At the end of December I traveled to Annapolis Maryland to photograph Ben and Branden’s wedding weekend! I have been editing all the images this past week so I thought I would share a few of my favorites while I am working on them. Ben and Branden are just so happy together. They are the kind of couple that just makes you smile. They are giddy, completely smitten over each other, incredibly humorous, and just so darn cute. Branden looked absolutely stunning, so beautiful and she was such a trooper because we did a few pictures outside and it was probably 15 degrees. Here are a few of my favorites.
Look at this hilarious cake topper!
I love their cake series! They were so funny!
I still have some more images to edit, but I thought I would share those from the wedding! 
These are very belated but back in December I had the opportunity to meet up with Molly a few weeks before her wedding to do some bridal portraits. We met at The Temple where she and Matt got married a few weeks later, and if you have never been to The Temple you should go because it is absolutely beautiful inside. It has taken me a while to edit through all the images, but here are a few of my favorites of Molly.
Even though we were freezing outside, it was so worth it. I am so happy I got the chance to be a part of their wedding.
On a side note, my graduation is April 16th, so scary! It’s coming up fast, and I have so much more to do. I ordered leather swatches today for my portfolio and I am planning on lots and lots of shoots between now and March. If you are in the Atlanta area and want some pictures taken I would love the opportunity. Stay tuned because I shot some new stuff at Oga’s Restaurant on Saturday and the Shakespeare Tavern on Sunday. As soon as I get those downloaded I will post some of them. Both locations are really neat and have so much history and character, I am pretty excited about each of those projects.
Well have a good night.
This past weekend I had the pleasure of photographing my friend Beth’s 3 week old baby boy London Hugh Callaway (isn’t that the coolest name by the way). It’s been a while since I have held a baby that young but it was so much fun. I got to feed him and the whole time he just slept so perfectly in my arms. This baby boy is just precious! Last year I photographed Beth right when she found out he was pregnant and here I am photographing London. What a pleasure!
Here are a few of my favorites from the morning shoot.
Look at this face how adorable!
His fun little chair and cute little Vans shoes.
I LOVE these next two.
And there is just something so beautiful about this one too.
Welcome to the world baby London!!!
My mom’s parents live in Big Stone Gap Virginia, a really small, quiet little town. There is even a book about the town by Adriana Trigiani, which the Trigiani’s are old family friends of my parents. Some of my Uncle’s are mentioned in her books. But anyways, my sister and I took a day and drove up to Big Stone to spend a belated Christmas with my grandparents and my Aunt Debbie. While we were there we made my granny break out some of my mom’s old clothes from high school and college. My mom was actually in a lot of beauty pageants back in the day and won quite a few. I could never fit in her dresses even if I tried to, but Jamie can fit in them so we had fun documenting her trying on some old pageant dresses. Here are a few old family pictures I had burned to a disc a few years ago as well.
This is my grandmother Kathleen.
This is my mom as a baby, and to the right is my mom and her sister Debbie as kids.
To the left is my Mom, my Aunt Debbie and my grandfather Paul Bentle Gillespie and to the right is my Mom.
My grandparents, Kathleen and Paul Gillespie.
This is the house my grandparents still live in.
This is my mother at one of her pageants, and below is the newspaper clipping when she won. Isn’t she stunning!
My mom, my aunt, my grandparents and my cousin.
Now back to my Big Stone Gap visit. This is my sister wearing my mom’s old pageant gown, it was TINY!
One of my grandmother’s many figurines.
My sister and my grandmother. My sister is wearing the exact dress my grandmother wore when my mom got married.
Another one of my mom’s old outfits.
Lucy came with us.
And my sweet grandfather in his chair asleep.
My grandfather is not doing so well, so not only did I want to post some old family memories, but I am also asking for thoughts and prayers. My grandparents have had two rough years, so I only hope 2010 isn’t one as well.
I can’t believe it is 2010! I was just thinking about all the wonderful experiences I have had in the past decade the other day and some of them feel like lifetimes ago. Here are just a few of the adventures.
May 2001- Graduated High School
Fall 2001- Started at LSU
Fall 2001- Joined the LSU Beta chapter of Pi Beta Phi
Spring 2002- Experienced Mardi Gras for the first time
Spring 2003- Transferred back to UT in Knoxville
Spring 2004- Accepted into the UT Graphic Design Program
2004- moved into my own Condo with Courtney
Summer 2004- Moved to LA for the Summer with Juls
Summer 2005- Traveled around Europe for 21 days with Mary
May 2006- Graduated from the UT Graphic Design Program
May 13th 2006- Watched my first best friend get married
October 2006- Accepted a design job in Baltimore and moved up North
April 2007- Moved to Annapolis and rented a room in Ben’s Condo
February 2008- Moved back down South and started the photography program at PC
One of my girlfriends commented the other night on how I have moved a lot, and I sure have. But, at the end of the day, I wouldn’t change a single thing. Each experience has made me into who I am today. I have a feeling 2010 is going to be a great year. I even started running now that I have my rap workout playlist on my Ipod. Don’t get too excited, I don’t run long, but it’s more than I have ever run. I am getting in shape for something, but I don’t know what yet. Maybe a Half Marathon at some point, who knows. Aside from that, here are two new things I have photographed that I really like.
Annapolis at night
David in his hunting gear. I love this shot!
I have always been really proud of both my siblings. Jamie is a great nurse at UT in Knoxville, and Stefan is finishing up his last semester at Brandeis. We are all so very different, yet we have a blast together. Tonight I would like to touch on my little brother who is a complete sweetheart and a walking genius. Stefan is the smartest person I know, really, he is! He is incredibly bright and I wish I had half his brains. My sister and I always picked on him for knowing so much growing up, and man do I take that back now. We never could quite understand why he was always throwing out random math and science facts, but now we know. He is going to do great things in life. He is about to graduate with a major in Biochemistry, and so far he has applied to 11 Graduate programs all over. I mean all over because they range from the East Coast, the West Coast, Zürich, and Germany. About every day I get a new text from him saying he got an interview at another school. The kid is bright!!! Anyways, I am keeping my fingers crossed for him, so keep him in your prayers.
This is all three of us at Christmas!
That is all for tonight. Good night!
Over the New Year’s weekend I traveled to Maryland with my dad to photograph Ben and Branden’s wedding on the second, and to spend New Year’s there as well. I captured this shot on New Year’s Eve and it’s so funny to me because for a few reasons. The weather was terrible, it was half snowing and half raining. I had to set up my tripod and put my jacket over my camera so it wouldn’t get too wet, and yet I could still barely see. Not to mention these drunk kids decided they really wanted to be in the photo so they stood there and posed for about two minutes. Anyways, I captured this in Hampden at like 12:05am. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Friday night the 1st was the Rehearsal at the Loew’s Hotel in downtown Annapolis where they got married, and the Rehearsal dinner was at Ruth Chris’. Ben and Branden are just perfect for each other. They both have such great personalities, they are both hysterically funny and really kind genuine people. I am so jealous too, they are going on a 19 day Honeymoon trip to St. Martin, St. John’s, and all around the islands. How cool is that? When I moved to Annapolis in 2007 I found a great room to rent in Ben’s condo. I didn’t have too many friends in Annapolis and things really worked out for the best. Moving in with Ben was a great decision. He became such a dear friend to me, and at the time he had just started dating Branden. So needless to say I loved having a girl come over to watch 90210 with and to go shopping with. It was a great fit. I was so happy when they got engaged and I was even happier to photograph the wedding. Here is just a sneak preview of the weekend in Maryland.
Ruth Chris’ at night
Downtown Annapolis by the water, it was so FREEZING COLD! I couldn’t take pictures for long, maybe I am a wimp, but it was cold.
Ben and Branden’s engagement Session on Friday afternoon in downtown Annapolis
I love all of them! It was so hard to pick a few to post. Since I have barely looked at the wedding images, here is my favorite so far.
Branden was just stunning! She looked beautiful! I will post more later when I can, but for now, that’s a glimpse of my fun filled New Year’s weekend in Annapolis. Congrats Ben and Branden!!! I am really happy for you two and so jealous of that honeymoon.
My Top 5 New Year’s Resolutions!
1. Excercise regularly (now that I have music on my ipod)
2. Experiment more with photography, take more risks. Market myself like crazy.
3. Eat healthier, no more gummy bears
4. Get more involved in Atlanta, join a club or two
5. No more dwelling on the things that you can’t fix in life. Some things just aren’t meant to be, and not everyday can be a fantastic one.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Christmas just came and went this year, too fast I think. It just flew by, and now it’s almost 2010! I was very blessed to have a wonderful Christmas with my family in Knoxville, and I was very fortunate to be able to visit Matthew’s family in Charlotte for a few days. Christmas is just one of the holidays it makes me realize just how lucky and blessed I really am.
However, with the busy and hectic schedule of the Holidays, I finally got the chance tonight to download the images from photographing Matt and Molly’s Wedding in Atlanta on the 19th. With the Holidays and traveling all over I haven’t even touched anything digital. Kind of sad! But I am so happy I was able to download them tonight. I can only post a few because I have to go finish packing for another wedding weekend in Annapolis. I am photographing Ben and Branden’s wedding on Saturday and I can’t wait, however I know Annapolis is going to be freezing.
Here are a few of my favorites I have picked so far. I was just so thrilled from the whole Wedding I had to show a little preview. When I get back from Annapolis I will post some great shots of Molly from her Bridal Portrait Session now that the wedding is over.
Check out these awesome shoes!
The most beautiful dress
Molly getting ready
Probably one of my favorite shots.
Matt is waiting for us to bring in Molly
They are just adorable! Really, truly, they both brought tears to my eyes and my assistant. We needed some tissues.
Actually, this might be my favorite!
Molly is peaking around the corner right before she walks down the aisle.
They had the nicest wedding party!
Molly and Matt, I can’t wait to edit all of the images. I hope you had a fantastic Honeymoon and Happy New Year!!!
Much Love CJ
Recently Eric Erickson, an 8th quarter designer, asked me to do the photography for his IFF Annual Report Re-design. I was thrilled when he asked me because it gave me a chance to really be creative and get some great shots. We had a really long shot list, and it took two long days to complete everything, but it was well worth it. These are my favorite portraits I shot during the process.
The Beautiful Adriana
Patrick Copeland
Eric’s father Ken
These are the only three I have edited for my critique tomorrow. I wish I could turn them all in, but I will post some of the others later.
This was my final shot for the Cosi Van Tutti opera. We collaborated this quarter with the Atlanta Opera to photograph some promotional materials for their upcoming season.
And this is one of my favorite images I photographed for the Peachtree Street class.
That is all for now, but I will post more later. My very last PC critique is tomorrow. It’s kind of sad, yet exciting at the same time. I sure hope it goes well.
Good night!
When I photographed Tiffany’s dog Slade (see earlier post), she took me on the rooftop of her building which has the most magnificent view of Atlanta. It was a little gloomy and cold outside that day, but seriously, look at this view! I am hoping to do a photo shoot there sometime. I don’t know what yet, but it will be perfect for something.
Last week was our last photo shoot for the Atlanta Opera class for Cosi Van Tutti, an 18th Century Italian Opera. Luckily we had some great models for the shoot, and my dear friend Kylie who is so talented did the makeup. This is Dallas, she works at the Altanta Opera and I just LOVE this shot. I captured this at the very end of the shoot, and I am so happy I did. Thanks again Dallas! It’s my new favorite image.
