Family Portrait at Folly Beach

The last time we tried this, it started to rain as soon as we began our walk out to the beach.  THIS TIME, Dawn & Chris pulled up on the most beautiful day you could imagine!  After having to reschedule their previous session, they deserved it!!!  J  The light was warm and beautiful, the temperature wasn’t too hot, and the beach was relatively un-crowded for a Friday evening.  I had a great time with them and their two fantastic children.  As we were walking back after the shoot was over, Chris exclaimed “This wasn’t NEARLY as painful as I thought it was going to be…you actually made it kind of fun!”  J 

 

Folly Beach Maternity Portrait

Faith & Michael Bessinger (yup, of the famous BBQ restaurant in town), are friends from our old Sunday School class at Ashley River Baptist.  When they called to let me know they were expecting their third and wanted to do a Maternity Family Shoot on the beach with me, I was THRILLED!  Here are some of my fav’s.  J

 

Jessica & Tevin’s Folly Beach Engagement Shoot

I met Jessica & Tevin at the beautiful cove by the historic Morris Island Lighthouse on Folly Beach the other to photograph their Engagement Session.  It was looking a little dicy with the weather.  But between my enthusiasm and their energy, we decided to go for it!  About half way out I bumped into my good friends and fellow photographers, Jennifer Bearden, and Tammy & Kevin Bevins, both heading back in from their family sessions.  Jennifer even gave me a hard time about the plastic ziploc baggies I had covered my remote flashes with in case they got wet!  But I knew that days like these often yield magical bursts of dramatic light before the sun bids fairwell for the night.  WOW did we get one of those bursts!!!  ABSOLUTELY awesome skies for an absolutely wonderful couple.  In fact we had so much fun towards the end that I can’t even show you some of the steamier shots from the end of the shoot…J

Cancelled Family Shoot turns into Fine Art

Friday night I met a really great family for a beach shoot we’d planned at Folly.  Unfortunately, weather didn’t cooperate and we had to reschedule.  That’s the FIRST TIME that’s happened to me in like six months or more!  L  As I was starting my drive home I saw a scene that just stopped me in my tracks.  Braving the crazy winds, drizzly rain, and distant lightning, I ran out and grabbed a couple timed exposure of a rarely deserted beach. 

 

Laura & Kyle Do It on Folly Beach

After courting her for a while, Kyle proposed to Laura over Christmas last year.  Soon wedding plans were in full swing and through their fabulous wedding planner, Emmy at Peacock Events, I was the lucky photographer they picked to cover their special day!  J  Laura is a teacher…and you all KNOW how much I love and respect teachers!  Her and Kyle live in Greer, where they’ll be returning after their fabulous Jamaica Honeymoon.  Laura & Kyle rented a beautiful home on the marsh side of Folly beach where they could do their “I Do’s”.  As it turns out, it was the home of my good friend and fellow photographer, Charlie Thiel!!!  The late afternoon summer showers held off juuuust long enough for the ceremony and a few photos on the lawn.  And they didn’t dampen the fun atmosphere and crazy party that ensued!  I had a great time and LOVED being a part of Laura & Kyle’s beautiful wedding day.  To see their fun Music Video, head over to www.chrisandcami.com/blog and click on the first image.  To see their Engagement Portraits and the rest of their Wedding Photos, head over to www.chrisandcami.zenfolio.com.  CONGRATULATIONS to Laura & Kyle…may you have a LIFETIME OF DREAMS together!!! 



Kim & Michael’s Downtown/Folly Beach Shoot

Kim & Michael are a sweet, gentle, amazing couple from Aiken.  For their Engagement Shoot, we did a double-whammy.  As I was driving downtown to meet them for the first part of their shoot, the wind was blowing and the sky looked dark and foreboding.  I was concerned, but soldiered on.  When we met up, I found out they were concerned about the weather too.  But we decided to be adventurous and go for it.  We were rewarded a few minutes later with beautiful light.  By the time we got to Folly Beach for the second session, the sky had turned into this AMAZING backdrop.  WOW!!!  I love how the images turned out.  Many thanks to Kim & Michael for being so much fun to work with and being willing to brave the elements to humor this passionate old chaser of DRAMATIC LIGHT!  J

Last Shoot of the Year

I’ve been photographing Jean & Gerry’s extended family over the last six years. (Many thanks to their wonderful daughter, Andrea…she originally contacted me and began this longtime friendship.) It was only fitting that they were my last shoot of 2009! J I met up with them at their beach house on Folly Beach. Even though it was really cold that night, they all braved the uncomfortable temperatures and we all had a BLAST! The lighting was fantastic…everything from a really cool sunset to a really dramatic moonrise. I LOVE IT!!!

Anticipation

In anticipation of their nuptials the following day, Susan & Henry decided to be ADVENTUROUS and join me for a fun, casual…and maybe a bit CRAZY…photo shoot at the beach! They wanted dramatic images that captured their spirit and their love for each other in a beautiful, scenic location. We had a BLAST! 😉

MaryBeth & Brad

MaryBeth called me a couple weeks ago from Kentucky. She is the SWEETEST little Southern Lady you could ever meet! Her and Brad were coming down to Charleston to visit family and had seen some of our work. Since they were recently engaged, she wanted to do their e-Session with me while they were down here. They wanted ther Engagement Portraits to be TOTALLY different from all their friend’s portraits. Since Kentucky isn’t a coastal state…what better place than a beach session, right!?! 🙂

Folly Beach Family Portrait

Jean & Dutch’s family are all originally from the Dayton area of Ohio. As most of you know, that’s where Cami grew up and where we met when I lived there after college. So it was GREAT talking about old stomping grounds and getting to know their family! They were vacationing on Isle Of Palms, but elected to make the trek to Folly Beach for their session. They LOVED the diversity and uniqueness of the beach compared to the more tame landscape on IOP. So they were pleased about their decision. But the best part was, they stopped at the famous Ye Ole Fashioned Icecream, a Charleston icon on this side of town that “happens” to be right on the way back to IOP. 😉