Alex the Photo Blog

Though this is definitely way late, I still figure I’d post about it.   Each year, Dad goes in on season tickets with a big group of friends.  I’ll usually have a chance to make it to one or two of the games and of course I’m always asked to bring my camera and “the big lens.”   These types of pictures are always a challenging balance between taking pictures and actually enjoying the game with whomever is there.  I never really get up and walk around because I don’t want to be rude, but at the same time pictures are often blah sitting in the same spot.

Overall I had a great time at the game and, as my brother predicted it, Dad definitely got a little teary eyed at Bobby’s last goodbye.  I guess in retrospect, I should have too seeing as every Braves game I’ve ever attended had Bobby as coach.

Here’s dad signing the thank-you card from the season ticket holders.

Apparently they haze rookies by making them wear kids backpacks for their first season.

And of course, Bobby Cox:

I’ve owned the domain since college.  Three years ago I re-upped it’s registration and I contracted my good friend Greg Vilines at Webnormous to begin work on the site.   Then a combination of producing an album, playing in a band, get married, and having his house burn down slowed Greg’s progress on the site a bit.  A combination of helping with the album, buying a house, running a photo business, general laziness, and getting engaged slowed me down too.  I know my excuses aren’t as valid as a house fire, but regardless of the timing, it is finally LIVE!

Greg built the whole thing from scratch and he did a damn good job on it.  I know I was a difficult client at times but in the end we got it all worked out.  There will be a few tweaks made in the coming months, but since it’s 99% done, we figured why not launch it?  This will be a soft opening for my six blog readers and facebook friends until I get it 100% finished.

Keep in mind the new site isn’t going to be a replacement for the blog- just think of it as a “best of Alex the Photo Guy.”  I’ll still keep you up to date with my crazy photo antics here on the blog, so don’t stop reading!

Let me know what you think!  Many thanks again to Greg who did all the hard work.  All I did was take a few photos.  If you need a website, let me know and I’ll get you in contact with Webnormous.

Lauren and I have known each other since 6th grade orchestra class.   I was always second chair to her, though I never minded.  I just loved hearing her play… plus it took all the pressure off of me to lead the basses.    I always knew her as Lauren Cauthorn and I actually had to check facebook before writing this post to find out her married name.   Granted she has been married to a charming British bloke man for a few years now, I just don’t pay attention to silly details like “names.”

This set of photos, much like the Giles family post earlier took place at Thrasher Park.  I knew it would be a good spot for them because Cameron loves trains and they run past the park about every 30 minutes.

I can say the Giles family is one of my favorite repeat customers thus far.  Granted, most of my shoots are weddings and it would be terrible to say I have favorite repeat customers there… though I really toyed with the idea of a company motto that read, “If you aren’t happy with your photos, you’re next wedding is free!”  Most people probably wouldn’t get the humor as a lot can be lost in translation on the interwebs.

These photos were taken at Thrasher Park in downtown Norcross.  It was a great spot… actually a little too great as the place was PACKED with familes and kids running around everywhere.  In fact, I think there were 3 other professional photographers there doing the same thing I was. 

And finally, the “why is this guy following me around???” look.

Rob Devlin is an old friend of mine.  We go back to freshman high school Spanish class.  From there we connected through music when we found we both played complimenting rhythm instruments- he on drums, me on bass.  Another friend of his played guitar (Greg), so naturally we started a band.  And we didn’t start just a band, we started a terrible band.  We were a 90′s rock cover band without a singer – and it’s exactly what we wanted.  We could rock out as loud as we wanted, get lost in the music, and not feel guilty if we weren’t getting better because we [almost] never played anywhere.  When we did play for an audience, it was all sans vocals unless someone in the crowd wanted to jump on stage with us and risk their ears and the respect of their friends.  Rob always worked multiple jobs and provided everything we needed for the band- even things we didn’t need:  laser lights, fog machines, too many speakers, business cards, a website, the list goes on.

Even when Greg and I went away to college, Rob was still committed to the band, no matter what the cost.  For Christmas that same year, he found us 4-track recorders as presents so that we could still record music long-distance.  We’d each pick a track and mail tapes to each other to fill in our parts.  It was as brilliant as it was generous.  Rob has always been a great friend. 

When I met Lacey, I knew she was the best thing to happen to Rob since the band (half joking).  In fact, I now know that Rob breaking his ankle in college was a dark cloud with the brightest silver lining he could have ever hoped for.  Thanksgiving break 2004, I was living in Nashville 30 minutes from Rob at MTSU in Murfreesboro.  He told me he’d broken his ankle at the TV studio on campus where he worked.  He asked if I could give him a ride home and back for the holiday break.  I was happy to do it and enjoy some company for the ride home to Atlanta.  The ride home and back went well, but what I distinctly remember was Rob telling me as I dropped him off that Sunday back in Nashville that a girl from the station was coming over that night.  She was bringing him Thanksgiving leftovers from her family’s Thanksgiving dinner.  Not only did I know this girl had an interest in Rob, but I knew she was the girl Rob would marry (if he knew what was good for him!).

Rob and Lacey were married in Nashville on Vanderbilt’s campus at the the Scarritt-Bennett Chapel on October 10th.  The ceremony was as beautiful as the life they have ahead of them.  Cheesy, I know- but I truly am happy for them both. 

When you own the lighting set-up, the possibilities are endless…

Ross and Courtney were married on September 25th at the Swilley Chapel in the Second Ponce De Leon Baptist Church in Buckhead.  As Keri and I start our own plans for our wedding, I love picking up on tips from brides.  For example, chapel prices can be almost half of sanctuary prices… I had no idea.  As you can see below, chapel weddings are just beautiful!

Ross works with me at my “day job,” so I was honored when he asked me to shoot his wedding.  Keri and I were going to be there anyway, so I was excited at the opportunity to be the photog for the day.  They couldn’t have asked for better weather!  It was such a great fall day, albeit a little warm.  Deep blue skies with a few cotton-fluffy clouds scattered about.  The reception was at Kimball Hall in Roswell on “wedding row” as I’ve come to call Mimosa Blvd.  The Kimball Hall staff did a great job with the indoor and outdoor decorations as well as the food.

I’ll let the pictures below do the rest of the talking.

This was the sweetest part of the wedding: the silent time for the couple to pray.

…then Ross gave Courtney a little kiss, and she said “wait! not yet!” as they walked back to the altar.
Hence the light-hearted laughter.

Apparently going out of the country means you forget about all the work you wanted to do before you left.  My sister, who attended Auburn for undergrad, sent me a text last night that read “hey- you still haven’t blogged about that Auburn wedding! I want to see the pix!”

Sorry for the delay!  I had a great time in Auburn for Regan and Jeff’s wedding weekend.  Everything was beautiful and was at a cute little chapel right across from Samford Hall on campus.  There were hints of rain, but never caused anyone any problems.  Regan looked beautiful in her dress and Jeff looked distinguished with his silver vest and tie.  The reception was definitely a party!  I have so many pictures of people dancing you’d think they were at a downtown NYC club and not an antebellum home in Auburn.  Afterward I went out with all the bridesmaids (and their husbands) and ended up eating pizza with a few friends from the wedding in a hotel room until 4am.   Most photographers don’t get such a royal treatment… 

War Eagle!