Parikshak Family on Kiawah Island

A few days ago, I had the great pleasure of meeting the Parikshak family at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island to photograph their family reunion.

We had a beautiful afternoon with gorgeous light. With half the family coming in from North Carolina, and the other half from Indiana, it was great to see all of them together, renewing family bonds, and building new memories together!

The best part was, the night of the photo shoot was also Rita’s birthday. So after the photo shoot all the kids got to go have cake! Happy Birthday, Rita!!! 🙂

The Ocean Course Rainbow

Something truly magical happened at this family portrait session I had with the Cyrus Family at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island!!!

Nester Family on Seabrook Island

We had a smaller crowd this year. Some of the Nester clan couldn’t make it. Even though they were missed, we still had a BLAST!!!

I had so much fun catching up with Jeff & Suzanna, who’s beautiful wedding I had the honor of photographing all those years ago. Their kids are growing like weeds and starting to show off their personalities. And in spite of a couple health-hiccups this year, their parents are doing great!

We met up at our usual spot on Seabrook Island. The landscape out there has changed quite a bit from their vacation last year…various storms and tides have shifted the sand and dunes considerably. In spite of the usual summer afternoon thunder-storms, it turned out to be a GORGEOUS evening!  We got some awesome shots!!!

Many thanks to the Nesters for all the years of fond memories together! We love you guys!!!

Sweigart Family Senior Portraits

It’s been five or six years since I last photographed the Sweigart Family. But I recognized them instantly…in spite of how much the kids have grown!

Back on Kiawah Island for vacation this summer, we met up at The Sanctuary to update their family portraits. Plus since their middle daughter, Kara, is going to be a senior in high-school, we thought it would be fun to capture some unique senior portraits for her. Being from Pennsylvania, this would give her some beautiful lowcountry scenery in her portfolio of images that none of her friends back home will have! 🙂

We lucked out with a GORGEOUS evening! Everyone was so much fun and so into the shoot! We came away with a wonderful set of photos to memorialize this special time in their family’s life!!!

Gilligan Family at The Sanctuary

I was so bummed last year when the Gilligans called to see if I could photograph their family portraits again, and I wasn’t available. I’d photographed their family the year before, and they were so much fun to work with! So this year when they called, I made sure to find a spot on the schedule for them! 🙂

We met at The Sanctuary, near the villa they had rented for the week. Although it had rained that afternoon, the skies cleared up just in time for us to have some beautiful light at the end of the day.

We had an absolute BLAST, and came away with so many fun memories from our time together!!!

Morrison Family on Kiawah Island

Adorable kids make me smile. Last night I had the joy of smiling A LOT!!! 🙂

It was so much fun photographing the Morrison family during their inaugural family vacation on Kiawah Island. They normally vacation a little further south at one of the islands off the Georgia coast. I’m so glad they decided to try Kiawah this year. And I’m so glad they picked me as their photographer!

Hopefully this was the first of many more years of fond family memories (and photo shoots) on Kiawah!!!

Muro Family on Isle of Palms

Every year I look forward to the famous Muro Family Reunion photo shoot with great anticipation!!! It’s been so much fun capturing fun memories for this wonderful group for the last several years. Watching the kids grow (and having new kids magically join the group), has been so much fun for me.

One thing I particularly love is that these guys all welcome me in like part of the family. In fact, so much so this year, that the in-laws asked me to participate in a group photo with them! So I got to be in front of the camera for a change. How fun is that?!?

CONGRATULATIONS to all the Muros for another wonderful family vacation. We love you guys!!!

Grandparents and Grandchildren

I had a lovely and unique photo shoot at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island this week!

While they were in town on vacation with the whole family, Debbie and Russell had asked for a very special photo shoot with JUST them and their grandchildren.  Normally these family photo requests include everyone in the family, of course. But I thought it was so special that these two love their grandkids so much that they wanted a private photo shoot of just them and their adorable little people. How cool is THAT?!?

We had an awesome time together. All the kids were fantastic. I could tell their was a very special bond between them!  🙂

Hogan Family on Kiawah Island

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of photographing the Hogan family during their much anticipated family reunion on Kiawah Island!

With families spread across the US these days, it’s always heart-warming to see everyone getting together to renew those family ties. One of grandma’s biggest request as part of the trip was to finally get a family portrait of everyone together!

I had so much fun with the Hogan family and their adorable kids!  🙂

Grindall Family at The Sanctuary

I absolutely love the Grindall family! They are such an amazing group of kind and generous human beings. I had so much fun catching up with them last night at our annual family beach shoot on Kiawah Island!!!  We started off in what I call the “Enchanted Forest” near The Sanctuary.  Then finished up on the beautiful beach in front.  We had an absolutely GORGEOUS day!!!  Here are a few of my favorites… 🙂

Porello Family

Every 3 years or so, our family plans an extended family reunion. Being scattered all over the country, it’s a special time of re-connecting catching up, and making new family memories together.

It’s always so special when I see other families getting together to do the same. And it means a lot to me when families like the Porellos decide to include me in their summer vacation plans. We had so much fun earlier this week, capturing this beautiful time together. I know how much they will cherish these memories many years from now!!!

As an added bonus, even though the skies were overcast on the back side of Kiawah Island where the Porellos were staying, driving out the front side of the island on my way home, I found an open window to the sky where I was able to capture the dramatic sunset.  🙂

Crowder/Stockham Three-Generation Shoot

One of the highlights of my week was photographing a beautiful three-generation family session for the Crowder/Stockham family!

I share a special connection with this family, since I grew up in the Congo (DRC) and attended The American School of Kinshasa (TASOK) with Sarah. And Sarah’s mother, who I call Aunt Elaine, was the MPH Hostel Parent at the time. Us MKs often refer to our friend’s parents as “aunt” and “uncle” because we feel like family, even though there are no legitimate blood ties.

While I was visiting my parents in Claremont, California, Aunt Elaine was visiting her daughter and grand-daughter, Morgan. Sarah was kind enough to ask if I’d be willing to photograph a 3-generation shoot for them. Would I?!? I told her I’d be DELIGHTED!!!

We started at their house in the hills, which has a beautiful back yard that is teaming with flowers and wildlife. Then we headed over to Pomona College, where Morgan is a senior. It’s a picturesque campus with great locations for portraits. We had a great time and came away with some fabulous photos!

It was such an honor being a part of this special family for the morning, re-connecting with our fond memories of days gone bye, and finally meeting Morgan!!!