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Murrells Inlet, South Carolina Destination Wedding | Atlanta Wedding Photographer

For this country-chic destination wedding I left Atlanta, and headed up to the low country of South Carolina.  The wedding took place in Murrells Inlet, which is in between Myrtle Beach and Charleston, South Carolina.  It’s a beautiful area.  Miles of beautiful beach, and endless channels and marshes lined with romantic oak trees dressed in spanish moss.  I have always had a thing for spanish moss.  It’s just one of the most lovely looking things, isn’t it?  :)  This awesome couple reside in Mississippi, and met up with all of their family and friends on the South Carolina beach for a few days before the big day.  That’s part of the fun of a destination wedding.  You can turn it into a fabulous vacation.  I had so much fun with this group, and think that we got some AMAZING images.  It recently was published in Premier Bride Mississippi.  Hope you enjoy!

 

It’s always a treat to be published.  :)  This pretty Wachesaw Plantation wedding looked great on the pages of Premier Bride.

 This beautiful sunset image says it all.  THIS is why you plan a destination wedding in a place like Charleston or Murrells Inlet South Carolina.  Just beautiful!

 

 I always love to be around first thing in the morn with my bride.  That way I can get all of the ‘getting ready’ fun, and take some time with all of the little details of the day.  Rings, and Flowers, and Shoes…Oh My!  :)

The bride found these bridesmaid dresses on Etsy.  :)

The venue, Wachesaw Plantation was a dream for a photographer.  A gorgeous country club nestled in the trees, sitting right on the  Waccamaw River.

The ceremony at Wachesaw Plantation took place outside right on the bank of the river.  It was really beautiful.

The reception was ablaze with candles.  I really dig any ambient light, but the large collections of candles was extra fabulous.  I thought the use of old bottles in different shades of green was beautiful.

Are you planning a destination wedding?  Photo By Gannon is always ready to hit the road or jump on a plane.  Whether you’re planning a wedding in Charleston, South Carolina or Santa Barbara, California I’d love to be a part of it!  :)

Decatur, Georgia Portrait Photographer | Military Family | Photo By Gannon

Being a portrait photographer is about so much more than the perfect image.  For me it’s about taping into something really personal, sharing an intimate space with my clients.  I feel so lucky to do what I do.  Spending time with my portrait clients, learning their stories, and capturing a moment in the storyboard of their lives.  It’s precious to me.  The moment I walked into the home of this beautiful family I literally felt love bouncing around in the room.  The patriarch of the family was home on leave for one short week before returning to his duty overseas.  It was such a pleasure to document this for them.

Have to love this ride.  Very, very cool.

A moment like this is what being a family photographer is ALL about. 

I had a big crush on this little rescue dog, appropriately named ‘Fuzzy’.

I always love photographing family portraits.  Are you and yours long overdue for a family portrait session?

The Ruins at Kellum Valley Farms Wedding | Cleveland, Georgia | Atlanta Wedding Photographer

Sometimes in life everything falls into place in a seemless fashion. This Kellum Valley Farms wedding was the perfect example of this.  Kellum Farms is tucked into the rolling mountains of Cleveland, Georgia.  Cleveland is a tiny town in northeast Georgia.  Kellum Farms is remarkable.  Right down to the sweet-faced farm dog this place has a little magic up it’s sleeve.  The grounds are peppered with old farm buildings, rustic signage, and stone ruins.  It was a dream to work here.  The cherry on top was the staff.  Everyone was so helpful and kind.  It was just a feel-good kind of place………Be sure to look for this wedding when it graces the pages of The Atlantan Bride in October. 

What always makes my weddings so fantastic is my awesome clients.  I really have the best!  It’s beyond amazing to spend those hours leading up to the big moment with my bride and grooms.  This young couple was absolutely glowing with excitement, and it was intoxicating to be around.

Brooch Bouquets!  I’m loving these this year.  What a fun way to add some creative sparkle to your bouquet.

This gorgeous gown was the THIRD one that was purchased.  It was perfect.  It was also purchased by the groom as a surprise to his sweet bride.  I love something that steps outside of tradition a bit.  It makes things feel extra special to me. 

I loved that this wedding party donned Toms during the festivities.  It worked perfectly, and looked really fabulous.  Who wants to teeter on stilettos in the grass anyway? 

CUTE IDEA ALERT:  This program had a little couple-centric  quiz on the back with a golf pencil attached.  It was the perfect activity for the guests as they arrived to the ceremony site. Later guests left their quizes behind for the couple.  I thought it would be fun to read through those after the wedding.

I was OBsessed with this cake!  It was covered with perfectly whimsical mushrooms, leaves, and acorns.  It was cute and sophisticated all at once.  This creative wedding cake is the creation of Cynthia Taggart of Kellum Valley Farms, and I think it’s brilliant!

This wedding photographer adores a southern wedding with sun-soaked backdrops like this one.

How cute are these?

I’d say that The Ruins at Kellum Valley Farms knows how to do amient lighting.  Everything twinkled and glowed after the sun went down.  It was lovely.  Don’t forget to check out The Atlantan Bride in October!  Photo By Gannon is so excited to hit the pages. 

P.S.  Who’s shooting YOUR wedding?

Family Photo Session | Conyers, Georgia | Atlanta Wedding Photographer

This one started with a Facebook inquiry from an old high school friend.  I was so happy to catch up while we got some fabulous photos.  It’s always a treat to see an old friend in front of your lens with their own little family.  Time does fly!  This is one of the reasons why I do what I do so happily.  To look at a photo of a moment past can be magic.

 This was a fantastic location for our portrait session.  We took a little stroll around The Monastery of The Holy Spirit in Conyers, Georgia.  It is a beautiful property, and as you might imagine….nice and quiet. 

When I am working with little children I have a couple of goals.  Number one:  make friends with them.  I find this to be most easy as I just jive with little kids, and think they are endlessly cool.  Number two:  capture who they REALLY are.  I let them be, and respect that.  I don’t want my subjects to sit still and smile at me.  I want them to live a little in front of my lens, and let me freeze it!  If I do ‘direct’ them I don’t want them to know. 

Hey Folks!  Photo By Gannon is already booking up for fall portrait season so let’s talk soon if you are ready for some fall fun.  CONTACT me today………I’ll look forward to it.

Decatur, Georgia Wedding Photographer | Decatur Portrait Session

This family is AWESOME!  From the moment I met them I knew for sure that family dinners are a great time with this group.  It was really terrific to see how much this family enjoyed hanging out together.  I felt like quite the lucky portrait photographer.

The majority of my family portrait sessions involve small children.  For this session it was fun to be able to set up some shots that were a little more physically demanding

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This family portrait session was super local, and we shot on the beautiful campus of Emory University.

 

 

Family pictures are all about capturing a family’s closeness.  I feel honored to be the one to do it for EVERY single one of my portrait sessions. 

I hope to work with this crew again!  I just loved working with them……and these two gorgeous kids better call me when it’s wedding time one day. 

 

P.S.  Go ‘LIKE’ Photo By Gannon on Facebook to keep up with all of the newest work.  See you there!

Atlanta Pregnancy Photography | Decatur, Georgia Wedding Photographer

Pregnancy photography is a chance to try a TON of things.  They can be cute, sexy, family oriented, or showcase you and you alone.  I like to do ALL of that in ONE shoot.  From a Demi-inspired glam shot to a photo of a beautiful pregnant woman cuddling with the children she already has…….and everything in between.  Of course some of them don’t make it on the blog.    This maternity portrait session was extra special as this gorgeous redhead is a lifelong friend!

And baby makes FIVE! 

I LOVE this one!  I’m always very aware of shadows and negative space, and I think this one was a keeper for sure. 

What a wonderful gift to watch your bestie of 25+ years turn into a beautiful, graceful, AMAZING mother of THREE.  Cheers to that!

Dahlonega Wedding Photography | Decatur, Georgia Photographer

I’m an Atlanta based wedding photographer, but that doesn’t mean I am locked in Atlanta every weekend.  I photograph events all over the states, and in EVERY corner of Georgia.  One of my favorite areas of Georgia is Dahlonega.  It’s wonderfully beautiful, and peppered with fantastic wedding venues.  This recent wedding was at The Dahlonega Spa Resort.  Have a look!

The bride’s dress was finished by the hands of her talented grandmother.  She added details to the dress to make it just what the bride envisioned.  It was lovely.

My bride was styled by the fabulous Marissa Kaye.  This was a treat as Marissa and I met nearly 10 years ago on a commercial set, and I loved getting to catch up with her.  She is wonderful at what she does, and so much fun to have in the room.

 

I really love these sharp summer suits by Calvin Klein.  It’s the perfect answer to the Georgia heat.

The bride’s purple wedding details popped beautifully!

My bride had such a strong vision for her big day.  With the help of family and friends, a massive amount of DIY magic occurred.  Some of my favorites were the brooch bouquet, hand made veil, and the lace seat covers.  Everything was so well done, and I am the definition of ‘detail oriented’ so nothing was lost on me.  NO detail is too small.

Dahlonega really does provide such a gorgeous setting for a wedding.  It’s definitely an area to look into, especially if you are planning an outdoor event.

The bride’s vintage ring was super unique, and looked perfect on her. 

This gorge cake decor is DIY done RIGHT!  I love this cascade of antique brooches and purple flowers.  Perfection!

Whether you are planning a wedding in Decatur, Dahlonega, or a tropical destination PHOTO BY GANNON has you covered.  Let’s talk about the vision for your big day!

Atlanta Family Portrait Session | Decatur, Georgia Wedding Photographer

For this recent portrait session I headed to my client’s home for the afternoon.  When photographing little children I often think it’s best to work in one’s own yard.  The kids are happy and contained, and I can interact with them to get real moments.  I think we got some great moments with these happy and beautiful little ones.

 

Photographing children has always been one of my favorite aspects of my work.  To do it well is to be fluid.  I still apply some gentle direction with my little subjects, but it’s disguised a bit.    More so, it’s about truly watching for what is going to happen next.

I adore this one.  What a sweet little beauty!

I’m already looking forward to having these precious smiles in front of my lens again……..Are you gearing up for your own session?  Contact me TODAY.  Dates go fast.  I hope to hear from you soon. 

Atlanta Wedding Photographer | Morton’s Restaurant | Downtown Atlanta Spring Wedding

I knew that I was going to enjoy this wedding the first time I met the bride.  She was very cool, and totally gorgeous.  I was also excited by their location.  It’s always a treat to photograph a wedding in downtown Atlanta.  There are so many fantastic options!  I am always a fan of finding contrast in my work.  A bride in a stunning gown set against the gritty facades of an urbanscape is perfection to me.

I LOVE the yellow shoes that the bride wore.  It was the perfect pop of color for the last day of March!

 

Cheers to the happy couple!  Cheers to wedding season!  Cheers to spring!………And Cheers to hearing from you soon!

Atlanta Wedding Photographer | Destination Photographer | Santa Barbara and Beverly Hills

Earlier this month I had the pleasant surprise to land an amazing gig on the west coast.  Most people know me as a wedding photographer in Atlanta, as I have been a part of over 600 weddings in my career.  Others may know me as a portrait photographer with subjects ranging from newborns to families.  I am ALWAYS ready to wear the badge of DESTINATION PHOTOGRAPHER. 

This adventure began with a private flight from Atlanta to Santa Barbara.  I was hired by two families to cover all of the fun on their exciting spring break getaway.  Because a family vacation is of a private nature I don’t have any photojournalism coverage to share, but I thought I’d share some of the beautiful sights along the way on this luxe trip………….

It’s always hard to be in Santa Barbara, and not feel completely and totally happy to be there.  It’s a beautiful place.  I am always obsessed with the foliage of Santa Barbara.

Our first stop was the fantastic San Ysidro Ranch.  San Ysidro Ranch is understated luxury all around.  The resort consists of a cluster of uber private bungalows tucked onto the hillside.  The place is covered in wisteria, rosemary, bougainvillea, and lemon trees.  It smells like all of these things dancing on the ocean air.  It’s truly phenomenal.

There were many celebrity sightings on this trip.  This was a quick shot of Hilary Duff and her husband, hockey player Mike Comrie.  I assume this was a ‘babymoon’ of sorts as they got married at the ranch.   I couldn’t help sneaking one shot of these two as they were sitting only a few feet away, but left it at that.  I’m not a rat. 

Santa Barbara has some stunning golf clubs.  We took a quick tour of a couple.  We don’t have courses with views like this in Atlanta.

We didn’t dine here at Tydes in The Coral Casino Private Club, but the view was too fantastic.

We left Santa Barbara for Beverly Hills.  It’s funny how different the two spots feel.  In Santa Barbara I was inspired by the vegetation, beautiful diffused light, and crisp ocean air.  Beverly Hills was bright, sharp, and tingled with energy.  I loved getting these two amazing cities as inspiration in one trip.

To stay in the presidential bungalow at The Beverly Hills Hotel is a once in a lifetime experience(though I am determined to make a repeat happen one day).  It’s the best of the best!

Luxury, luxury, luxury!  The decor of the living area in the bungalow was perfect.  I sat in that leather chair in the corner every night.  Wish I could have taken it home with me. 

Portrait of a happy destination photographer from Atlanta! 

I was thrilled to get the chance to see the new Cirque du Soleil show OVO at the Santa Monica Pier.  It was a fantastic show!

Perfectly private pool…………………

Now THIS was exciting for me.  I saw Paris Hilton, Kelsey Grammer, Lenny Kravitz, Ben Stein, William Levy……..but Rachel Zoe took the cake for this gal.  I am obsessed with all of the Bravo shows, but have always thought that Zoe is a brilliant fashion maven.

Check out day arrived, and it was back on the plane to Atlanta.  What a fantastic time.  If you have an extra special trip coming up I would love to tag along to capture every minute.  It’s a great thing to relax in the moment knowing that Photo By Gannon is along to save every memory for you, and even be an extra hand to help out with the kids.  Maybe you don’t need to bring that travel nanny along after all?  Hmmmmmm……….

Planning a destination wedding?  Let’s talk!