The deeper meaning behind ants in the dress

WE20141108-Elizabeth-Charlie-01119-2.jpg
WE20141108-Elizabeth-Charlie-01119-2.jpg

Bride inspecting dress

I've recently started asking folks to choose and describe their favorite wedding photo. The photo Elizabeth chose was one of my favorites, too. But it was the story behind Elizabeth's favorite photo that really blew me away.

Here's what she had to say:

"What you don't necessarily see in this photo is that we were looking for bugs - we had just come in from outside, and there were tiny little ants stuck in the organza of my dress."

"It's a great shot, and it's always the first of our wedding photos that people look at and say'Oooo, that's so gorgeous!'  It's come to symbolize for me what our relationship is like - a product of good luck, timing, detailed work, funny stories, and an overall experience that's breathtaking."

Ah, the power of a story.

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Cindy Brown

I'm an Atlanta wedding photographer who takes soulful, quirky and honest photos ...

I'm also an adventurous traveler and all-round nerd. I love to hike with my beagle/cattle dog Roux and best friend/spouse.

I was born in Atlanta, moved around a lot--30 cities and 5 states--and then came back.

After graduating from the Art Institute of Atlanta, I took a job at asmall newspaper in south Georgia, where I photographedhospital teas, pecan farmers, and beauty queens.

I photographed a biker funeral, death penalty protests andTed Bundy while interning with the Associated Press.

While a photographer for two dailies in Florida, I photographed Ronald Reagan, a train derailment and the dedication of a screened-in porch.

An unexpected life turn took me to Vermont where I fell in love with Bernie Sanders and on to Indiana, where I edited photos for a major daily, and nerded out getting a master’s and PhD.

After teaching photojournalism at colleges and universities in Florida, Indiana and Mississippi, I returned to Atlanta to earn myfifth degree--a Master's of Divinity.

My passion for storytelling with my camera and my interest in religious diversity led my to the field of wedding photojournalism.

I have documented weddings large and small, Unitarian and Pagan, indoors and out, Christian and Muslim, in backyards and in churches. The most exotic wedding I have photographed took place in Mexico and was officiated by aMayan shaman.

When I'm not photographing weddings, portraits or corporate events, I work on personal photo projects, visit friends in amemory-care home, and volunteer at a recovery center.