Stories
Being new(ish) to Atlanta Christopher and Colin wanted the beautiful Piedmont Park as the setting for their engagement session. They imagined walking around the park, sun shining, with the trees and flowers in full bloom. O.K! Let’s do that! The first date we had picked out was actually raining, and COLD for Spring. We postponed and it was so worth it! You couldn’t have asked for a better day.
Spring has sprung! Welcome to Spring everyone. Welcome to pollen and mosquitos and BBQ’s and late afternoon hangs and bumble bees and all the fun things that come along with longer days. And welcome to the amazing golden light that fills the air!
McDaniel Farm Park is such a diverse space for every season, but there is just something about when the land starts to bloom and start fresh for the year that I had to suggest it to this family for their session. With concrete and natural paths this park is suitable for everyone. The park has so many great options like the pathways, or the fencing, a bridge, a barn, you name it!
Nick proposed to Alesha, here, in this gazebo, on this lake in Piedmont Park. Obvi we had to photograph their engagement session there and all around the park! It was so stinking special getting to hang out with this newly engaged couple and create some new memories for them leading up to their wedding this June!
Because Nick proposed on the lake I really wanted to explore the lake with them and really make this session special for them. We walked all the way around the lake and if you have ever been to Piedmont Park you know there are so many gorgeous spots along the lake any Atlanta Wedding Photographer would love to photograph at.
But nothing was more gorgeous than this amazing Winter light. Yes! This was photographed in the first week of January! Minus the leaves, it legit looks like Fall. Just stunning. Then you put these two love birds in the light and you have magic.
When I am getting to know a couple and photographing their engagement session, I never want to rush it. I schedule enough time at the end of the day to explore the location they chose and sometimes it takes a minute for them to get comfortable in front of the camera. Lets face it, you allllll say you are awkward in front of the camera. (Y’all are all so silly.)
When they said they only brought the outfit they are wearing and just wanted to explore the city I was probably too stoked. This allowed me to bring out the tools I don’t always get to use because we are on schedule or have an agenda we have to complete.
Cue the pipe ring of fire shot thing. See below.
Playing in traffic! This is something I do on the regular.. I really need to be more careful when I photograph, but I just can’t help when I see a perfect image happening. This really allows for some actual candid images using the city in the best of ways.
And here I go again, not looking where I am going, just running into traffic. But really, I do also rely on the couple I am photographing to give me a heads up if they can if they see I am about to really be in traffic, or if I am going to run into the curb or step in a pothole. If you see an Atlanta Wedding Photographer taking photos of couples in the street, its probably me, so please don’t hit me, haha.
All joking aside… if we don’t have fun your images will show it. If that means I have to act out a bit, I so will. I joke that I play in traffic, but we are always safe. As your Atlanta Wedding Photographer I will always put myself before my couple to make sure the grassy isn’t too muddy, to make sure there aren’t spiders, to make sure you won’t get hit by a car.
Be on the lookout for photos on my Instagram and Facebook from their Atlanta Wedding at the Dekalb Courthouse this June!
Hitting it off instantly, they had their first date after a week of talking and on their second date he knew she was THE one. After 11+ months he recreated their first date down to what he was wearing and even what was on tv that night. He had his guitar wrapped around him and he played a song he had written officially asking for her hand before getting down on one knee, using her full name, and asked her to marry him. SWOON
When I hear “backyard wedding” I start envisioning so many different possiblities. But none of what I was thinking about was enough to prepare me for Lauren and Katherine’s backyard wedding. They set the bar really high when it comes to having a wedding at home. Being an Atlanta Wedding Photographer and well, wedding photographer in general, I have seen a lot of backyard weddings, but this Atlanta wedding was one to write home about.
YOU’RE ENGAGED! What an amazing, exciting, crazy, and lots of things to do time! You have posted your ring selfie and gotten tons of likes, messages, and responses.. so what next?
Save The Dates are next! Right, so what is a Save The Date. Its the time where you loop in the friends and family you intend on inviting to your wedding! The very first official step. This is a pre-invitation that announces your wedding date.
Not permanent or anything like that, but more frequently. See, my Mom and Grandmother live in Ocala, Florida. While I go and visit them (depending on my wedding season) every three to six months (plus Thanksgiving and Christmas) I thought it would be fun to photograph more Central Florida weddings giving me the opportunity to visit with them more often.
Now what does this have to do with you?!
This means NO travel fees for Central Florida weddings. We both win in this situation. I get to stay with my Mom and Grandma, so you don’t have to pay for travel. You get an amazing Atlanta wedding photographer for the price of an amazing Central Florida wedding photographer! My Atlanta prices will carry over to any Florida weddings I book.
A little about my Florida background.
My family moved to Ocala, Florida from Chicago, Illinois when I was like young, like 2 or 3 young. I still drive through the old neighborhood when I visit my Mom and Grandma. My childhood house seems SO small now that I’m an adult.
OCALA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
I am in touch with my best friend growing up in that neighborhood. Her name is Denise and she lives in MA. We ran into each other, consequently, a few years ago in Las Vegas and had to get a drink together. It had been like 20 years since we seen each other.
I went to high school and college in Central Florida, but left the state in 2006 to attend and pursue my photography dreams at school in MA. After graduation, my boyfriend who I also met in Ocala and I made the choice to move to Atlanta so he could start the further pursuing of his career in tattooing. 8 years later he opened his own tattoo studio!
Actually, today is the 3 year anniversary of him opening Gate City Tattoo.
We both made sacrifices in order for both of us to achieve our dreams. **side note: My boyfriend James and have been together for 19 years this coming December. Anyway.. I feel like it’s finally time to spread my wings photographically and photograph some amazing Spanish moss, natural springs, and beach weddings of my old stomping grounds!
This does not mean I am booking any less in Atlanta! I am still booking and will always be booking here in Atlanta, but see Florida doesn’t technically have a Winter season and it would be cool to also use the 3 months of ice we get here to be in a more warm location still photographing weddings!
Wait, does that make me a workaholic? or just in love with photographing weddings? I am going with the second, haha.
CENTRAL FLORIDA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
The NO travel fees is generated toward any location roughly within three hours of Ocala, Florida. So, yes, Central Florida. Do not let this discourage you if you having a wedding in South Florida (my sister lives in Clearwater!, and I’m sure I can crash on her couch).
So! Florida couples.. lets talk about your Florida wedding and the photography I can provide for you! I’m so excited to meet you and can’t wait to hear all the details of your BIG day.
OCALA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
So.. what does this Summer Flash Sale mean?
It means I have been lazy, enjoying summer and slacked on my non-wedding pricing guide, so YOU get the benefit from my laziness! Take advantage, this does not happen often. or ever.
Pricing includes - up to 45 minutes of photography time , up to 15 High Resolution images in Color and in Black & White, online gallery with download and of course, a print release.
This is great for updating your updating your head shots, maternity, products, photos of your pet!... pretty much anything
Well, maybe not anything..
..you get it
Let's do this y'all.
This wonderful newly engaged couple wanted to do something a little different with their engagement photos, something winter like. After calling around to many different venues near and far and looking at schedules and watching the weather radar literally minute by minute, and 53 emails... we made some engagement beautiful images. Their couple style is so much fun, so loving and just as real as they come.
You know those days where you wake up and you know it's just going to be ah-mazing! Well, that is how this whole wedding weekend was in Hilton Head. As a full time Atlanta Wedding Photographer, I make it a habit not to drive more than 3 hours in a day to a wedding because after photographing for 8-10 hours and driving.. DEAD. So with the travel time of just over 4 hours there, 10 hours photographing, and 4 hours back; I decided to drive in the night before. So glad I did. I had never been to Hilton Head before and it was a much needed change of scenery. You couldn't have ask for a better breeze, whiter sands, perfect blue sky and just the right amount of overcast.
The wedding was held at this great compound on Bradley Beach called 5 Urchin Manor. When I say this was a compound, I mean it was a compound! The total number of people this place can sleep is 21! This place was breathtaking.
At every wedding something.. SOMETHING gets tangled in the wedding dress. On this wedding day it was "sea urchins". Not really sea urchins, but those grass burrs that are super prickly and stick to your shoe laces.. yea those things. But, we all laughed it off including some beach goers.
The wedding reception was intimate and beautifully set with peaches in the center pieces and the most delicious BBQ for dinner under a tent in the middle of the compound. The guests signed a globe and left bucket list ideas for the couple. Their first dance was adorable and they actually tricked me! If you have been to as many weddings as I have you see couples choreograph their first dance where they start out slow dancing and the DJ back spins a song or makes it seem like the song messed up.. well that happened here and I actually thought the song messed up - BUT it didn't. They did this fun high energy dance together and had everyone on their feet.
OH MY GOSH and let me tell you about the dueling pianos they had for the reception.. SO FUN! I was literally laughing all night. There wasn't a song they couldn't play. If you ever get a chance to see dueling pianos, you totally should. It was a unique idea for this wedding day and I was so excited to see the performance leading up to the wedding day. The show did not disappoint. Between the pianos and the guests reacting to the pianos, the reception was one for the books.
Not all wedding days have a formal exit and that is OK! I always try to make an "ending" photograph just because I feel it completes the album in my weird way. Since this couple was staying at the compound they did not "exit", but the groom sure did end the night by singing Tom Jones to his bride! And let me add, he sang extremely well.
Personalized touches is what helps me get to know the couple I photograph. Most times I don't get a lot of time to get to know the couple that brings me along on their wedding journey due to time or distance or what ever reason. Spending over 8 hours with someone on the wedding day, you should most definitely feel comfortable with each other and you should be able to have fun!
Venue: 5 Urchin Manor
Photographer: Krisandra Evans Photography
Coordinator: Cindy Brown
Florist: Tracy Inglesby
Caterer: Bess Soper
Salon: LUSH
OCALA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
There isn't a bad location at the Georgian Terrace hotel. Trust me. I've literally been all over that place. It is just stunning - EVEN THE ELEVATORS! Then you add an amazing bride, beautiful flowers, good vibes and you are setup for a fantastic day. And that is just what Kelly and Chris got! They were good sports too! I have them alllll over that hotel and the Georgian Terrace is no small space. I even had them on the roof top. Given the proper amount of time, we will hit all the portrait locations at your venue. I shoot fast for a wedding photographer, test me (haha).
Seriously, do you see what I mean? Just stunning. This is a dream location for any Atlanta Wedding Photographer. Having a wedding in a location like this means you can pretty much have free range of the venue to take portraits (I even got roof top access for the wedding party photos! See a few photos below). If you give me 25 minutes for your portrait session, I will take 26. If you give me 45 minutes for your portrait session I will take 46. I will use every minute you give me.
ROOF TOP ACCESS! yessssssssss. Did I mention I was afraid of heights? Well, lets just say the elevator ride up was interesting to say the least. Like it was high enough to make my ear pop. And all of us in one elevator, ah! Usually, if I keep photographing I am able to block out the scary things like height or bugs or tight spaces.... I have to because you hired me as your wedding photographer and I can't come with a list of things I won't do. I have been part of an helicopter exit. So imagine me on the roof top with no safety rails and a helicopter and a bride and a groom plus the wedding party! Now a helicopter exit, let me tell you how scared I was that I was going to be so busy photographing and not paying attention and get my head chopped off (LOL) - seriously. But, I'm getting off task here. Lets focus! OH, but not before I tell you what happened at my most recent wedding where I sat my camera bag on the ground and somewhere in the ground was a nest of baby spiders, so my bag got covered with hundreds of baby spiders DURING the ceremony. Talk about professional... no one even knew ;-)
Georgian Terrace Wedding Photographer, right?! Ok.
I have to give a shout out to all the amazing vendors this day. Not only did they work with my crazy timeline of wanting to hit all these great locations, but they made sure I had access to each location. And of course to Kelly and Chris for having me along on their wedding day journey. It was truly a pleasure to work with you both and your families. Thank you for trusting my vision. Best wishes for the future!
Wedding Planner: Peachy Keen Planners
Florist and Decor: Peachy Keen Decor
Venue: The Georgian Terrace Hotel
Photographer: Krisandra Evans Photography
OCALA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Alright, so real talk - I am the worst for showing the sessions I photograph. Its not because they aren't awesome, because they are really. Its because, well, I'm busy shooting all these amazing sessions and talking with you! But, with baseball opening weekend just passing I had to come back to this baseball engagement session because it's that good.
So, let's go back to early 2016. March to be exact. This is Pam and Thomas. They needed some engagement photos since they were having a destination wedding (no, I was not the wedding photographer, sadly). Sometimes this happens! Sometimes couple will hire a local photographer to do their engagement session and hire a local (their destination) photographer to photograph their wedding like me who is an Atlanta wedding photographer.
But yes, they wanted some engagement photographs and came to me with the best ideas. First they wanted to start on a baseball field and ending at a private lake just on the other side and a small climb behind the field. Me to them, "OMG, yes!! Let's do all of that". I had been dying to photograph a baseball engagement session being a huge Atlanta Braves fans and living no further than 6 miles from former Turner Field at any given time over the last 7 years.
Now of course this amazing location isn't located inside Atlanta and I do no mind driving for these amazing locations. I really like to create images for my couples that are special and important to them otherwise you might as well go to JC Penny or Picture People and have standard portraits done. Right? RIGHT!
Just before sunset we had climbed down this little hill and then down a small trail to where they like to bring their dogs. Now when they described this lake to me, I imagined this magical place, but you really never know what you are going to get on any given day. Overcast, dry spell that has the lake level low, someone could have mowed the grass... but this area - holy moly! OH and there was champagne which makes everything better.
Being a wedding photographer in Atlanta allows me to get to visit all these great places. There are SO many place I have yet to photograph in and yet SO many places I have photographed in. Every couple has their own idea of what they want from their engagement session and even if its the same location that has been used before, it hasn't been used before with that particular couple. So, when you book your engagement session with me I will ask you your ideas on location and we will come up with something unique that you are excited about! Good chances are that if you are not excited, I won't be excited either. Then it really just becomes a formality at that point and if that is the case... I am not the photographer for you. Because let's be honest, you will get better results at Walmart.
My couples are important to me, so important in fact that I forget the other side of wedding photography. The other side which is showing YOU ALL the weddings I photograph. Well, it's time to change that. I have so many amazing wedding days to show! So let's start here, with Katie and Ryan in North Carolina at Camp Pinnacle!
Yep, I travel for weddings. My couples are so awesome, how could I not?! (Have current passport, will travel- just putting that out there in case anyone wants to elope to some random amazing place) Camp Pinnacle is one of those locations that is close enough to Atlanta that I can do it in a day. Drive up, shoot, drive back. That is the great thing about being an Atlanta Wedding Photographer is that so many amazing venues are really within driving distance to each side! You can get to Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and all over Georgia!
So yea, Camp Pinnacle is a pretty awesome venue, very similar to some that I have photographed here in Georgia. It's exactly what the name suggests, A CAMP! So there is all sorts of open space, amazing tree lines, loads of cabins, an amphitheater with seating, covered picnic area, and of course in the middle of the mountains on a lake. These types of venues are a lot of fun because you rent them out and then your wedding party and/or family can stay in the cabins and you get full access to all the camp has to offer! Not only is it a wedding, but a mini vacation for everyone else. Not that your wedding day is about anyone else, but some people may travel far or some of them may work harder than others for your wedding day. It's nice to able to offer something like this to those people.
And hey - sometimes its even the bride and groom who travel too! This actually was that type of wedding. The bride and groom use to live in Georgia, but not anymore. We actually did their engagement session (which I still haven't blogged well because yea I am behind) when they were in town checking on the wedding planning part of things! I really need to blog that engagement session. It was a good one. We literally just walked around Cabbagetown and hung out. I should blog that one soon.
What I really loved about this wedding day though is that they made it like it was at a camp! From the custom camp sign, using all the property (for ceremony, getting ready, photos), bbq for dinner, and just a really relaxed vibe throughout the night. They didn't try to make it something it wasn't like making all the bridesmaids wear stay in heels at camp, haha, which I have seen before. And that says a lot for your wedding day and how your reception will go. If you make your guests feel at home comfortable you can almost guarantee that you will have to kick people out at the end of the night.
CAMP PINNACLE WEDDING CEREMONY
ATLANTA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER KRISANDRA EVANS
THE BARN AT TATUM ACRES WEDDING CEREMONY
This is Demi and Matt - they are a stunning couple. And yes.. I say this about all my couples because all my couples are stunning. But, they were totally into each other. Even during their engagement session (which we did in their beautiful home with their adorable pup) they were just all about each other. And that is what makes amazing photos. Well, a lot of things happen that make amazing photos, but being into each other is a key part. They just have a sexiness about them as a couple and its rare that I use the word "sexy" about wedding photos. And can we talk about that veil for a moment. I. Cant. Even. I am a sucker for a long, flowy veil (flowy is a word, right? My spell check keeps disagreeing with me). Flowy. Flowy. I'm going to say that is a word and if it really isn't it is now a word to describe wedding veils. Done. (ok. I googled it and it is a word, my spell checker just doesn't like the word.)
Oh and Matt got Demi's name tattooed on his ring finger!
They got married at The Barn at Tatum Acres in Jasper, GA! And of course I can't say enough about this venue that sits on 75 acres. From the bridal suite, to the inside of the barn, THE VIEWS, the outdoor dance area. It's just stunning up there and the crew are just the sweetest ever. And I mean it, some venues are good, but this one was outstanding.
They were so accommodating to whatever we needed, and the venue owner, Miss Debbie, even moved my car for me when I was busy photographing because we all know I always park in the wrong place or leave my gear laying around. Which reminds me, Miss Debbie even held onto a lens I accidentally left out there on a pile of wood because I was trying to get this shot. Totally worth it, wouldn't you agree?! My lens is fine, by the way, haha.
ATLANTA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Do you see this wedding cake! I have seen a lot of wedding cakes like a lot, but nothing like this one. I mean.. its hanging from the ceiling. From the ceiling! By a chain! You guys. I need to see more suspended cakes. The cake was definatley a center piece at this reception which is why you get a lavish cake, right? Kinda sets the tone for the reception and the couples style. Here comes that word again, SEXY.
Not only was the cake display stunning, but the flowers and greenery were a wedding photographers dream. I mean, ah! The estate table was just dreamy. The pale pink lush flowers against the wood with alllllll that greenery is for sure one of my favorites.
Demi and Matt, thank you for having me along on your wedding journey.
The Barn At Tatum Acres - Atlanta Wedding Photographer
Wedding Venue: The Barn at Tatum Acres
Wedding Planner: Ivy Marie Weddings
Wedding Flowers: A Delicate Petal by Melissa
Wedding Cake: Cakes by Carissa
Wedding Photographer: Krisandra Evans
