Majernik Family at Rainbow Row

Vacationing in Charleston from Bloomington, IL, is a smart thing to do in the middle of January! Although it was only 55-degrees when I met up with Matt & Liz and their kids, they said it was only 25-degrees back home!!! 🙂

We had so much fun laughing and playing as we strolled along Rainbow Row and that historic downtown area of Charleston. We discovered lots of colorful backdrops. The kids were absolutely adorable. And we came away with some beautiful images of their family to commemorate this trip to Charleston!

Many thanks to Matt & Liz for allowing me to be a part of their family for the day…

Moto Photo Trans-America Trail EP 31 – Ascending Cinnamon Pass

In this episode, Steve, Jason, and Chris set off to ascend the formidable heights and death-defying drop-offs of the infamous Cinnamon Pass. Along Colorado’s historic Alpine Loop, Cinnamon Pass sits 12,640 feet above the San Juan Mountains. The path is steep and rocky, with no room for error. But the breathtaking views along the challenging journey make it worth the ride.

“Tack Sharp Photos of Birds-in-Flight”

I’m super honored and very excited to have been featured in the popular blog, Travel Notes & Storytelling: https://www.travelnotesandstorytelling.com/tack-sharp-photos-of-birds-in-flight/?

Marie Goff is the talent behind this informative and entertaining blog site. It was her love of adventure and learning that led Marie to join the military. After a long career with the National Guard, she continues that love of adventure and learning through her travels and her writing.

“I travel, take pictures, and write stories, to learn and inspire others. Near or far, every destination is unique, exhilarating, and fresh. I strive to capture these in every story, especially highlighting people and places, and current events that shape the experiences.”

Wanting to improve her photography techniques for photographing birds and other wildlife, Marie joined my workshop at the Center for Birds of Prey this past fall: https://www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org/visit/special_events/instructor-led-photography-workshop/. We all had a fantastic time learning tips and tricks to improve our capture-rate of these beautiful creatures. Marie’s blog post shares about her experience, her success, and what she learned.

I hope you’ll visit her blog and subscribe to her email list. Enjoy!

Avian, Avian Conservation Center, Bird, Birds of Prey, Center for Birds of Prey, Charleston Center for Birds of Prey, Charleston Nature Photographer, Charleston Wildlife Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D5, D500, Eagle, Falcon, Feather, Flight, Hawk, Kestrel, Kite, Mt. Pleasant Nature Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Wildlife Photographer, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Love, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, Owl, Wing, Blog

How We Keep Caldwell Commercial’s Team Photo Up To Date

Many of our business clients are looking for the most efficient way to keep their staff’s group photo and individual headshots up to date. In today’s hectic world, it can be difficult to schedule a new group photo every few months whenever a new member join the team!

Luckily, we’ve got a great system in place that makes it quite painless for our clients. We start with an existing group photo. Then, every time one or two new people join the team, I come out to photograph their headshots. While I’m there, I also take an individual full-length photo. This photo is then sent off to our amazing Retouching Lab, where one of the Retouching Artists inserts them into the original group photo, replacing anyone who may have left in the interim. Since I use the exact same lighting, camera, and settings for the individual shots as I did on the original group shot, everything matches up perfectly and nobody can tell the difference!

This system isn’t for everyone. But for many of the smaller businesses we work with, it’s the perfect solution.  It allows them to keep their website and social media channels up to date without all the hassle of re-shooting the group photo quite as often.

^^^ Before ^^^

^^^ After ^^^

Caldwell Commercial, Charleston Business Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Headshot Photographer, Charleston Head-shot Photographer, Charleston Hospital Photographer, Charleston Portrait Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D5, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, OCF, Off Camera Flash, SB-5000

Mixson Community for Seamon Whiteside

I had no idea this new neighborhood had gone up in the North Charleston area near Park Circle. When my clients at Seamon Whiteside hired me to photograph it for them, it was like I was discovering a new corner of our city for the first time!

“Live. Play. Dine. These three simple words are what defines Mixson, the new single family neighborhood and gem of Park Circle. Mixson boasts unparalleled amenities. Living here means you’ll also enjoy Mixson Club, your own swim and social oasis, which includes a yoga studio and exercise facility featuring new indoor and outdoor fitness equipment, swimming lessons for the kids, and cabana rentals with drink service at your fingertips. Mixson’s extensive park system is perfect for a walk with your dog to the spacious onsite dog park. Park Circle’s entertainment district is just a few minutes away and features locally-owned shops, restaurants, and three nationally recognized breweries. Perfectly convenient, stop by Mixson Market for a cup of coffee on your way to work or head over to Mixson’s onsite restaurant, LOCALS, where award-winning sushi and musical entertainment is served up throughout the week. At Mixson, you really can have it all.”

Captured with:
Nikon D850 + Nikkor 24-70 f2.8
Nikon D5 + Nikkor 70-200 f2.8
DJI Mavic Pro

Charleston Aerial Photographer, Charleston Architecture Photographer, Charleston Business Photographer, Charleston Construction Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Drone Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D5, D850, DJI, Mavic Pro, Mixson, Mt. Pleasant Aerial Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Architecture Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Business Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Construction Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Corporate Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Drone Photographer, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, Park Circle, Seamon Whiteside

Last Photo Shoot of 2020

My last photo shoot for 2020 took place yesterday. I couldn’t have asked for a more fun and friendly group of ladies to work with!!!

I met up with the 5 doctors of Mt. Pleasant OBGYN at the Dodds-Durst House across from the East Cooper Medical Facility. The property has a traditional old plantation house and a beautiful grove of live oak trees just covered with Spanish moss! We had so much fun capturing a variety of great images for them to use in their upcoming 2021 marketing campaign.

If you’re lookig for a fun, friendly, and creative photography team to help with your headshots, group photos, or marketing images for the New Year, let us know. We’d be delighted to help you start 2021 off with a bang!!!

Charleston Business Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Headshot Photographer, Charleston Head-shot Photographer, Charleston Healthcare Photographer, Charleston Portrait Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D5, Dodds-Durst House, East Cooper Medical Center, Mt. Pleasant Business Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Corporate Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Headshot Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Head-shot Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Healthcare Photographer, Mt. Pleasant OBGYN, Mt. Pleasant Portrait Photographer, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Love, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, OCF, Off Camera Flash, SB-5000, Speedlight, Tenet Health, Tenet Physician Resources

Michelle & Marquette at Charleston School of Law

To commemorate her graduation from the Charleston School of Law, Michelle & Marquette had me photograph a fun portrait session near the school campus!

I’ve known Michelle for a long time. She was so kind in hiring me to be the photographer for the South Carolina Community Loan Fund when she was the manager there. They’ve been such great clients! And I hate to see her leaving. But Michelle is moving on to bigger and better things.

CONGRATULATIONS Michelle!!! I know how proud Marquette and the rest of your family are of your accomplishments. We wish you all the best as you continue spreading your beautiful energy and positive influence wherever you go.

Charleston Attorney Photographer, Charleston Business Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Headshot Photographer, Charleston Head-shot Photographer, Charleston Law Firm Photographer, Charleston Law School Photographer, Charleston Lawyer Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D5, Nikkor, Nikon Love, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, OCF, Off Camera Flash, SB-5000, Speedlight

Brickyard Plantation for Seamon Whiteside

I learned a lot while photographing Brickyard Plantation for Seamon Whiteside this week. I had no idea there was so much history in this Mt. Pleasant neighborhood!

“Brickyard Plantation is a portion of the vast Boone Hall Plantation. The soils that cover much of the tract contain dense red clay and sand making it suitable for brick production. In 1817, a plantation with a Brick Yard established thereon called Boon Hall was purchased by John and Henry Horlbeck. The brothers were partners in the construction industry having built several notable structures in Charleston such as the St John’s Lutheran Church and St. Stephen’s Chapel. The Horlbecks developed the brick yard into a major enterprise. From 1850 to 1860, twenty five million bricks were produced at a profit of $170,000. The brick yard operated throughout the nineteenth century and was later known as the Horlbeck Brick and Tile Company. The facility consisted of several kilns, workshops, drying areas, a brick lined cistern, a commissary, and a steam boiler.”

Only one of the boiler’s brick chimneys is left standing today. It’s the only one of its kind in the area, and is beautifully preserved in the back of the neighborhood.

DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Nikon D850 + Nikkor 24-70 f2.8
Nikon D5 + Nikkor 70-200 f2.8

Charleston Aerial Photographer, Charleston Architecture Photographer, Charleston Business Photographer, Charleston Construction Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Drone Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D5, D850, DJI, Hamlin Plantation, Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic Pro, Mt. Pleasant Aerial Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Architecture Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Business Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Construction Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Corporate Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Drone Photographer, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, Park Circle, Seamon Whiteside

Lowcountry Endoscopy Center for SMHa

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing the new Lowcountry Endoscopy Center in Goose Creek. The assignment was for SMHa Architects. They truly do an AMAZING job and take great care with every detail!!!

DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Nikon D850 + Nikkor 14-24 f2.8
Nikon D5 + Nikkor 70-200 f2.8

Charleston Aerial Photographer, Charleston Architecture Photographer, Charleston Business Photographer, Charleston Commercial Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Drone Photographer, Charleston Interior Photographer, Charleston Real Estate Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D850, DJI, Lowcountry Endoscopy Center, Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic Pro, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, SMHA Architects

DJI Mavic 2 Pro

After many years with the DJI Mavic Pro, lately I’ve been working with the new Mavic 2 Pro.

I’ve been extremely impressed with this model. The 20MP camera shows far more detail than the previous 12MP camera. And the larger sensor creates much cleaner images with lower noise. I particularly like that the new camera shoots in a 2:3 aspect ratio, as opposed to the 4:3 ratio of the original drone. This ratio matches my Nikon DSLR images and fits my shooting style better.

However, the new camera can’t flip into portrait orientation, which I miss. The older model could do this, allowing me to photograph 6 or 7 vertical images to easily merge into a high resolution panoramic photo. I can still shoot multiple images to creat panoarmics, however I have to shoot 9 horizontal images to accomplish the same task. I do like that the control sticks are now removable and store inside the unit for easy transportation, which is a thoughtful touch.

Overall, I’m very pleased with the upgrade and highly recommend the new Mavic 2 Pro! I used it on this assignment for an engineering client that was instrumental in the development of the Hamlin Plantation neighborhood.

Charleston Aerial Photographer, Charleston Architecture Photographer, Charleston Business Photographer, Charleston Construction Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Drone Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D5, D850, DJI, Hamlin Plantation, Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic Pro, Mt. Pleasant Aerial Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Architecture Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Business Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Construction Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Corporate Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Drone Photographer, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, Park Circle, Seamon Whiteside

Headshots in a Breakroom

This morning I had the pleasure of photographing headshots in a breakroom.

No, seriously, it was awesome!!! I’ve been photographing headshots for Elliott Davis for a number of years now. And I normally get stuck in a tiny office down a dark hallway. But with Covid causing most of the staff to work from home, the building was eerily empty. So I got to set up in their big, bright, beautiful breakroom instead! 🙂

1 Nikon D5 with 70-200 f2.8 lens
4 SB-5000 speedlights
2 Manfrotto light stands
1 Manfrotto carbon fiber tripod
2 Westcott 60″ umbrellas
1 Lenovo Yoga 940

Accounting Firm, Advanced Wireless Lighting, AWL, Charleston Executive Photographer, Charleston Firm Photographer, Charleston Headshot Photographer, Charleston Head-shot Photographer, Charleston Portrait Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D5, Elliott Davis, NikonUSA, OCF, Off-Camera Flash, SB-5000

Beavers Family at The Biltmore

About 6 or 7 years ago I had several delightful beach photo sessions with The Beavers Family during their vacations to Charleston.

Even though it’s been a few years, I was ecstatic when I saw Christi’s email asking if I was available to photograph their family again this year. Knowing how much fun they were, I jumped at the chance. The icing on the cake was, they wanted to do it at a gorgeous location in Asheville! How cool is that?!?

Their family had season passes and arrived early to tour the mansion, which had recently been decorated for the holidays. After their tour, I met up with them at Guest Services, where we began exploring the grounds together. It was so cool to see how grown up Christi’s kids had gotten. Plus it was a pleasure meeting her sister, Tammi, who brought her adorable daughter. To round out the ensemble, the grandparents joined in as well!

We had an absolute BLAST, and came away with a huge variety of wonderful images to commemorate this time in their lives! THANK YOU, Christi for all your hard work coordinating this amazing experience!!!

Asheville Children Photographer, Asheville Family Photographer, Asheville Portrait Photographer,  Charleston Family Photographer, Charleston Children Photographer, Charleston Portrait Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, SB-5000, Speedlight