Professional Selfie

Each week I find myself setting up for corporate head-shots at various businesses around the lowcountry. This requires a lot of flexibility, a lot of ingenuity, and a lot of problem-solving!

Every office has different physical characteristics. From the amount of window light streaming in, to the color temperature of the bulbs they use…from the size of the room they’ve given me, to the height of the ceiling…from the color of the walls to the angle of the mirror on one wall…every little detail affects the outcome of the photo. As a professional, I have to bring all these variables in line, and create a controlled “studio” with whatever I’m given.

The best part is, I get to shoot a LOT of professional “Selfies” to make sure everything is perfect before my clients arrive for their session!  🙂

2017 Eclipse

After months of planning, I was honored to be invited to join a small contingent of photographers that were given permission and granted access to photograph the 2017 eclipse from the private grounds of the Center for Birds of Prey.

Located in Awendaw, SC, this amazing organization includes an Avian Medical Center, an Oil Spill Treatment Facility, and a very active Environmental Education Department. They are only open to the public on the weekends. However, they happened to be located in a prime spot near the center of the path of Totality!!! So it was a special treat for us to be invited to photograph from their grounds that day.

In spite of all our preparations for the big day, weather happened! I had visions of capturing every stage of the process and creating a wonderful composite showing the entire sequence. But the dark, low-lying cloud cover only allowed us a few glimpses through to the dramatic events unfolding behind them. At 9 minutes before totality, we saw our last sighting of the sun and moon. We never saw Totality or any of the phases following.

At first I was disappointed. All my photography friends started sharing post after post of clear views of the eclipse from other parts of the state. But pretty soon all their shots started to look the same. Suddenly, I realized that my twist of fate had landed me with some very interesting and unique images of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  The foreboding clouds encircled the sun and moon to create these wonderfully ominous and moody images!

Here are a few of my favorites.

Portable Head-shot Studio

Today was yet another fun-filled photo shoot at the South Carolina Federal Credit Union! I always enjoy working with this great company.

A photographer friend of mine asked about my setup. So here’s a behind-the-scenes look at my portable wireless head-shot studio, along with a few selects from today:

– Nikon D5 + Nikkor 70-200 f2.8 VRII
– Nikon SB-5000 on camera as Master with RadioPopper PX transmitter
– 2 Nikon SB-800 flashes in Group A with white shoot-through umbrella as main light
– 2 Nikon SB-800 flashes in Group B with white shoot-through umbrella as fill light
– 2 Nikon SB-800 flashes in Group C as background lights for a high-key white background
– Radio Popper PX receivers on each remote flash
– Lenovo Yoga 900 Laptop set up for wired or wireless tethered shooting
– Twist flex photo background
– Manfrotto 055CXPro4 Carbon Fiber tripod
– 5 Manfrotto 1004 BAC Collapsible light-stands
– ThinkTank Airport TakeOff for all photo gear
– Manfrotto large tripod bag for all lighting gear

There are many variations on this theme that one could adapt. For example, I often swap out the umbrellas for Westcott soft-boxes. The number of flashes I use will often vary depending on the background or the subject. But I’ve tried a TON of different options and there are many reasons why these particular items have become a part of my go-to kit when it comes to portability, flexibility, and quality.

We Come to YOU!!!

Photographing professional head-shots and busines portraits is a big part of what we do. You never get a second chance to make a first impression!!!

The good news is, you don’t have to take a lot of time out of your busy schedule to drive across town to find a studio, get your suit all rumpled in the car, hunt for a parking spot, and finally arrive with perspiration dripping off your brow from the August heat, or hair all messed up from a gust of wind in the parking lot. Instead, let us come to you! Would you believe these executive portraits were photographed in their living room?!?

With our amazing wireless portable studio, we can set up in your office, a spare conference room, the lobby, or even your home! Then all you do is step out of your office and into our “studio”. Within minutes you’re back on that conference call, or answering the next email.

We use high-end cameras and high-tech lighting for truly professional results. Plus your images will pop up on our laptop as we shoot so that you can see them immediately after the session. Everyone LOVES the instant gratification of seeing how great they look!!!

Whether you’re a sole proprietor, an entrepreneur, run a small business, or work for a large company…professional images will set you apart from the competition. Give us a call! We can help you make that GREAT first impression for you.

Guin Family on Kiawah Island

It’s been overcast, gloomy, and rainy all week. I even drove through a short downpour on the way to the shoot. But by the time the Guin family arrived for our beach portrait session on Kiawah Island last night, the skies opened up, the winds calmed down, the temperature cooled off, and the light was spectacular. We could not have asked for a more BEAUTIFUL evening!

Having become a wonderful blended family only a few years ago, the Guins have been vacationing on Kiawah Island ever since. Now that their oldest son is married and moved away from the family home in Chicago, this is the only time they all get together!

It was an honor to meet everyone and capture some wonderful images for them to commemorate this special occasion.  🙂

Bryson Family at James Island County Park

Last time I photographed the Bryson family, they only had Aubrey, and she was the same age Elsie is now. How perfect that I got to capture both girls at about the same age! 🙂

It was wonderful to have this lovely family back visiting Charleston again. We had a great time exploring the beautiful views of James Island County Park. It was an absolute honor to have them remember us and call to ask me to photograph this next chapter in their family’s life!

Sarah & Oliver’s Pitt Street Pier Secret Proposal

Sarah lived in Charleston for a while, during which time Pitt Street Pier was one of her favorite spots in town. When her family decided to come down here to celebrate her mom’s 60th birthday this weekend, Oliver thought this picturesque pier would be the PERFECT place to propose to Sarah!!! 🙂

We lucked out with an empty pier because the tide was high and all the usual fishermen were further down the Ocean Walk, lined up in Pickett Park. The winds weren’t too high. The sky was clear. The late afternoon light was beautiful. And we even had gorgeous full moon rising in the east as the sun set in the west! Everything worked out absolutely perfect for Oliver’s Surprise Proposal!

Many thanks to my friends at Valerie & Co for the kind referral. And CONGRATULATIONS to Oliver & Sarah!!!

Earl Klugh Weekend of Jazz on Kiawah Island

GRAMMY-winning guitarist Earl Klugh’s renowned Weekend of Jazz is returning to Kiawah Island once again this coming fall!

Since 2004, Earl Klugh has been bringing the world’s greatest artists together with jazz enthusiasts for his one-of-a-kind weekend getaways. You can only enjoy Earl Klugh’s exclusive Weekend of Jazz events at two Five-Star, Five-Diamond properties; The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, and The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island.

Backing up my good friend and AMAZING photographer, Michael Cyra, it’s been a true honor to photograph what I call the “Earl Klugh Experience” on Kiawah Island for the past several years! Here are a few of my favorite highlights from 2015…

Vancouver, WA

We’re in Vancouver, WA, where I’ll be photographing a conference this week. Strangely enough, my oldest brother and his wife moved here last year! So we flew in a few days early to spend some time with them and do a little sight-seeing. 🙂

Charleston Rugged Maniac

I’m always intrigued by the challenge, suffering, and ultimate triumph humans seek out in competitive sports. Being a sports photographer has its own set of challenges!

This spring I had the pleasure of covering the Charleston Rugged Maniac Challenge at Boone Hall Plantation with this AMAZING team of sports photographers. I’ve photographed this event for the last 4 or 5 years, and always enjoy the experience! It’s tough on the gear…keeping the mud and water off the equipment isn’t easy. And it’s tough on the photographers…I shot over 4,000 images in five hours of non-stop action.

A special shout out goes to Richard Ellis for capturing the image of me “at work”!  And thank you to the nice EMT staff for taking our team picture!

But being a part of the excitement these athletes experience is totally worth it!!! CONGRATULATIONS to all the participants for enduring and triumphing over this fabulous challenge!

Rhone Family on Seabrook Island

One of the BEST parts of my job is meeting new, fun, and interesting people!

I had a serendipitous opportunity to photograph the Rhone family on a beautiful Seabrook Island beach this morning.  I say “serendipitous” because I originally had another assignment booked for today…which got rescheduled at the last minute. Later I get a call from Kim, hoping I might have an opening to squeeze in a family beach shoot this week. Today was my ONLY available opening. But their daughter wasn’t scheduled to fly in until late last night…and the forecast called for 70% chance of rain.

We decided to go for it!  And the stars aligned for us to have a WONDERFUL family photo shoot this morning!!! In spite of very little sleep (Maddie’s flight got delayed), we arrived to clear skies and cooler temperatures as the rain passed through overnight.  We all had a BLAST!!!  It was an honor and a pleasure to capture these fun memories for my new-found friends.  🙂