Project Spotlight: Peachtree With A Purpose For The AJC

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to photograph 11 runners for an editorial feature on the Peachtree Road Race for the Atlanta Journal Constitution! This annual Atlanta tradition, held every 4th of July, is special in itself- but what made this project even more meaningful was that each runner I photographed was participating for a charitable cause.

The creative vision was clear from the start, the team at AJC wanted “heroic” portraits mixed with action shots, capturing not only the physical strength of these runners but also their deep personal connections to the causes they were supporting. This is more than just a race; it was about the stories behind the race.

As I met each runner, I was struck by how personal their journeys were. One runner, for example, took up running after losing both her spouse and mother in the same year. For her, running the Peachtree Road Race was a way to process her grief and honor her late loved ones. Each runner’s story was heartfelt, and hearing them share their motivations made this project incredibly special.

Of course, there were challenges. Coordinating 10 shoots across Atlanta with everyone’s busy schedules was no small feat. While this meant driving all over the metro area, it allowed me to tailor each shoot to the runner’s personal story and favorite locations. This made each set of images truly unique.

For example, one shoot took place in a Habitat for Humanity community, reflecting the runner’s commitment to the organization. Another was at Mountain View High School, where Olympian Gail Devers volunteers her time mentoring young athletes. These locations brought added depth and connection to the stories I was capturing.

Photographing Gail Devers was a highlight to this project for a special reason. As luck would have it, my friend Shelly, who’s a HUGE fan of the Olympics, was visiting from London and ended up coming along for the shoot. Shelly’s excitement when she realized we were meeting the legendary, multiple gold medal-winning Gail Devers was priceless! Gail was incredibly gracious, and we even had the chance to hold her gold medals. It was one of those perfectly serendipitous moments that make this work so rewarding.

Overall, this project was a beautiful reminder of why I love photography. Getting to know these runners and sharing in their personal journeys was an honor. I am so thankful for the openness and generosity of all involved:

Allison Dukes, Winston Carhee, David Jernigan, Stephanie Stutts, CJ Stewart, Kristine Jordan, Gail Devers, Sarah Roberson & Josh Porter, Elise White, and Blake Fortune.

I want to give one more special thank you to the amazing team on this project, including the AJC team—Edward Reid, Stacy Fox, Jaime McMurtrie, and Fiza Pirani—for their collaboration, Jazmene Haynes for her invaluable pre-production support, Austin Presley (@apresleyphoto) for his photo assistance, and Shelly Waldman (@shuttershelly) for her impromptu creative direction and boundless enthusiasm.

With Joy,

Lauren Liz