We're not in Kansas anymore but we want our photos to look like we are.
August 16, 2011 1:52 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for a pretty, natural environment to take engagement photos, convenient to midtown Atlanta.
My partner and I finally found our photographer and we are ready to get engagement photos taken. However, all three of us are new to the Atlanta area and don't know the cool hidden spots. I want something rural-ish and natural - ideally a big wildflower field, or sunflowers, or just a weedy/grassy field, or cotton or corn or whatever. Something that reminds us of our Kansas roots would be great but we're open to anything along those lines. (We're getting married at Piedmont Park so we'd rather not take our engagement photos in an urban park too, pretty as they are. We're looking for something more wild and less manicured.)
We'd like it to be within 30 - 60 minutes from midtown Atlanta, and free or cheap. (So NOT the Botanical Garden with their $150 fee.) A random pretty field by the side of a road or at a particular rest stop on a highway or something would be perfect, but I don't know where those places are. Any ideas?
My partner and I finally found our photographer and we are ready to get engagement photos taken. However, all three of us are new to the Atlanta area and don't know the cool hidden spots. I want something rural-ish and natural - ideally a big wildflower field, or sunflowers, or just a weedy/grassy field, or cotton or corn or whatever. Something that reminds us of our Kansas roots would be great but we're open to anything along those lines. (We're getting married at Piedmont Park so we'd rather not take our engagement photos in an urban park too, pretty as they are. We're looking for something more wild and less manicured.)
We'd like it to be within 30 - 60 minutes from midtown Atlanta, and free or cheap. (So NOT the Botanical Garden with their $150 fee.) A random pretty field by the side of a road or at a particular rest stop on a highway or something would be perfect, but I don't know where those places are. Any ideas?
Kinda late in the season for sunflowers/wildflowers, but: http://www.sunflowerfarmfestival.com/
You could try: http://www.pickyourown.org/GAEJ.htm - listing of farms, some may have flower fields.
The problem with Atlanta is the suburban sprawl. It's getting harder and harder to find green spaces like that.
posted by matrushka at 2:22 PM on August 16, 2011
You could try: http://www.pickyourown.org/GAEJ.htm - listing of farms, some may have flower fields.
The problem with Atlanta is the suburban sprawl. It's getting harder and harder to find green spaces like that.
posted by matrushka at 2:22 PM on August 16, 2011
It's not exactly what you're looking for, but what about Agnes Scott College?
posted by TheNewWazoo at 2:33 PM on August 16, 2011
posted by TheNewWazoo at 2:33 PM on August 16, 2011
Response by poster: stormygrey, I'm not sure why, but your links aren't working! I want to see. : )
matrushka - I know. The suburban sprawl is killing us. : /
TheNewWazoo - hmm. I've never really been. Are you thinking of a spot in particular or just the general campus?
Thanks everyone for chiming in.
posted by ohsnapdragon at 2:35 PM on August 16, 2011
matrushka - I know. The suburban sprawl is killing us. : /
TheNewWazoo - hmm. I've never really been. Are you thinking of a spot in particular or just the general campus?
Thanks everyone for chiming in.
posted by ohsnapdragon at 2:35 PM on August 16, 2011
The entire campus is beautiful and picturesque in a very southern way. Not really Kansan, but interesting.
A place that's maybe a bit far, but has rolling hills and pretty views is Chattahoochee Hills. It's a working event barn, but I don't think anyone would mind you taking some photos there. I'd call ahead just to be sure.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 2:42 PM on August 16, 2011
A place that's maybe a bit far, but has rolling hills and pretty views is Chattahoochee Hills. It's a working event barn, but I don't think anyone would mind you taking some photos there. I'd call ahead just to be sure.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 2:42 PM on August 16, 2011
Silly cornfield
Lots of Lullwater shots
Chattahoochee
Kennesaw
posted by stormygrey at 2:46 PM on August 16, 2011
Lots of Lullwater shots
Chattahoochee
Kennesaw
posted by stormygrey at 2:46 PM on August 16, 2011
I should be more useful on this (I'm in Atlanta) but what about researching nearby state parks? High Falls is less than an hour south. I haven't been there but my brother loves it for canoeing, I assume they have waterfall/s, and they (or another state park) might well have scenic areas that would do well for photos.
posted by jessicapierce at 3:07 PM on August 16, 2011
posted by jessicapierce at 3:07 PM on August 16, 2011
Here's a map of GA state parks, and I bet you could check via phone to see who's got pretty fields or wildflowers.
posted by jessicapierce at 3:10 PM on August 16, 2011
posted by jessicapierce at 3:10 PM on August 16, 2011
Another thought: look up local wedding photographers and see where they favor doing engagement shoots. First google result brought me this, which doesn't offer a whole lot of new ideas but does have what appears to be a wheatfield in the center of downtown, wtf.
Marietta and Roswell both have historic squares with cobblestones and gazebos and such.
posted by jessicapierce at 3:22 PM on August 16, 2011
Marietta and Roswell both have historic squares with cobblestones and gazebos and such.
posted by jessicapierce at 3:22 PM on August 16, 2011
My husband and I had our wedding photos done where we were married in Piedmont Park. Plenty to work with if you get a good photographer.
posted by Kitteh at 3:38 PM on August 16, 2011
posted by Kitteh at 3:38 PM on August 16, 2011
Oh! Fernbank has a rose garden. Admission is free, I think (Fernbank itself is). The website doesn't mention whether photo shoots are ok.
posted by jessicapierce at 4:13 PM on August 16, 2011
posted by jessicapierce at 4:13 PM on August 16, 2011
Last I checked, Tanyard Creek Park was surprisingly rural for being in a city. There's a creek there and everything.
I know they've been undergoing some construction for the Green Belt stuff, but perhaps?
posted by functionequalsform at 4:14 PM on August 16, 2011
I know they've been undergoing some construction for the Green Belt stuff, but perhaps?
posted by functionequalsform at 4:14 PM on August 16, 2011
PS, it's on Collier Rd. just close to Peachtree.
posted by functionequalsform at 4:15 PM on August 16, 2011
posted by functionequalsform at 4:15 PM on August 16, 2011
Right across Ponce from the rose garden is a strip of park-ish land. Sparse playground equipment and picnic tables but mostly grass and trees (last I saw it). Some creative angling to omit houses could make it look like a very natural setting.
posted by jessicapierce at 4:16 PM on August 16, 2011
posted by jessicapierce at 4:16 PM on August 16, 2011
Seconding Tanyard Creek Park. It's very close to midtown Atlanta and the construction of the beltline path is finished. Start on Colonial Homes by Bobby Jones golf course and follow the path to find pretty meadows, wooded areas along a creek, and then you'll come to an enormous grassy field surrounded by woods. It's huge and hidden. Check it out on Google maps.
posted by MelissaSimon at 7:14 PM on August 16, 2011
posted by MelissaSimon at 7:14 PM on August 16, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Or Kennesaw National Battlefield has lots of trails and woods and before they mow, pretty fields. Here is one.
A little closer up 75 is the Chattahoochee Recreation Area. Lots of river goodness, some wildflowers depending.
There are Corn fields about an hour north of Atlanta that have mazes and things.
There are also urban farms but they might not get exactly what you want.
Having trouble linking, but Lullwater Conservation park is very pretty, not very urbany if you frame it right. Also Sope Creek near six flags.
posted by stormygrey at 2:19 PM on August 16, 2011