Artstar :: Atlanta Wedding Photography

Sunday Photos

ArtstarWP — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:47:56 +0000

Sunday photos at the Railside Dog Park early in the evening with our beloved girls. Bambi, seen in the first two images, was very worried about a passing train. Other thing she fears are thunder and not being on a pillow. Bayou, also known as “the black and white one” when we don’t want her to recognize her own name, nearly expired the day before after stopping to pee on a mound of ants. Despite making a full recovery, she is still milking the experience for long belly rubs and declarations of love.

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Wedding :: Wendy & Evan

ArtstarWP — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:05:13 +0000

To continue the trend of blogging out of order, here is Wendy & Evan‘s wedding during one of the most beautiful weeks of the year in Georgia- the second week of November. Typically fall foliage isn’t striking and bold until the very end of October/beginning of November. When it’s gorgeous, it’s so gorgeous. Looking over these images several months later reminds me how much I love telling stories- this is how Wendy & Evan will remember their wedding day, and the strong bond of their relationships with their family and friends. Their wedding was remarkable for another reason- it was impeccably coordinated by Nicole Fantz of Peachtree Weddings, a wedding planner much respected by her peers for her ability to do an amazing job and make it look easy!

Emory Engagement Portraits :: Wendy & Evan

ArtstarWP — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:02:47 +0000

Engagement photos in a university library? Yes please! for their engagement photos, Wendy & Evan and I wandered the beautiful Emory campus grounds near sunset, then asked for and received permission to shoot inside the library. I admit I am not much of a “shoot first, apologize later” photographer, also it’s difficult to enter the library turnstile with a large camera and several lenses without raising questions. When I was a little Laura living in rural Georgia with nothing much of anything to do after I outgrew cowboys and Indians/cops and robbers or building forts with my younger brother, the town library was my favorite place. I remember vividly my mother teaching me to read and spell (my first word was “the, T-H-E”) before I went to pre-school. Many years later when I attended UGA and discovered huge rooms of (sometimes radical) books and essays and critical writing, I was engrossed in the fluorescent lighting, musty smells, Dewey decimal system, and pervasive quiet. Nerd. Alert.

Brasstown Valley Wedding :: Gabby & Matt

ArtstarWP — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 03:36:12 +0000

Gabby & Matt’s wedding was our first of 2012 and an amazing kick off to photos for the year. Yes, I’m blogging out of order… simma down now. Gabby’s sister, photographer extraordinaire Alecia Lauren, initially called to tell me about the wedding and if anything she underestimated the gorgeousness of the couple and the details that describe them. I saw a comment recently asking if photographers really like to take photos of shoes or if it is a fad, some formulaic trick born from seeking the approval of editors. You know what? I love taking photos of shoes. A great pair of shoes guide the lucky wearer through world, among friends and enemies, great experiences and bad. Wedding day shoes are that much more important. That said, the most memorable photographs will never be of shoes, but will instead depict love. The love of a mother observing her daughter’s happiness, the love of friends dancing with abandon into the night, or the love of a young couple newly married…

Greystone Wedding :: Lindsey & Brandon

ArtstarWP — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:52:49 +0000

Lindsey and Brandon timed their wedding at well- the dogwoods dotting Piedmont Park were in full bloom on this last weekend of March! Lindsey is a wildcat, and by that I mean a UK girl. She has a larger-than-life, infectiously cheerful personality that swirls around and catches people up in her adventures. Watching her hug her grandmother tightly (in Mandy’s photograph below which was slightly better than mine), I thought, “Here is a person who loves truly and deeply and without reserve…” As a former soldier, Brandon has the capacity to match Lindsey step for step and look at her admiringly as they dance through life together.

Here’s Lookin’ at You, Kid

ArtstarWP — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:03:52 +0000

I’m fairly certain Mandy will think it’s uber-cheesy I titled this post after that famous line in that famous movie I absolutely love but she somehow (*exasperated sigh*) finds less than compelling. For me this bright green photo booth image might as well be film noir, black and white shadowy cinematography, and Humprey Bogart walking away in a trench coat. Next week Mandy moves to the DC area to begin research at the National Institutes of Health on “non-human primate” behavior. Monkeys. The eye movements and recognition capacity of infant rhesus macaques to be more specific. This is a big picture decision, and I’m proud beyond measure see her follow her passion wherever it takes her, whether to the muddy, buggy rainforest or this prestigious beacon of science. I also have to say thanks, Mandy- thanks for working when you were sick on multiple occasions, editing my photos, taking awesome ones yourself, making the color corrections, and repeating that process umpteen times. Unpacking and repacking the gear. Washing the dishes of my late-night cooking experiments. Making me laugh. Traveling many miles. Talking me off the ledge. Becoming you are, someone who inspires me.

Special thanks to Dave Gallagher, owner of Capture Integration, for sponsoring Mandy’s going-away party by donating the gear necessary to make the photobooth. The night went by so quickly, but we’ll always have the photos. Oh yeah, and the video. : )

Allie Awards 2012 :: Best Event Photography & Best Team Effort

ArtstarWP — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:01:37 +0000

As a follow up to my note in the previous post featuring Esther & Paul’s wedding, we did in fact win two Allie Awards this year! The awards night itself was a memorable experience. Both categories we were nominated in were announced last, at the very end of four hours of cocktails, dinner, entertainment, and awards for all aspects of special event production ranging from Most Creative Venue (congrats to Lindsay Pitt at Toast for that one) to Best Plated Menu (A Legendary Event). I cannot overstate how nervous I was as there were eight awards to be announced before photography, then five, then three. Time seemed to be both hurtling and trickling towards the opening of that envelope. Adding to my nerves was the fact that I had not prepared a statement. Having never attended the awards before I wasn’t fully aware that yes, the winners walk on stage and make an speech at a microphone. I tried to tap out something on my iPhone along the lines of “We’re only as good as the people we work with,” but wouldn’t you know, that sentiment was expressed twice near the end of the other announcements. So there I sat, palms sweaty and fingers fidgeting, my second vodka/soda glass decidedly empty (a blessing really), laughing at jokes offered up by my two of my dearest friends, Michelle Leyden and Sharon Alexander. Then unbelievably, on stage the dapper and witty J. Patrick McCannbegan describing the nominees and events up for best photography. A thin woman in a long evening gown handed him THE envelope. I heard a snap as he opened it, then sat stunned as he asked “Is there a Laura Stone in the house?” Huh? What did that mean? Of course I was in the house… Sharon elbowed me cheerfully and hissed, “Get up there, you’re winning!” I stood up in shock, hugged her tightly with an ear to ear smile, and began a very long walk through a dim ballroom towards the bright lights on stage. Something I didn’t expect happened- some people stood up and clapped as I passed their tables. I knew at least a few words to say then, because I would say what I felt, and that was simply humbled. I didn’t feel that I won the award or even that Mandy and I won the award. I felt that the people in that room supported me and added value to my life and work. I may not know all of them very well, but so many have encouraged me with their friendship and by sharing their own ambitions and dreams. After a gentleman held out his hand to lead me up the stairs, I stammered something to this effect in the 15 seconds I stood under the bright lights recognizing no one among the sea of blurred and shadowy distant faces who had only just a moment before been a warm and inspiring presence. I walked carefully back down the stage, reaching out for that supporting hand lest I fall flat on my face, and made my way to my chair to admist hugs and cheers to await the last announcement for Best Team Effort. We were nominated in this category along with ten other event pros (Ashley Baber Weddings, BBJ Linen, CCP Events / EventScapes, EEP Events, Event Drapery, Event Rentals Unlimited, Luminari Candles, PPI, Proof of the Pudding, and Tents Unlimited) for Leah & Jimmy’s Big Fat Gritalian Wedding. When Tony Conway announced this final award, we all shared the stage together and the bright lights were no longer intimidating. As Leah said, it was a moment that had come full circle since she and Jimmy met at the Allies a few years ago. Thanks again to everyone who was so kind in offering congratulations on awards night and afterward, and thanks Mom for buying my first camera!

Sharon, Michelle, and me as photographed by the talented team at Ric Mershon Photographers:

Ventanas Wedding :: Esther & Paul

ArtstarWP — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:08:01 +0000

This post has been a long time coming- I admit I have delayed featuring Esther & Paul’s photos because once the images are up I can’t look forward to posting them anymore! E&P just returned from the honeymoon they postponed due to work ’til this spring at the St. Regis Bora Bora- I’m pretty sure nothing is more romantic or luxurious. Mandy and I feel so lucky to have gotten to know Esther and Paul through their wedding, and to have had memorable nights of laughter and games since then. They make everything sparkle.

Expert coordination of Esther & Paul’s wedding day by someone I never hesitate to recommend, Nicole Fantz of Peachtree Weddings. Oh, and that pretty, pretty cake? It’s by Sharon at Sweet Sensations! Incidentally Mandy and I were honored to be nominated for an Allie Award for Best Event Photography for some of the following images, with results announced at a black-tie gala this Sunday.

Savannah Engagement Photos :: Courtney & Jay

ArtstarWP — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:58:48 +0000

Courtney & Jay’s engagement photos are the result of one of my round-trip-to-Savannah-plus-photos-in-a-day adventures. Courtney & Jay had the good sense to stay overnight. We originally planned for a fall day on a weekend that I would be shooting a wedding nearby, but when that day dawned gray and dreary we opted to roll the dice for sunshine later. What luck! The hot red and cool blue amidst roses and a crumbling staircase call to mind a more relaxed and happy Streetcar Named Desire; Courtney brings the flair and comfort of Louisiana with her, while Jay clearly appreciates and protects her.

Sarah & Jim :: Atlanta Engagement Photos

ArtstarWP — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:57:52 +0000

Meet Sarah & Jim, two people I am very thankful to have among my clients. As any wedding photography will readily tell you, part of our job description involves fielding many emails from complete strangers. Some of those strangers turn into clients and friends, and after a few exchanges with Sarah I felt we were a great fit to work together- luckily Sarah did too and the camaraderie was not completely imagined on my part! I offered up Mandy’s antique BMW as a prop for Sarah & Jim’s engagement session, and they brought their own beloved pug Bella. Some of my favorite images from the session are the last ones, blending ambient light with diffused off-camera flash and simple back-lighting. I’ve been working on these techniques for awhile they are becoming second-nature thanks to repetition. The intramural fields at Piedmont Park in front of Greystone where Sarah and Jim will get married this fall offer unparalleled views of open skyline and the city of Atlanta. Home sweet home.