June 2011 | Alex Farris Photo Blog

IDS reporter CJ Lotz and I, as well as freelancer Peter Stevenson, went on the first public search for Lauren Spierer on June 5. There, at the front door of Smallwood Plaza, we met her parents, Robert and Charlene, who had flown from New York to Indianapolis over the weekend. The parents, about 15 volunteers, and we members of the media (including a Fox 59 cameraman) drove to Hoosier National Forest to search.

Robert and Charlene Spierer listen as a public search is organized for their daughter Lauren Spierer. Lauren was reportedly last seen at 4:30 a.m. the morning of June 3 walking south from 11th Street and College Avenue in Bloomington.

Over Memorial Day weekend, my family went to Wilmington, N.C., for my cousin Adam Hinz's wedding. He's the third of five siblings to get married, but by no means was it routine. Three days of extended family, card games, the Atlantic Ocean at night and perfect sunlight during the day doesn't happen all the time. (Neither does the end of the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500.)

Adam and Amanda had already hired a wedding photographer (he had taken photos at other family weddings). Being the nice guy he was, George was cool with letting me tag along. Because I didn't have the flashes or the long lens that he did, I was largely an assistant. I still took some of my own photos, 14 of which appear here in the style of a photo story. (The rest will be on Facebook soon.)

Bride-to-be Amanda Osborne rides with Amy Hinz and other bridesmaids toward the ceremony.