Blog

The “Live Oak”, Georgia’s State Tree

Submitted by bryanstovall on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 15:35

The Live Oak, genus Quercus, is a general term for a large number of species of Oaks that are still green during Winter when other Oaks, such as Red Oak, White Oak, Water Oak and others are bare and dead looking. They do shed their leaves periodically, especially in the spring, but are never totally bare. The species virginiana, usually found in Georgia and the Southeastern US, is also Georgia’s State Tree.

The Cherokee Rose and “The Trail of Tears”

Submitted by bryanstovall on Fri, 04/09/2010 - 19:32

One of the saddest stories of the European settlement of America is the removal of the native Americans, the Lower Creek, the Upper Creek, the Seminole, and finally, with the discovery of gold in North Georgia at Dahlonega, the Cherokee, were forced from their native lands, and removed to Oklahoma on the “Trail of Tears”. The Cherokee had adapted to the newcomers, and many had adopted European dress, they had their own alphabet, and were f

Say “fromage”!

Submitted by bryanstovall on Thu, 04/08/2010 - 14:39

Parents, please, please, please, don’t ever point a camera at your child and tell them to say cheese!

Makeup tips for brides

Submitted by bryanstovall on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 14:42

In the current, March issue of Professional Photographer Magazine, Lorna Gentry has a great list of do’s and don’ts for brides regarding makeup and tanning. I have seen the best and worst of makeup and tanning over my years of photographing weddings, and feel that this is one of the best lists I’ve seen.

There are a couple things to start. Don’t go to a tanning booth or use a spray tan right before the wedding. Use a professional makeup artist.

How many pictures at a wedding?

Submitted by bryanstovall on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 13:43

“My dad always used to say, ‘It’s better to have 50 unbelievable photographs than 100 mediocre ones.’ It’s true. Before I push the shutter, I always ask myself, Would someone buy this photograph? If the answer is no, then I don’t take it.” -Andy Marcus from Professional Photographer, March 2010

This quote, from one of the truly elite wedding photographers in the world today, really got me thinking.

Savannah Destination Wedding Photographer

Submitted by bryanstovall on Tue, 03/09/2010 - 18:00

Savannah is a beautiful town, with amazing wedding venues full of history and romance for the couple planning a location event. Whether you choose a cathedral, a small church or chapel, one of our beautiful squares, or the beach, it is hard to go wrong. We have many wonderful wedding planners who can help you to plan a wonderful day. And Savannah is a fairly close knit community so most of us have worked together many times, and can give you lots of tips to get the professionals that you will need.

Photographing the familiar

Submitted by bryanstovall on Sat, 03/06/2010 - 12:36

One of my favorite photographer/teachers was asked in a seminar, “What is the secret to making great, interesting photographs?” His reply was to travel to magnificent places to shoot.

Now don’t get me wrong, nobody likes to travel and photograph more than I, but I think his off the cuff answer was very off the mark. It is easier to see possible images when you are away from the familiar, but there are great images waiting to be discovered in some of the most mundane places, if we practice “looking”.

Welcome to the new website!

Submitted by admin on Mon, 07/13/2009 - 17:02

Welcome to the new website! Please check back to see more photographs.

Planning

Submitted by bryanstovall on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 12:28

Planning a Savannah wedding?
http://ping.fm/HAszT

Common things we all miss

Submitted by bryanstovall on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 14:15

While I’m on the subject of common things that we all miss, here’s one for all you Southerners who grew up around cotton. We all know what bales of cotton look like, we know the cotton boll, both open and before opening, but I’ve yet to have anyone come into the gallery who has instantly identified a single cotton blossom closeup. It’s one of those things that we always saw huge fields of, with many blossoms on each cotton stalk, that we never bothered to look at the single flower, which is quite beautiful. So many times we don’t see the forest for the trees.