Day-After Shoots are some of my favorite assignments! How can you go wrong with a beautiful couple, full of love and emotion from the previous day’s excitement, but without an ounce of stress in their bones!?! Samantha & Erik’s shoot was a particularly enjoyable one for me. They’re both so photogenic and just fun to be around. Here’s one of my favorites from their session…
I love using remote cameras to get impossible shots. Before the ceremony, I snuck up a tiny hidden staircase behind the alter that led to where the pipes were for the organ. I secured my D2x with 10.5mm fisheye and Pocket Wizard with a special trigger cable up there. You can barely see my black pants in the doorway at the very back of the church. I’m shooting with another PW attached to my D3 with the 70-200 f2.8. When I squeeze the trigger to get the traditional tight close-up of “the kiss”, my remote camera fires simultaneously to give me a different perspective. Who said you can’t be in two places at once?!?
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Ahhh, what can I say about Samantha and Erik? How about “WOW”?!? These two were the most awesome couple to work with. If Erik gets tired of practicing law…he needs to get into modeling. š And Samantha…what a sweet, kind, beautiful person inside and out! She sparked excitement and lit up a room with her smile. They married at the historic French Huguenot Church downtown. I managed to sneak my remote camera into the loft above the alter where the pipes for the organ were and got a really cool angle on the nuptials. Then off to The Riviera they all went in horse-drawn carriages. Of course the Marquee over this historic theater was specially written for them. The cocktail hour was held on the Terrace overlooking King St. And the grand ballroom was beautifully decked out for the reception. Everyone had a great time. The next day Samantha and Erik and I met down by The Battery for a very fun and playful “Day-After” shoot. CONGRATULATIONS you two…I wish you all the happiness in the world!
I shoot a fair number of executive headshots during the week. Besides my cameras, I bring a laptop that I wirelessly transmit the images to while I’m shooting so the clients can see the photos immediately after their session. And I bring a plethora of lights. My typical setup includes 4 or 5 SB-800/900 strobes…starting with the classic main light, fill light, hair light, and maybe a background light arrangement. But I’m always open for adjustment. When I arrived at the Ogletree Nash Law Firm and saw where they were going to set me up, I almost did a cartwheel. Usually I end up in the back of some dark, smelly, cramped supply closet. š
This lobby outside their office on the second floor of the Saks Fifth Avenue building had the most beautiful light coming in this huge bank of windows. I figure, why mess with perfection? So I set up my favorite David Mahue canvas, put a little kicker/hair light up, and left the rest to natural illumination. Free light…gotta love it! Here’s the resulting head-shot.
Whitney & Ryan’s wedding ROCKED! I had photographed Whitney’s sister’s beautiful wedding two years ago (thanks for the referral Stacia and Brandon!), so when Whitney called to ask if I’d cover hers…well…how could I say “no”?!? š The day started out kind of “iffy” with scattered thunder storms all around. Right up until the last minute we didn’t know if we would have to move things inside. But miraculously the skies opened up to gorgeous weather for their ceremony. The big man upstairs was smiling down on these two! It was the FIRST EVER wedding on Seabrook Island’s brand new Ocean Terrace. After the ceremony the clouds rolled back in allowing us to get some really dramatic images at dusk! CONGRATULATIONS Whitney & Ryan…you guys are a match made in heaven!
Recently I had the honor of photographing an assignment for International Missions. The charge was to tell the story of some AMAZING women and children living in Tijuana, Mexico, that were victims of domestic violence and horrible abuse. “Deborah’s House” is a shelter that was founded by Ray & Adalia Schellinger-Gutierrez. Visit their website at www.internationalministries.net/missionaries/94 and make a choice to help someone who desperately needs it!
Joe McNally has been an inspiration for me over the years. He was in town recently, so I thought I’d share this video with his thoughts on the truly amazing Nikon D3, our camera of choice as professionals…
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Ashley was the Maid of Honor in a beautiful wedding I shot a few years ago at Middleton Place for her friend, also named Ashley. This past weekend the “Two Ashleys from Ashley Hall” reversed rolls. š Ashley & JR held their ceremony and reception at the always photogenic Wickliffe House. I love the dramatic stair and bold colors throughout this historic home! After the beautiful ceremony, the reception spread throughout the house and out onto the tented lawn. Everything was elaborately decorated and everyone had a grand time. There were touching moments during the toasts and funny moments during the dancing, and everything in between. I had an AWESOME time with Ashley & JR and felt like part of the family by the end. Scurrying through a barrage of bubbles and jumping into their Black Cab get-away car, Ashley & JR waved as the drove off into the night. CONGRATULATIONS you guys!!!
One of the hardest things about Bridal Portraits is that I don’t get to share them with everyone until AFTER the wedding…that can be MONTHS after the shoot! Well, now that Tom & Lauren are married I just have to share a couple of cool shots from her session at The Cistern. As a College of Charleston graduate, this is a meaningful spot for her. As a “creative”, this is a favorite spot for me! š
Several years ago I photographed Kristin & Jamie Caudle’s wedding. Lauren & Tom were guests at that wedding. And though they knew each other before that fateful day, they re-connected at that time and started dating. So it was with great pleasure that I said “ABSOLUTELY” when they told me this story and asked me to photograph THEIR wedding. š
Lauren & Tom attend Bethel United Methodist Church. But since their sanctuary is under renovation right now, Pastor John Hipp performed their ceremony at Trinity United Methodist. After the I-do’s, Lauren & Tom and I stopped at Pierce, Herns, Sloan & McLeod…the law firm they worked at when they met each other…for some cool shots. Then it was on to the beautiful Carolina Yacht Club for a fun reception. As the evening came to a close the dramatic sky was punctuated by a full moon rising over Charleston Bay. So we captured some dramatic images of the two of them with the moon shimmering off the water in the distance before they zipped off into the night.
CONGRATULATIONS Lauren & Tom!!!
