Lupus Clinical Investigators Network Conference

Lupus is debilitating. It affects each person differently. Which, for doctors and researchers, makes the disease very challenging. Lupus is one of the more complex autoimmune diseases known to science. And for years, the world’s best minds have worked tirelessly to find a cure.

“The Lupus Research Alliance is going to take the very thing that infuriates us about the disease and make it the one thing that becomes its cure. Decades of pioneering research has brought us to this moment. We’ve advanced science to the point that will allow us to look at each patient as a single case, to study their individual immune system and analyze the complexities of the disease as it exists within them. In the future, this will allow us to better treat that patient with precision medicine — giving the right treatment for the right person. The root of the problem has become the pathway to the cure.”

It was my pleasure to photograph the annual LuCIN Meeting (Lupus Clinical Investigators Network) at the Wild Dunes Resort on Isle of Palms this week. The conference was held at the beautiful new Sweetgrass Inn. The program was brought to fruition by Lupus Therapeutics and the Lupus Research Alliance. You can find out more about this awful disease, and the passionate men and women who are striving to find a cure, at https://www.lupusresearch.org/.

* Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 14-24 f4, Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8, DJI Mini 3 Pro, ThinkTank cases, Flashpoint flashes, Manfrotto supports, and Sony XQD cards *

CTAR Women’s Council Spring Social

What a beautiful day for a Spring Social!!!

The Women’s Council from the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors held their annual Spring Social at The Ritual Rooftop Restaurant & Lounge yesterday. This beautiful venue has great views of downtown, overlooking Marion Square. The weather was perfect. The food was terrific.  And everyone had an AMAZING time!!!

Many thanks to Clair and Jessie for all their hard work putting this great event together!

* DJI Mini 3 Pro, Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 14-30 f4, Nikkor Z 24-120 f4 *

AIG Awards Banquet at The Westin Savannah

I love it when the weather forecasters are completely wrong…in my favor! 🙂

Last night I had the pleasure of photographing a fantastic reception and awards banquet for AIG Insurance at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa. Earlier that day, I spoke with Erika, the amazing event planner from Destination South. It looked like the cocktail hour on the Harbor Lawn was going to be completely rained out. Luckily, the wet weather went around us…and we had a lovely evening with gentle breezes flowing across the Savannah River.

AIG is the American International Group, a leading global insurance organization providing a wide range of property casualty insurance and other financial services. They offer world-class products and expertise to businesses and individuals in approximately 70 countries and jurisdictions. The organization is committed to using their insights and leadership to not only manage risks, but to make real positive differences in every community they serve.

This reception marked the conclusion of the final full day of informative meetings and insightful presentations. It was fun to see everyone relax and enjoy the company of the new connections and lasting friendships they had made throughout the week!

* DJI Mavic 2 Pro, Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8, Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8, Nikkor Z 14-30 f4, Flashpoint flashes (x6), Manfrotto supports, ThinkTank bags, and Sony XQD cards *

Park West Recreation Complex

It was another fun day to be outside, flying the drone, and capturing photos of a fantastic Mt. Pleasant park!

Seamon Whiteside did an AMAZING job, engineering this space to incorporate so many different sports fields. The Park West Recreation Complex has been around for a few years. But they just resurfaced the track and made a few additions. So I was asked to get some updated drone shots and still photos of the facility.  It was fun to see people out enjoying the sunshine!!!

* Nikon Z9, Nikkor Z 14-30 f4, Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, DJI Mavic 2 Pro

The Battery Soccer Stadium

Soccer holds a special place in my heart! I grew up playing soccer in Zaire (DRC), played midfield for the TASOK team that won the Kinshasa championships, and went on to receive a scholarship to play at Spring Arbor University.

So it was with great excitement that I received the request to photograph the new Charleston Battery Soccer Stadium for Seamon Whiteside!!!  While I was there, I got to meat Christian, the head coach of the College of Charleston women’s team.  So that was pretty cool. But other than him, I had the place to myself!

If you haven’t been to a game at the new facility, it’s pretty awesome.

The Hawks Nest – A New Public Park in Hannahan!

What a GORGEOUS spring day!!! The sun was out. The sky was blue with giant puffy clouds floating through. And the new public park in Hanahan was my “playground” for the day!

I had the honor of spending the day photographing The Hawks Nest, which is a new sports complex and public park in Berkeley County, SC. Seamon Whiteside is the engineering firm behind this picturesque park. They were responsible for designing the park and all it’s amazing amenities.

I got to photograph a wide variety of shots to showcase the many aspects of this beautiful property, as well as showcase how much the public is loving it!

Morgan & Ryan’s Wedding at The Citadel Beach Club

What a GORGEOUS day for a wedding!!!

I got to know Morgan & Ryan, and their adorable son, Wyatt, at their fabulous engagement shoot last year:  https://chrisandcami.com/morgan-ryans-engagement-session-at-hampton-park/.  So I was super excited to be covering their amazing wedding at The Citadel Beach Club!

With blue skies, puffy white clouds, a gentle ocean breeze, and perfect temperatures, you couldn’t have asked for a nicer day.  Surrounded by close family and friends, they tied the knot on the grand lawn with pelicans soaring overhead, and the southing sounds of the ocean in the distance.  A lively reception with great food, friendly fellowship, and crazy dancing followed inside the ballroom.  Bruce even sang a surprise solo to his beautiful daughter during the toasts!  But my favorite part was when Morgan, Ryan, and I snuck out to the beach for some sunset photos with a bottle of bubbly!  😉

Many thanks to Keri of Keri Seay Events for all her help keeping everything on track.  And a huge shout out to all the other vendors for making Morgan & Ryan’s day so special!

CONGRATULATIONS Morgan & Ryan!!!  We wish you all the best as you begin this new journey together…

Credit One Charleston Open – Day 6

It was another EXCITING year for me to be covering the Credit One Charleston Open!!!

Since 1973, the Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports, creating milestones that over the years have directly influenced the popularity of women’s professional tennis. Much has changed over the years. But to this day, the tournament remains the largest women’s only tennis tournament in North America. This year’s roster included 5 of the Top 10 women on tour, 5 past champions, and 5 Grand Slam champions. Previous winners include notable names like Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Serena Williams, Tracy Austin, Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Nadia Petrova, Madison Keys…and so many more!

By Day 6, the player field is getting narrowed down. That gave me more time to capture the subtle nuances of each match…plus I could slip in more shots of fans, press conferences, TV appearances, autograph sessions, and VIP suite visits. Oh, and I finally had time to capture a few shots with the drone!

Matthew’s Bar Mitzvah

Shabat Shalom!

In spite of the challenges of the pandemic lockdown a few years ago, Jen & Gabe managed to pull off a beautiful and unique Bar Mitzvah for their oldest son, Jason. It was a touching experience for me personally. And I’m so glad I got to connect with this amazing family during that time. So it was a great honor when Jen & Gabe asked if I would photograph their youngest son’s Bar Mitzvah!

What a contrast a few short years makes!!! Matthew’s Bar Mitzvah was a totally different, but every bit as special an experience! Matthew is a thoughtful, kind, and charismatic young man, who also happens to have a truly gifted voice. His silky smooth vocals during the reading of the Torah, and leading the congregation in worship, resonated throughout the KKBE sanctuary. It truly was one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had the pleasure of photographing!

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim is located in downtown Charleston. Founded in 1749, this is the first Reform synagogue, and one of the oldest Jewish congregations in the United States! The founding members of the KKBE were Sephardi Jews of Spanish and Portuguese descent. The current 1841 synagogue, featuring an architecturally significant Greek Revival style, was built after the original synagogue was destroyed in a fire in 1838. The present structure is the second oldest synagogue building, and the oldest in continuous use, in the United States.

Later that evening, celebrations kicked into high gear at Hotel Indigo! With a “pre-party” for Matthew and his closest friends, cocktail hour for the adults, the family’s Grand Entrance to the reception, Motzi and challah, DJ Eddie cranking out tunes, Sir Andrew Larris and his dance crew keeping everyone on their feet, a wild and crazy Hora, a Party Boss photo booth, an ice cream sundae station, a glazed donut display, a candy bar, a cocoa-with-marshmallows extravaganza, and personalized sweatshirts for each of his friends…Matthew’s party was off the charts!!!

Many thanks to Rabbi Alexander and Rabbi Kanter for their leadership and guidance during Shabbat Terumah.  And a very special THANK YOU to Sha Sha at Loluma for making sure everything on the Big Day was absolutely perfect!

CONGRATULATIONS on this amazing milestone in your life, Matthew!!! We wish you all the best as you begin this new journey into adulthood…

USGC 20th International Marketing Conference – Day 3

Attendees and staff arrived in Savannah, GA, last week for the US Grains Council’s 20th International Marketing Conference and 63rd Membership Meeting. These annual events are an important time for everyone to focus on challenges and opportunities around the world, and celebrate the Council’s rich history!

The winter meeting is an annual opportunity for corn, sorghum and barley farmers, as well as members of agribusinesses, who make up the organization’s membership, to meet with Council staff, working together on behalf of U.S. producers. The guidance and information each member contributes during this meeting, combined with input from A-Team leaders, helps to guide the roadmap for the Council’s near-term strategy.

The third day of the conference concluded with presentations by all the Sector Leaders, the honoring of Service Award Winners,  as well as some fun Staff Photos and Headshots. It was an honor and a pleasure catching up with everyone, and capturing all the key moments of another USGC event in such a beautiful old historic city!

* Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 14-30 f4, Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8, Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 *

USGC 20th International Marketing Conference – Reception Dinner

Attendees and staff arrived in Savannah, GA, last week for the US Grains Council’s 20th International Marketing Conference and 63rd Membership Meeting. These annual events are an important time for everyone to focus on challenges and opportunities around the world, and celebrate the Council’s rich history!

The winter meeting is an annual opportunity for corn, sorghum and barley farmers, as well as members of agribusinesses, who make up the organization’s membership, to meet with Council staff, working together on behalf of U.S. producers. The guidance and information each member contributes during this meeting, combined with input from A-Team leaders, helps to guide the roadmap for the Council’s near-term strategy.

At the end of an intense second day of meetings and presentations, it was time to unwind and network at the eclectic Service Brewery. Everyone had a great time, the food was delicious, and the live music was outstanding! It was an honor and a pleasure catching up with everyone, and capturing all the key moments of another USGC event in such a beautiful old historic city!

* Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 14-30 f4, Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8, Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 *

USGC 20th International Marketing Conference – Day 2

Attendees and staff arrived in Savannah, GA, last week for the US Grains Council’s 20th International Marketing Conference and 63rd Membership Meeting. These annual events are an important time for everyone to focus on challenges and opportunities around the world, and celebrate the Council’s rich history!

The winter meeting is an annual opportunity for corn, sorghum and barley farmers, as well as members of agribusinesses, who make up the organization’s membership, to meet with Council staff, working together on behalf of U.S. producers. The guidance and information each member contributes during this meeting, combined with input from A-Team leaders, helps to guide the roadmap for the Council’s near-term strategy.

Held at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, the second day of the conference was full of invigorating debates, keynote presentations, and productive meetings. It was an honor and a pleasure catching up with everyone, and capturing all the key moments of another USGC event in such a beautiful old historic city!

*  Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 14-30 f4, Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8, Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8  *