Clawson & Staubes Business Portraits

Our longtime clients, Clawson & Staubes, have hired a wonderful new attorney!

I had the pleasure of meeting Leslie yesterday to photographing her head-shots for the company website, press releases, and marketing material.

I love that the company has chosen to go with environmental portraits for the look of their photos. With beautiful greenery near their Daniel Island office, I have lots of great backgrounds to work with. Check out their website at http://clawsonandstaubes.com/attorneys/ for more.

It’s important to note that Clawson & Staubes is not only my client, but I am a client of theirs! If you’re in need of excellent legal services, I highly recommend this fantastic group of folks!!!

Yvonne & Andrew’s Secret Wedding Proposal at The Battery

When a guy contacts me 2 months in advance and says he wants me to hide and capture his secret marriage proposal, I KNOW I’m working with a real gentleman!!!
 
Andrew and I have been working together over the last 2 months to plan out his awesome proposal to Yvonne. It’s been such a pleasure getting to know him as we worked out all the details. I could tell by his selfless inquiries, always thinking about what SHE would want, that this is a guy who has found true love!!!
 
Well, the big day finally arrived! I was super nervous for Andrew as we began sending last-minute texts the hour before our appointed time. I had everything set and ready, when an elderly couple decided to stop right beside “the spot” to watch a bird in the tree above. They were so sweet when I quickly slipped over to explain what was about to go down. “Wish them well for us” the lady said with a smile as they moved along.
 
I took a deep breath, settled in behind my camera on the back side of a large tree, and waited! As they came into view, I instantly knew it was Andrew & Yvonne by how nervous he looked. As he guided her to “the spot” Andrew and I had pinned on a Google Map during our planning process, my grip tightened on the camera. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. But by her expression, and how she kept kissing him repeatedly, I knew he had a great lead-up going. 🙂
 
THEN IT HAPPENED!!!
 
Like the true gentleman he is, Andrew asked for her hand in marriage on bended knee under the canopy of those beautiful live oak trees. Her reactions say it all! Standing together and breathing in what just happened, suddenly Yvonne was overwhelmed with emotion. Her knees buckled as she had to double over to catch her breath. Just as she regained her strength, Andrew told her where I was hiding, and that I’d photographed the whole thing unfolding for her! 🙂
 
It was such a pleasure to finally meet these two, and photograph the ensuing engagement shoot for them! I also captured the exact location of all the photos via GPS for them to remember the exact location.  Maybe they can retrace their steps with their children many years from now?  The INCREDIBLE honor of being there to capture this precious moment in their lives, is something I will never forget!
 
CONGRATULATIONS Yvonne and Andrew!!!

DHG Leadership Conference

Dixon Hughes Goodman has been a client of ours for many years. We mostly just photograph business portraits for the local Charleston office. So when Mark at the Merge Agency asked if I’d like to photograph their Leadership Conference, I was super excited!

The conference was held at The Mills House, with excellent speakers and mentors guiding lively discussions for the next generation of DHG leaders. The enthusiasm was palpable, as so many excellent topics were discussed!

After the conference was over, everyone boarded shuttles to Charlestowne Landing. The original location of the Charleston settlement, this is one of my favorite locations in Charleston. The rest of the afternoon was spent at the Founder’s Hall, playing games, relaxing, making connections, and sharing ideas in a more casual environment.

Everyone had a great time, including myself. It was an honor and a pleasure to be a part of this annual event!

Courtney & Will’s Wedding at the French Huguenot Church and Cottage on the Creek

Last weekend I photographed the wedding of the daughter of a former groom!  How incredibly special is that?!?
I was so humbled and excited last April when Jim & Shelby contacted us about photographing Courtney’s wedding!  As plans progressed, and I got to know Courtney & Will, that excitement grew even more.  After photographing their engagement session, getting to hang out and have fun with these two, I was over the moon!  As a professional photographer, witnessing such genuine love and connection is what it’s all about.  🙂
Finally the big day arrived…and we couldn’t have been more blessed!  Although storms had been predicted, and threatened throughout the day, they stayed away when we needed them to.  Both families, and the entire wedding party, were the most fun group imaginable.  My assistant, Laura, and I had a BLAST!!!
Courtney was simply stunning in her beautiful elegant gown.  The ceremony at the historic French Huguenot Church was simply stunning.  And the reception at the Cottage on the Creek was absolutely fabulous.  Many thanks to Penny Reynolds for making sure everything was perfect, and to Rob Duren for rockin’ the dance floor with those tunes!!!
CONGRATULATIONS Courtney & Will!  May you always walk in sunshine. May you never want for more. And may angels rest their wings right beside your door.

Mueller Family at Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms

Every now and then, a very special family comes along! By the time Claire & I had made all the arrangements for their family session, I felt like I practically grew up with all of them. And when I arrived, they welcomed me in as one of their own!!!

Here on vacation from Wisconsin, I met up with the Muellers near their condo at The Boardwalk in Wild Dunes. We had a beautiful day and gorgeous weather. I know it was tough for Don & Adam to put up with me for that long…but I had a BLAST playing with the girls, both young and old! 🙂

Spradley-Webber Family on Folly Beach

Even though the weather channel was calling for 100% chance of rain last evening, it just didn’t feel like it to me. So the Spradley-Webber family and I decided to go for it. We were rewarded for our efforts! It turned out to be a gorgeous evening with beautiful soft light to work with!!! 🙂

The Spradley-Webber family was here vacationing from California. They were staying on Folly Beach, which I believe is the most picturesque beach in Charleston. It’s always so neat for me to meet such wonderful folks from all over our great country. My parents live in California, so we had much in common. Plus little Mason was an absolute delight!

I had so much fun and really enjoyed creating these special memories for this beautiful family.

Hiral & Alok’s Secret Wedding Proposal at Runnymede Plantation

There is nothing more beautiful than watching two hearts, forever searching, finally join as one!!!

When Alok contacted me several weeks ago about photographing his marriage proposal to his girlfriend, Hiral, I felt an instant connection. Both of them grew up in Mwanza, Tanzania. I grew up in Moanza, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Plus Cami & I visited Tanzania in 2009 and 20011, both times passing through Mwanza. Hiral left to attend University in England. I have good friends in England, who we’ve visited a couple times. Alok now lives in Charleston, which of course is where we now call home. The connections we share are simply uncanny!

Early this morning, I gathered up the picnic basket of chocolate covered strawberries, sparkling grape juice, and huge bouquet of roses that Alok’s brother and sister-in-law brought over to me last night. Arriving at the picturesque Runnymede Plantation, which we had arranged for the occasion, I got everything set up just as Alok texted that they were on the way. I donned my camouflage gear, mounted the long 200-400mm lens on my D810, and hid among the Spanish moss covered branches. My heart was pounding, I think I was nervous for Alok!  I wondered if his heart was pounding too?

All my worries melted away as I watched these two amazing individuals share a meal, laugh, talk, and look into each other’s eyes. When Alok finally proposed, it was pure magic! Everything just felt “right” in the world at that moment…peaceful, beautiful, magical.  By the way, she said “YES”!  🙂  Afterwards, we all had a good laugh, then enjoyed a fun mini-engagement shoot together.

Many thanks to Tim for the special arrangements he made for us at Runnymede Plantation.  And CONGRATULATIONS Alok & Hiral!  It was an honor and a privilege sharing this special moment in your lives.

Backyard Birds

I love the view from my office! Facing the woods, with all the beautiful birds that stop by to visit, it’s a wonder I get any work done around here!?! 🙂 The other day I took a break from editing to capture these three beauties…

Business Portraits for East Cooper OBGYN

Coming up woth fun, creatice, colorful images to help companies market and promote themselves is always a fun challenge for me. Whether it’s studio-style headshots, environmental portraits, or group shots…I love making my client’s vision come to life!

Here are a few favorites from my session with East Cooper OBGYN, organized by the amazing Stephen Roland of Tenet Physician Resources…

Sam & Dan’s Folly Beach Wedding

Sam & Dan are two very special people! Their love is so true and genuine. When you’re around them, you feel like all is right with the world. But the best part is, that bond is made even stronger by the joy they share in their beautiful daughter, Isabella!

Flying in from Omaha, Sam & Dan flew in to Charleston with their closest family and friends to spend quality time together, celebrate their love for one another, and tie the knot in an intimate ceremony on Folly Beach. As I arrived at their gorgeous beach house, the gray overcast skies opened up to a glorious afternoon. It truly was magical timing!

CONGRATULATIONS to Sam, Dan, and Isabella! It was such an honor to be a part of this special time in their lives.

Isabella’s 1-Year Old Cake Smashing

Let her eat CAKE!!!

While in town vacationing on Folly Beach, Sam & Dan’s beautiful daughter celebrated her first birthday! What a privilege to be invited to capture a few precious photos of her at this mile-stone age?!?

Of course there’s no better way to commemorate such an occasion than a good ol’ fashioned Cake-Smashing. Isabella was too much of a lady to be completely destructive…so we had to give her a little help! 🙂

Isn’t she absolutely adorable?

Ashley & Kent’s Wedding at the Lake House at Bulow

The love story between Ashley & Kent is one that makes my heart sing!

It wasn’t that long ago that they each ended separate relationships that just weren’t working out. They had no idea what was about to hit them! They met…and it was like magic.  These kindred spirits were just meant to be together.

Ashley is absolutely adorable, witty, and full of fun! She’s a Special Ed teacher, and studying for her Masters in Christian Counseling. Kent is super sharp, mischievous, and a huge movie buff! He’s been in the computer tech industry for a long time, and now adding software engineering to his repertoire. They both love spending time with their dog, Boomer.

Their wedding was held among the tall pine trees on a private island at the beautiful and rustic Lake House at Bulow. Even though the forecast called for thunderstorms throughout the day, the skies cleared up in time and it stayed gorgeous all afternoon! It couldn’t have been a more amazing day for a more AMAZING couple!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Ashley & Kent! We wish you all the happiness and joy that you deserve…