Meet Cindy Brown | Documentary Wedding and Event Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cindy Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cindy, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
The decision to stop trying to please other people with my photos and concentrate on taking the quirky, documentary photos I love to take. It’s what I do best.
And the decision to be an out-and-proud lesbian wedding photographer.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
After earning my degree in Photography from the Art Institute of Atlanta, I launched my career as a photojournalist at a small newspaper in South Georgia. There, I captured everything from hospital teas and horse trainers to pecan farmers and beauty queens. I then moved to North Florida to complete my bachelor’s degree and interned with the Associated Press. From there, I worked as a staff photojournalist for two daily newspapers in Florida before relocating to Indiana, where I served as a picture editor for a major daily and earned both a master’s and a PhD.

Throughout my journey as a photojournalist, student, and picture editor, I learned the importance of understanding the purpose behind each photo assignment, working swiftly under pressure, and telling a powerful story through my images.

After teaching photojournalism at colleges and universities in Florida, Indiana, and Mississippi, I returned to Atlanta to earn—yep, you guessed it—yet another degree.

One of the greatest challenges I faced in my career as a professor was battling severe depression. Alongside therapy and medication, I turned to my passion for photography to navigate through those dark times. During my struggle, I began a project documenting religious diversity in Mississippi. This project, along with my love for storytelling through the lens, led me to wedding photojournalism.

I’ve had the privilege of documenting weddings of all sizes and styles—Unitarian, Pagan, Christian, Muslim, indoor and outdoor, in backyards and churches. One of the most memorable weddings I shot took place in Tulum, Mexico, where a Mayan shaman officiated. I’ve cried during father-daughter dances, laughed at heartfelt toasts, and snuck a piece of wedding cake when no one was looking. And, yes, I’ve been known to join in the dancing while photographing a reception.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day 1: The day would begin with a hike at Stone Mountain Park, followed by a bite to eat in Stone Mountain Village at Cherokee Rose or Sweet Potato Cafe.
Day 2: We’d take MARTA and to the CNN station. From there, we’d enjoy the views from the Skyview ferris wheel next to Centennial Olympic Park. I’d let my guests pick from the Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, or the National Center for Civil and Human Rights — or all three if they were up for it! Later, we might head to the Sun Dial Restaurant for dinner and another breathtaking view of the city.
Day 3: No tour of Atlanta would be complete without a visit to the Botanical Gardens, Piedmont Park, and the High Museum of Art, so we’d head to one or all for the morning and part of the afternoon. We’d wrap up the afternoon with a delicious meal at Papi’s Cuban Grill. If we still had energy, we’d enjoy a performance by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nathalie Stutzmann. If the orchestra wasn’t performing, we might be able catch a Broadway show at the Fox Theatre or enjoy a concert from a musical legend.
Day 4: We’d take a scenic drive through Kirkwood to see its murals, check out the grand mansions along the Olmstead Linear Park on Ponce, and finish with a stop at the Carter Center. After visiting the Carter Library, we’d head over to Ponce City Market, where we could choose from a variety of great restaurants, including one of my favorites, Botiwalla.
Day 5: If our guests were visiting in the summer and felt a little adventurous, we’d probably “shoot the hooch” (float down the Chattahoochee River) on an inner tube. From the river, we’d head to Desta Ethiopian Kitchen on Briarcliff for a bite to eat. If we weren’t completely exhausted by that point, we’d check out indie films playing at the Tara or Landmark Theaters.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to my wife Sharon for working beside me and putting up with me while I built this business.
Shoutout to my parents for letting me be me.
Shoutout to all my teachers and fellow photographers for sharing what they know about the business with me.
Shoutout to all those whose events I’ve photographed for trusting me with their memories.

Website: https://www.cbrownphoto.com

Instagram: cbrownphotoweddings

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbrownphoto/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbrownphoto/

Other: https://www.samesexweddingphotographers.com/

https://www.cbrownphoto.com/atlanta-event-photographers

https://www.cbrownphoto.com/atlanta-mitzvah-photography

Image Credits
All photos by Cindy M Brown