We love developing deep, lasting relationships with our clients. It’s been a real pleasure working with the good folks at Dixon Hughes Goodman over the years. We had another really fun session today…photographing casual studio head-shots as well as fun environmental portraits outdoors. Many thanks to Wendy for all her help in coordinating schedules and taking care of the details!
Claire & Doug have a new Holliday to celebrate!!!
Holliday Louise Hayden was born on April 19th. I’ve been shooting assignments for Claire at work for years. So it was a great honor when she asked if I would also photograph their newborn photos!
Congratulations Claire & Doug…she’s a keeper!!! 🙂
It’s always a special treat for me to be asked to photograph a couple’s Rehearsal Dinner Party. I always feel like I’m one of the “in” crowd!
On the day of the Wedding, folks are dressed to the 9’s, there are a lot of formalities and expectations to follow, and it seems like the whole town is invited. On the day of the Rehearsal, only the select few come to be with the couple, and everyone is relaxed and casual…like they are at home. It’s just a great place to capture moments and personalities that are more honest and true!
Ashley & Kent’s Rehearsal Dinner Party at The Lake House at Bulow truly felt like a fun gathering of close family and friends. Everyone was laughing, having a great time, and constantly asking the couple what they could do to help. I particularly enjoyed getting to know the wedding party…what a great group of amazing friends. Best of all, knowing who the key players were really helped things go so much smoother on Wedding Day.
Many thanks to Ashley & Kent for inviting Cami & I to be a part of their “inner cirlce” for the day!
I’ve been waiting for weeks to share some of my favorite images from Ashley’s beautiful Bridal Session! Kent & Ashley tied the knot in a gorgeous ceremony this weekend. Finally I’m able to reveal these photos…
Ashley did some modeling when she was a youngster. I could tell! She was just amazing in front of the camera, striking poses with ease, giving me subtle expression changes, and had no fear about balancing on root stumps or posing on tree limbs…it was a dream photo shoot for me!
Many thanks to my friend and gifted photographer, Tim Whitfield, for granting us access to the scenic views at Runnymede Plantation. And CONGRATULATIONS to Ashley & Kent!!!
Shep Rose and Hunter Gardner, from the Southern Charm reality TV show on Bravo, have been filming this fun little series called “Shepic Fail”. You can see all the eposodes on http://charlestongrit.com/shepic-fail. My favorite so far is Episode 1!
When the Professional Photographers of America asked me to be on Shepic Fail, helping these guys navigate the “treaturous” world of pet photography, I thought it would be fun. I had no idea HOW MUCH fun!!! 🙂
There were some definite “fails” on set. One dog got away, forcing Hunter to chase him around until the poor little fur ball slipped and fell into a muddy creek. Shep had to pick up puppy poop for the first time. But at least nobody split open a lip. And we all had a BLAST!!!
Many thanks to the Charleston Animal Society for bringing so many fun dogs. A huge thank you to our friends Meghann & Greg for loaning their bernese mountain dog, Sasha, to us…she was a huge hit (no pun intended)! And a special thank you to Michelle and her team, the audio & video crew, and everyone involved that made the show possible. Last but not least, thanks to Cami for setting everything up and all her help with the dogs.
Dennis is a true gentleman in every sense of the word!
Several weeks ago he contacted me to ask if I would “descretely” hide and photograph him proposing to his girlfriend, Brittany. Only a kind, generous, madly in love guy thinks that far ahead to plan and have such a special occasion professionally photographed for his future bride!
Dennis & Brittany have a beautiful new daughter together. He told me he wanted to include Olivia in the proposal, which I thought was AWESOME! Being from Charlotte, they also love coming to Charleston for its history, charm, and great views of the harbor. Together we came up with a grand plan to have him propose at Oyster Point on The Battery, with Olivia in his arms. Afterwards, we would do a fun little mini family session in White Point Garden.
To help control traffic, and to photograph a different angle, Cami joined me on this shoot. As tourists approached the designated spot, we would quitly explain what was going to happen, and every single one of them was kind enough to wait before passing. By the time Dennis bowed on bended knee to ask for her hand in marriage, quite a crowd had assembled behind us. When Brittany said “Yes”, apploause and shouts of encouragement broke out all around! THAT was cool!!!
It’s always so special for us to be a part of these beautiful moments in people’s lives! Cami & I were tearing up when Brittany’s emotions overflowed. We will never forget being a part of this beautiful moment.
CONGRATULATIONS Brittany & Dennis!!!
The Verizon Winner’s Circle is where their top employees, the best of the best, are honored with a fun trip to The Westin Resort on Hilton Head Island. A few days at the beach, a beautiful banquet, and an awards ceremony are all part of the company incentive program.
It was an honor and a pleasure providing coverage of the corporate event for my friend and amazing photographer, Gary Coleman. Our friend Matthew Glac also helped with the couple’s portraits. I always have a BLAST working with Gary on his projects!!!
Another year as the Official Photographer of the Family Circle Cup has wrapped up. From the 2014 tournament, this shot of mine of Andrea Petkovic graced several billboards around town. A shot by Alice Keeney, my good friend and Official Photographer team mate, graced the stadium. I wonder which images from our 2015 coverage will make the cut next year?!?
Wrapping up final edits to this year’s photos, here’s a final frame of me in the Media Tent. Alice grabbed this of me before she headed home. The Media Tent tables are normally covered in white linens, and the room is bustling with photographers, writers, bloggers, and videographers at every table. Since Alice & I always photograph the Champions Portraits after the tournament is over, we’re always the last to leave. They literally strip the room out from under us!
This Media Tent is our home, our refuge, our little bit of peace during the mayhem of the week. Until next year, my friend…until next year!
Following the finals, a quick shower, and a change of outfits, we took Angelique Kerber to the beach for a fun photo shoot with her new hardware! She was super sweet and we had an awesome time photographing this delightful young lady.
Since this will be my last post from the Family Circle Cup, I thought I’d share a little from behind-the-scenes. Many thanks to Daniel Ward for the photo of me on court, and Justin Aranda for the group shot of our team.
As one of the Official Photographers, the scope of my coverage is extremely broad. One minute I’ll be photographing a fierce match on stadium court, the next I’m running to cover a qualifyer that’s about to upset a seeded player on an outer court. One minute I’m shooting a family enjoying their icecream coans in front of the stadium, the next I’m running to cover the Easter Bunny walking around the grounds on Family Day. One minute I’m doing a private photo shoot of one of the players on a C17 at the Joint Charleston Air Force Base, the next I’m covering a VIP event for sponsors and dignitaries downtown. One minute I’m creating dramatic portraits of each of the top seeds, the next I’m shooting a player appearance to sign autographs for the fans.
In between all of this, I’m rushing back and forth to the Media Tent to injest, cull, and transmit images to our team for use on the website & social media platforms, for distribution to the WTA and other media requesting images, for print and any other marketing material. Thousands of images pass through our hands on any given day, which are whittled down to the best of the best.
With so little time, I have to be able to carry everything I need. That usually means 3 camera bodies (2 Nikon D4s and a Nikon D800), and a wide range of lenses. Usually I’ll carry a super wide (either the Nikkor 14-24 f2.8 or 16-35 f4), a standard like the 24-70 f2.8, a telephoto like the 70-200 f2.8, and a super telephoto like the 200-400 f4. I use the ThinkTank Speedbelt system, along with SpiderHolsters to keep from damaging my back and shoulders. This system also affords me extra pouches to carry things like flashes, filters, remote triggers, etc.
It’s a lot of work, extremely hectic, and with long hours (usually 12-hours a day). The best I know how to describe it is like shooting and editing 8 weddings in a row! But the adrenaline rush, the access to such amazing athletes, and above all else, THE CHALLENGE, makes it one of my favorite assignent of the year!!!
The Family Circle Cup has a NEW set of Champions!
Angelique Kerber found her best tennis right when she needed it. At the finals on Sunday, the German, seeded No. 5, rallied from 1-4 down in the third set, beating American Madison Keys 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in a dramatic encounter. It’s a fourth WTA title for Kerber, who exacted revenge over the 20-year-old Illinois native after Keys had beaten her in the Eastbourne final last summer.
In doubles, the top seeds of Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza took home the title on Sunday with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Casey Dellacqua and Darija Jurak. The team remains undefeated since pairing up three tournaments ago.
This championship earns Mirza the No. 1 doubles ranking in the world. By becoming No. 1, Mirza is the first Indian woman to reach that ranking.
It was a triumphant return for Hingis in Charleston, singles winner here in 1997 and 1999 as well as doubles champ in 1997. It marked the first time for the former World No. 1 in singles and doubles to play at the Cup since 2001. It’s been 16 years since her last title here!
And then there were two singles finalists, and two doubles finalists. The question remains…which will hold the Charleston Family Circle Cup trophy at the end of the day tomorrow?
Will Angelique Kerber or Madison Keys claim their first title in Charleston? Can Martina Hingis win her 4th Family Circle Cup – 16 years after her last?!? Will Sania Mirza claim the title of World Number 1 in doubles? We’ll have to wait and see.
Some real battles, and real triumphs took place today at the Family Circle Cup! We’re down to the semi-finalists…who will be left standing on day 7?!?
