A while back, I received a call about shooting a cover for the agricultural trade publication, Georgia Grown. The job took me to Long Farms is Bainbridge, GA – in the dead of summer – when the heat and gnats were at their worst. I still loved every minute of the assignment, though.

I was sent there to get a cover shot for them that included the owner of the farm and his granddaughter. They were looking for me to capture a documentary style image of him interacting with her on the farm – as if he was teaching her something. I wasn’t given much other information as far as creative direction other than that. I knew I’d be working with a toddler – and when it comes to kids that age – you’re on their time.

I asked what she could be bribed with, and they told me that’s M&M’s was her jam – so – I showed up that day with a big bag of them. I also asked that her parents not bring her out for the shots until the light would be at its best that evening. I had to plan for her possibly having a very short tolerance for what I was trying to accomplish…

She ended up doing great – and then – she let us know when she had had enough. I ended up getting a few different options for them for the cover in an effort to give their designers some options to work with rather than just one single shot.

I had arrived pretty early in the afternoon to scout out the location, and also get some other shots that would help tell the story of what they do there at Long Farms for Georgia Grown. So, what you see here in this post is the shots they ended up using, and some of my favorites from the shoot that ended up on their cutting room floor. I’ve included them here and processed them to compliment some of the other work I have in my Southern Living book.

This composition, along with the shot I posted at the top of the post, were the two additional options I gave them for the cover.

As I mentioned above – I reserved the best light for when I’d have his granddaughter there on set. So, that left me with less than ideal lighting for these supporting shots. So, I had my assistant, Jarod, following me around with a light rig to help out with that.

I couldn’t get enough of the character in his face. He was a really nice guy, and easy to work with.

Yep, that thermometer is correct. And that was in the shade – without factoring in the heat index due to the humidity. Luckily for me, due to being from North Florida, it didn’t bother me that much. I can’t say the same about the gnats. I’m really glad Atlanta is above the gnat line.

So, the story behind this and the shot above of him cutting the flowers that got published: He plants them for his granddaughter, and will always pick some to give to her – at her request – when she’s out there on the farm with her. So, when she had had enough of the photo taking, he got out of his truck to cut her some flowers – that he had planted just for her. That’s when I took this – after I had wrapped the shoot. Yes, I believe she had everybody there wrapped around her little finger – including me. I did show up with a big bag of M&M’s for her after all…
 

…and here’s another bonus shot I got after my talent decided she was ready for bed. What a beautiful sunset there was that night.