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A few weeks before his wedding, Dana McArthur called and asked me to photograph it.
I was honored.
Dana and I have worked together as contractors on many Chick-fil-A meetings. Those assignments gave us opportunities to get to know each other, but our connection extends into everyday life. We live near each other and sometimes bump into each other at the gym or at local restaurants. Dana and my wife even share the same hairdresser, Missy Boggs.
When someone you know through so many parts of life asks you to photograph their wedding, that invitation carries special meaning. Dana was trusting me to preserve a day that mattered deeply to him and Linda LaVigne.
On October 10, I had the joy of doing just that at New Ground Farm in Canton, Georgia.
A Place Built Around Relationships
The location added another personal connection. New Ground Farm belongs to my friend Kevin Williams, a Chick-fil-A Operator.
Kevin and his wife, Gwen, created New Ground with a vision to bring people together and strengthen relationships. Their foundation grew out of their family’s experience with fostering and adoption and their desire to support other families.
That made it a meaningful setting for Linda and Dana’s wedding: a place created for connection, filled with people gathering to celebrate two people they love.
Looking Beyond the Couple
Linda and Dana were at the center of my coverage. But telling their wedding story also meant paying attention to the people around them.
Who leaned in to say something? Who reached out for a hug? Where did a conversation turn into laughter?
Those are the questions that keep me watching.
In the gallery, the portraits of Linda and Dana sit alongside photographs of greetings, embraces, and conversations. Guests gather around tables, reconnect, and pause for pictures together. Each kind of photograph contributes something different.
A portrait gives people a chance to stand together and acknowledge a relationship. A candid moment shows how that relationship feels.
I want couples to have both.
Giving the Story Room to Breathe
My background in photojournalism shapes the way I approach a wedding. I’m looking for a variety of photographs that work together to help someone experience the day.
The wider views of the ceremony show Linda and Dana within the gathering—the room, the setting, and the people who came to witness their marriage. Closer photographs bring us into their expressions and gestures.
Then there are the details, including the wedding cake and the reception tables. Those photographs help establish the occasion and preserve the care that went into welcoming everyone.
Moving among those views gives the story rhythm. We see where we are, spend time with the people, and move closer when a moment calls for it.
Watching What Happens Between the Planned Moments
A wedding has a schedule. Relationships unfold at their own pace.
Before and after the ceremony, Linda and Dana had opportunities to visit with guests, share hugs, and stand alongside friends and family. At the reception tables, conversations added another layer to the story.
These moments deserve attention because the couple cannot be everywhere at once. While they are speaking with one person, something meaningful may be happening across the room.
Part of my responsibility is to notice those connections and give them back to the couple through photographs.
Dana’s professional work centers on helping people learn and engage. As an instructional designer with Accelerated Leadership Group, he brings creativity, a relaxed manner, and humor to his work. I know him through our shared assignments. Photographing this wedding gave me the privilege of seeing him and Linda within a much wider circle of relationships.
The Gift of Being Trusted
Over time, I believe the photographs of the people will become even more valuable.
A familiar expression. An arm around a shoulder. A group of friends gathered in one place. These images help us remember how it felt to be together.
That is what I wanted to preserve for Linda and Dana: their wedding day, with room in the story for the friends and family who shared it.
Linda and Dana, thank you for inviting me into such an important day. It was a great joy to celebrate with you and an honor to photograph the relationships surrounding your marriage.
