Be aware of the background, PLEASE.

Yes, we get it. You Are Excited and you should be- but we don't want to see the toilet or your dirty socks or sink full of dishes. Take a second and look around at your surroundings. This picture you post of your engagement ring is going to be seen by a lot of people. Take the time to set your background even if you take a t-shirt that is a solid color and lay it on the ground.

4.Take lots of options, but only show ONE.

Don't make us gag by posting tons of photos and collages of your ring. We get it, you're engaged. We are happy for you. Don't give us a reason to block you. You know you want us to see the rest of your wedding planning photos, right? RIGHT!

5.Style is key

Try photographing your engagement ring from different angles. Does your engagement ring have stones around the band? Is your stone on a unique setting? Have you tried photographing from overhead to show the shape of the stone?

6.Filters and frames.

You know you have a ton of apps on your phone- USE THEM! VSCO, Snapseed, and InstaCollage are a couple of my personal favorites. Experiment with the contrast, saturation, and crop. Add a nice filter and finish it with a heart frame. Add a couple of sentimental words and share with the world!

YOU'RE ENGAGED! CONGRATULATIONS!! 

All photographs were taken by Krisandra Evans with a iPhone 4 using the apps mentioned above!