Second Quarter Award Winners from the Wedding Photojournalist Association

I was delighted to receive an e-mail from the Wedding Photojournalist Association with news that I had won two awards for the second quarter of 2012. The first award was in the category Speeches and Toasts. That photo was taken at Maggie and Tim's wedding at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I had my camera focused on the bride and groom and their parents while they listened to the toasts of friends and family. The second award was in the category Ceremony and was taken at a beach ceremony on Long Beach, Mississippi. The groom dipped the bride when the minister said, "You may kiss the bride" and I clicked away.

Here are the two award-winners:

WPJA Award Winning Photograph

WPJA Award Winning Photograph

Long Beach Misssissippi Wedding Photograph wins award

Long Beach Misssissippi Wedding Photograph wins award

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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.