May 1, 2017

Meet Cindy Brown and Sharon of C Brown Photo

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Brown.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born and raised here in Atlanta.

After graduating from the Art Institute of Atlanta, I was a staff photojournalist at several daily newspapers.

An unexpected life turn took me to Vermont for one incredibly cold winter and on to Indiana, where I worked as a picture editor for a large daily, and completed a master’s and PhD.

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

My passion for telling stories with photographs, along with my interest in documenting religious diversity led me to the field of wedding photojournalism.

C Brown Photo began as a part-time business in 2004, while I was still a professor of photojournalism. In 2009, I took the leap from part-time to full-time.

Soon thereafter, because of our commitment to marriage equality, my wife and I created a secondary, Cindy and Sharon, brand focused entirely on same-sex weddings.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest obstacle has been learning to run a business.

Even though I went to school forever, I never took a business course. So, I’ve spent the past ten years reading books, watching webinars and learning through experience.

And I still have much more to learn.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with C Brown Photo and Cindy and Sharon – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My wife and I have two photography companies, C Brown Photo and Cindy and Sharon | Same Sex Wedding Photographers. Our mainstay is wedding photojournalism.

For those who aren’t familiar with that term, it refers to photographing a wedding to tell the story of the day, the way a photojournalist at one of the classic picture magazines, like Life, would photograph a person, news event or topic to tell the story.

The first thing that sets us apart from most wedding photographers is that we focus our cameras on friends and family enjoying the wedding day, as much as the couple.

Another thing that sets us apart from most wedding photographers, even some who describe themselves as wedding photojournalists, is my experience as a newspaper photojournalist, picture editor and professor of photojournalism. I’ve photographed in so many different situations through the years, that I’m confident I can handle any shooting scenario.

We also are different from other photographers because of our focus on eco-friendly practices and products. Our signature album is printed with soy-based inks on hand made paper. Our favorite album cover is made from pineapple leaves.

Our clients are also different from most couples. Both members of the couple are highly educated and are more interested in seeing photographs of everyone having fun than posed photographs of themselves.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’m looking forward to the day when LGBT couples will feel comfortable contacting any wedding vendor, knowing their love will be accepted and celebrated.

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