Jaleesa and Miranda: An Atlanta Wedding

I’m catching up on some loooong overdue blogging this week, and I’m so excited to share Jaleesa and Miranda’s glamorous springtime wedding at one of my favorite Atlanta venues of all time.

They completely transformed the gorgeous 1920’s ballroom at the Wimbish House with Jim White’s stunning decor. When I tell you my jaw dropped when I saw the wisteria floral installation…

The evening was so full of joy and love, I spent the entire time grinning from ear to ear behind my camera. I especially loved the nods to their sweet husky Ghost in the form of a dog treat bar and the wee, cheeky figurine on the wedding cake.

Congrats again to you both!

Venue: The Wimbish House

Florals: Jim White

Puff and Brendan: A New York City Wedding

I mean I JUST blogged their engagement session.

Lest I keep anyone in suspense, I may as well go ahead and drop the wedding, too, huh?

Puff and Brendan exchanged vows privately before a beautiful ceremony in Central Park with their friends and family.

Once the ceremony wrapped, they let me steal them away for a lovely little walk around the park to enjoy the trees in full bloom and many, many, many compliments on Puff’s floral veil. I mean I don’t blame anyone. It’s a showstopper.

Of course, given the role that craft beer played in this love story, we headed to the reception space and recreated one of their engagement photos.

Congrats to you both! I’m delighted I was able to be part of your big day!

Kat and Tad (and Binx): A Marietta Family Session

Meet Kat and Tad! These two are geeks after my own heart, and extremely talented cosplayers. In fact, Tad proposed to Kat while the pair were cosplaying Flynn Rider and Rapunzel. The photos are as adorable as you imagine, and obviously she said yes.

To celebrate the recent purchase of their new home, they decided to book a portrait session with their kitty, Binx. Yes Binx. As in Thackery. Dost thou comprehend?

Naturally, geeky details abound in their home. I was delighted to see a sword display on a beautifully stenciled wall. Fantasy maps of Equestria and the Four Nations from Avatar the Last Airbender were mixed in with various cosplay photos and a Lord of the Rings clock. Be still, my nerdy little heart.

You might notice a couple of additional details in Tad’s outfit. I spy with my little eye a darling bronze fox pin and a matching tiny arrow on the boutonniere. And peep the adorable fox socks. Together, all these lovely details are a cheeky little nod to Disney’s Robin Hood.

Without further waffling on my part, check out their gorgeous photos!

Of Mushrooms and Llamas

Sometimes, I get so caught up in client sessions that I forget to take on creative projects just for fun. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE weddings and portraits, but variety is the spice of life isn’t it?

Well, it doesn’t get much more creative than a mushroom cosplay session at a gorgeous house with LLAMAS IN COSTUME. This delightful foray into whimsy was hosted by the talented and lovely Victoria of The Phaneron Fae. She made most of these amazing mushroom hats and costumes!

We kicked off the shoot indoors while everyone was still putting the final touches on costuming and makeup. I loved that each mushroom had a distinct vibe and character, and, thanks to all the talented models, I think it really came through in the photos. We were all having a really great time with this shoot, just vibing really.

And then the llamas arrived.

The squeal I squealed when I witnessed the majestic fluffy goodness that was Pie as he alighted from the van was only rivaled by the follow-up squeal upon seeing his friend Briar. I was the heart-eyes emoji personified.

But consummate professional that I am, I refrained from launching myself at the llamas and resumed the shoot.

Without further ado, here is but a small sampling of the photos I snapped that day.

Credit:
Phaneron Fae: Victoria

Red Mushroom: Erin
Orange Mushroom: Courtney
Yellow Mushroom: Michelle
Green Mushroom: Cassandra
Blue Mushroom: Aaron
Purple Mushroom: Autumn
Pink Mushroom: Alexandria

Llamas: Wit’s End Llama Consortium

Barnyard Bridal: An Anne of Green Gables Inspired Session

Every once in a while, I start a project that’s just for me, something to feed my soul and keep my creative fires burning.

Anyone that knows me knows that I’m a sucker for anything vintage or antique. I am powerless to resist the nostalgic allure of a bygone era. So it should really come as no surprise that I impulsively bought a beautiful 1970s Gunne Sax gown several sizes too small for me to actually wear. I couldn’t help it! It was just so pretty, and it was practically screaming for a photoshoot.

Time passed, and the gown hung in my closet while I tried to dream up a photoshoot concept. Initially, I had grand visions of a stately Victorian home, lush peonies, and a classic cake. But the longer I waffled on the details, the more daunting the project became. Months turned into a year, life happened, and still, the gown hung unused in my closet.

One year turned into two, and I found myself deep in the throes of a creative rut. I felt stuck and uninspired. And then…then I remembered the dress. I reached out to two very talented women and asked if they could help me bring my vision to life. I decided to keep it simple, and dispensed with the grandiose ideas I had started with. A vintage ladder, some baby’s breath, and some of my very own barnyard critters and boom….we made MAGIC.

Model: Adeline Troutman

Make-up: The Vanity House

With guest appearances by Sokka the dog, Cheese the duck, Cassiopeia the goat, and Torvi the chicken.

Aaaand a bonus shot of Adeline enjoying the goats because, and I quote, “I want a shot SURROUNDED by goats!” Wish granted. =)

Sandra and Joe: A Waterfall Engagement Session

Although I’ve lived in Georgia for about 19 years, I find the state still manages to surprise me with hidden gems. Three weeks ago, I was delighted to find that this cute little waterfall is located a mere 30 minutes away from where I live now.

When Sandra and Joe mentioned they loved the waterfall shots in my portfolio, I knew this would be the perfect spot for their engagement session. The day arrived, and we all met at the falls bright and early to beat the promised rain.

Now, it’s not every couple that is willing to dirty or wet, but Sandra and Joe were totally up for it! Their photos turned out every bit as dreamy as I’d hoped. Congratulations to you both! I can’t wait to photograph your wedding in October.

Michael and Quinn: An Atlanta Engagement Session

I love engagement sessions because they offer the opportunity for me to meet my couples in person in a relaxed, casual environment, free from the restrictions of wedding day timelines. It’s also the perfect way for couples to get to know me a little bit, so I’m not some random stranger that shows up to their wedding shoving a camera in their faces.

I was delighted to spend some time with Michael and Quinn during their Atlanta engagement session a couple of weeks ago. Together, we braved the unrelenting Georgia humidity and swarms of bloodthirsty mosquitoes to get these sweet photos. They indulged my barrage of questions about wedding colors and their proposal story and their cats. What can I say? I like to get to know my couples before their big day!

I can’t wait to see them again in 2022 for their Wimbish House wedding. Congratulations on your engagement, you two!

Chase the Light: A 48 Hour Photography Celebration

Every year, the Photographic Center Northwest hosts a 48 hour celebration of photography that culminates in a pop-up gallery. While I’m no longer in Seattle, I still wanted to participate because it’s the perfect opportunity to go stretch those creative muscles and photograph something just for me.

Ever my willing model and muse, my friend Soyun (you’ll recognize her from many a previous blog post) joined in the fun. Together, we wandered around Atlanta, Cedartown, and Rome to capture funky, creative photos. I think she knocked it out of the park, and that dancer’s background certainly came in handy.

I hope you enjoy this little exercise in creativity! I know I did.

Alesia and Josh: A Georgia Wedding

With vaccines rolling out pretty quickly, it seems wedding season is back in full swing!

Alesia and Josh tied the knot near Macon, Georgia last month, and I was honored to be part of their big day. Better yet, one of my college friends was maid of honor. We hadn’t seen each other in person since we were bridesmaids at another wedding in 2018, so it was especially nice to see her again!

After getting all dolled up, Alesia met Josh by the wisteria for the sweetest first look reveal; then it was off to a ceremony full of laughter, happy tears, and Star Trek references.

The evening was a delightful blur of tacos, cake, awesome friends, and even a tiny photographer in the making. In fact, it’s safe to say that he took my favorite shot of the evening (it’s the very last photo in this little sneak peek, if you’re wondering). Keep it up, little man!

Congratulations again, Alesia and Josh!

Captured by the young man in the photo above this one. Future photographer for sure!

Dark Fae: A Fantasy Cosplay Session

Before 2020 decided to hurtle headlong into unchecked chaos, I stumbled upon a fairy ring as I wandered the nearby woods. Fairy lore is quite clear on the subject, warning mortals against stepping inside, but curiosity got the better of me. After all, curiosity may have killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back.

And that’s how I ended up in the Unseelie Court, face to face with the faerie queen and her subjects. Pixies and pucks and brownies and gnomes. All gathered around their queen in a surreal blur of horns, wings, and feathers.

Had I known what 2020 had in store, perhaps I would have remained among the fae. But alas, I did not. I’m not saying I’m actively seeking out fairy rings to flee this timeline and disappear among the fair folk…but if I chance upon another one, you can bet I’ll enthusiastically leap into it without a second thought.

Alice: A Magical Birthday

I don’t often write about my personal life or the wonderful people in it, but…

Happy birthday, my darling. It’s hard to believe five years have just flown by. Wasn’t it just yesterday we were blearily stumbling through your newborn days, exhausted, elated, and woefully underprepared?

Your only-child status is coming to an end, and I just want to savor these last few months before that transition. Don’t get me wrong. I’m excited, and I can’t wait to see you blossom into an amazing big sister, but for now you’re still my baby, and I will cling to that for as long as I can.

I love our early morning cuddles before you get ready for school. You say and do things that will be stamped into my heart and mind forever. I love how you’re constantly kissing my pregnant belly, unprompted, so excited for the baby that you can’t help yourself. I love that you share my love of horses and Harry Potter. You’re a quick learner, bursting with a natural curiosity that I hope you’ll never lose.

It has been such a joy to watch you grow and change over the years.

You bring magic to my life every day, and I hope you know how much I love you.

Love is love

This week, the wedding community witnessed yet another hurtful, hateful encounter between a loving LGBTQ+ couple and a vendor who decided not to take them on as clients due to their sexual orientation.

Suffice it to say that discriminatory actions have consequences, and a screenshot of this vendor’s e-mail (and subsequent “apology”) has been shared and re-shared on social media.

But this post is not about them.

I want to make it abundantly clear that Starglass Photography will always, always support LGBTQ+ couples. Love is love, and there is simply no room for hate in the wedding industry.

So to all the couples who have encountered this kind of hatred while planning your wedding, I am so, so deeply sorry that you’ve had to experience that while planning what should be a happy event.

Know that there are many of us in the wedding industry that support you and love you. We’ve got your back, and we would be proud to serve you on the happiest day of your life, lending our skills and talents to make sure your wedding is a beautiful celebration of your love.

Love and hugs,

Mana