Sommer’s Bridal Portraits

One of the hardest things about photographing beautiful bridal portraits is having to wait so long before I can share them!

Now that Sommer and Frank are married, here are a few of my favorite shots from Sommer’s amazing bridal session in the Murray Center at 14 George Street. Her wedding gown is an antique, worn by her mother on her wedding day. It was not only elegant, but also very fragile. This historic interior space above the Spoleto office was the perfect location to showcase the dress, while keeping it clean and safe for the wedding day.

We had so much fun with Sommer and her mom and aunt who came to help. Sommer was absolutely stunning. And the pictures came out incredible!!!

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Julia’s Bridal Portraits

Julia & Woods tied the knot yesterday. That means that I can FINALLY share a few favorites from Julia’s gorgeous bridal session!!! 🙂

Several months ago, Julia, her sister, her mom, and her grandmother all met up with me at Middleton Place, where we had received approval to photograph her bridal shoot. It was a beautiful summer evening. And Julia was absolutely STUNNING!!!  We had so much fun exploring the picturesque grounds, and photographing a variety of portraits for Julia in her elegant wedding gown.  Many thanks to the amazing staff at Middleton Place for allowing us this privilege.

Congratulations Julia & Woods! Rachel…you are next!!!  😉

Katie’s Bridal Portraits at Charlestowne Landing

Now that Katie & Grayson are married, I’m SO EXCITED to be able to finally reveal a few images from her fabulous Bridal Shoot!!!

Katie, her Mom, and her Maid of Honor all met up with me one afternoon last week at the picturesque Charlestowne Landing. This historic state park preserves the original site of the first permanent English settlement in the Carolinas! How cool is that?!?

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. The light was amazing. And Katie was absolutely STUNNING in her wedding gown! We had a blast and came away with some wonderful images to honor her beautiful dress and to commemorate this special time in her life!

Charlestowne Landing Bridal Portrait

Waiting…

That’s the one thing I can’t stand about photographing Bridal Shoots!   🙂

I’ve been dying to share images from Catie’s beautiful Bridal Session last month. But of course her gorgeous wedding gown had to be kept a secret until the Big Day. Now that her and Justin tied the knot this weekend, I can finally show off how amazing Catie looked in her elegant and unique wedding dress.  The waiting is over!!!

I love this southern tradition of photographing Bridal Portraits about a month before the wedding. It’s quite likely that this is the most expensive garment a young lady will ever own in her life! Sure she’ll have a few shots of herself in the dress on her wedding day. But with the hustle and hurry of that stressful day, there just isn’t time to truly do it justice.  I always encourage my brides to schedule a Bridal Shoot to truly document how gorgeous they look in the gown of their choice.

These fun “fashion style” photo shoots are scheduled for a more relaxed time and place. Hair and make-up is fresh. It can be planned around the best light of the day (instead of being squeezed in wherever it fits among the zillions of other pictures to be taken on the wedding day). Due to time constraints, all the photos on wedding day are done at the wedding or reception venue. Bridal Sessions allow brides to pick a totally different location. Maybe it’s somewhere special to them (where they had their first date?). Maybe their wedding is downtown, but they want some photos at a plantation? A Bridal Shoot is a great time to be creative and come up with some cool and creative wedding photos that simply can’t be done on the wedding day due to the constraints of time and space.

Catie & Justin LOVE the many beautiful plantations around Charleston! After all, their wedding was held at the historic Boone Hall Plantation. However, leading up to the wedding, they also had photo shoots with me at Runnymede Plantation, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, and finally these inspirational images from Charlestowne Landing.

Catie…you were absolutely STUNNING!!! What a pleasure it was to share this afternoon with you and your parents, capturing your amazing spirit, and documenting the spirit of your stunning wedding gown.

Olman’s Bridal Shoot

Now that Olman & Craig are married, I can FINALLY share some of her gorgeous Bridal Portraits from downtown Charleston!!!

Believe it or not, it was a dreary and drizzly afternoon. But since Olman & Craig had driven all the way from Atlanta to get these portraits, we had to work around it. Fortunately, I have a few tricks up my sleeve…favorite locations that are dry and covered…lighting techniques to mimic warm sunshine…and equipment that can withstand the weather. 🙂

Olman has such a positive spirit, her mom and best friend Maricar were great support, and we all actually had a BLAST creating these beautiful images together!

Molly’s Bridal Shoot at Charlestowne Landing

Molly is easily one of my favorite brides EVER!!! Just look at the energy and excitement in her eyes in these photos! 🙂

We met at Charlestowne Landing, which is an absolutely gorgeous venue, to photograph her Bridal Session several weeks before she and Justin tied the knot.  Located off of the Ashley River, where a group of English settlers first landed in 1670, this is the original location of Charleston, and the birthplace of the Carolina colony.

I don’t get to post Bridal Sessions very often because I have to keep them a secretly stashed under lock and key until after the wedding day. But I couldn’t help going back and sharing these images of this stunning young lady. Molly, you were such a joy to work with! And Justin, you sir, are a very lucky man!!!

Ashley’s Bridal Session at Runnymede Plantation

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!!!