Lauren’s Bridal Session
Posted in Bridals, Weddings with tags bridal session, Evergreen, Stone Mountain on April 7, 2008 by sharizellersIn a word, “WOW”…and honestly, I can’t even begin to express how amazing this whole photo session and day went for me. I’m still kinda in awe by Lauren, her friends Jo & Karen, and the incredible experience we all had together shooting Lauren’s bridal session.
Since Lauren & Dragos’ engagement session on the previous Saturday was under the worst weather conditions I’ve ever shot, I was really anxious about this shoot going well. Alicia and I even spent an afternoon in late February trying to scout out locations in Stone Mountain Park for potential shots. We were able to discover some really unusual places to do funky bridal images however, the ONE place we could not get to that day was to the top of Stone Mountain. Ever since Lauren opted to do her bridal session, I’ve been fantasizing about shooting her on top of the mountain. At the time we were scouting, the Skyride was not operational for the winter season and maintanence so we could not go up there that day.
The Sunday before her session, I went to the park but it was an hour wait to get to the ride! So, I opted to come back the following morning - the day BEFORE her session (!) - to check out the top of the mountain and hopefully see what my options were for some very different bridal images. Of course I wanted to give her some traditional “pretty” images with flowers or architecture, too. But what I had in mind was something that would really be dramatic and awesome…On Monday morning, I got to the Skyride and it was pretty quiet so it only took one ticket and a few minutes and I was on my way to the top. When I got up there though, it was SOOOOOO cold and windy! I ran around for about 20 minutes and my hands were hurting pretty badly after just a few minutes of exposure…I got worried about what it would be like the following day and decided we would bring a faux fur coat just in case it was too cold for her to go without a wrap of some sort.
The following day, the morning of her session was very overcast again and it worried me. It wasn’t supposed to rain but I was really looking for SOME sun of some sort! UGH! Yet, when she got into her dress, it was like magic…we headed outside and voila! The clouds started to break up and the sun came peeking in and out - PERFECT! My mom was assisting me that day along with Lauren’s two friends and we were all as giddy as we could be. I took them to this putting green with a view of the mountain on the other side of the lake and got some great shots with the mountain behind her. Then we took off for a little grassy area with flowering trees and knarly oaks…Then off to my “secret” spot - a large extension of granite that was as the base of the mountain and had an other-wordly feel to it. Lauren was doing so well and really pulling out the great expressions and was wonderful with my direction to her poses. She is truly stunning!
Then I was ready to take her to the top of the mountain - oh so ready! We brought the coat but we didn’t need it! It was warm enough to be comfortable and breezy enough to create some great motion in her dress. I even shot some vogue images of her riding the Skyride cable car - fabulous! The one thing I didn’t really take into consideration was the time - the last ride down the mountain leaves at 5:30…and we made it to the top just minutes before 5:00!!! The park personnel were concerned that we would not have enought time and told us that they try to look for us before it got too late. Thank Goodness I had done all that scouting the day before!!!! I told everyone that I work very quickly and started them in the direction of our first location on top - I had four spots chosen for photos and saved the best for last. 

First was a fun, flirty, retro look with the coin-operated viewers. We even had Karen hold out Lauren’s train and let it go flying for a couple of action shots. Then we went to the tree seen in the shots below for some very different looking images. I kept hearing Carlos Baez in my head…he is an amazing fashion/art/wedding photographer in Miami and I love his work. I met him last year at the Pictage conference in LA and he has inspired me to take my brides to another level of bridal photography…Thanks Carlos - LOVE YA!
Then finally, to the last spot - a little rise with a tiny pond in the crater of the surface and the skyline of Atlanta barely visable in the far distance. When we got to this last area, I was in complete LOVE with the clouds at this point. The sun was streaming through and I swear, I heard angels singing ;)….My two favorite shots are the header at the top of this post and this one below. We just had an amazing photo session with Lauren (did I say amazing enough times yet?) and I feel so blessed and lucky to do what I love: taking these beautiful images of real people! Much love to Jo, Karen & Lauren - one of the coolest brides ever!
See Lauren’s Bridal Session slideshow by clicking HERE.











































































