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Every now and then I meet up with a family that is just about as crazy and fun-loving as I am! It’s almost like bumping into my OWN family from another dimension or something. The Maloneys were that kind of family!!!

We met up at their beach house on IOP, and just had a fabulous time together. It was so much fun to collaborate with them and come up with some cool, crazy, and fun ideas to capture the spirit of their family, and preserve the memories of their vacation together! I can’t belive they went for it. But my absolute favorite is the last shot of them standing (fully clothed!!!) in the infinity pool at their beach house, with their reflections in that gorgeous blue water, and the dramatic dusk sky above!

Originally from Ohio, Nicolle & Chris now live in South Carolina. They were planning a family reunion on Kiawah Island and I was lucky enough to get picked for the job:

“My husband Chris and I loved your photo’s and were so overwhelmed with your attention to our questions and concerns… SO we would like to book you.”

I met up with everyone at a secret spot I know of towards the back of Kiawah Island, where there’s hardly ever any tourists, and rarely any other photographers getting in the way. 🙂 Everyone was so warm and wonderful. We had an AMAZING time…and captured some beautiful memories together!

Stephanie & Eric are Ohio State Buckeys! So when they asked me to photograph their family portraits while they were down here on vacation, I jumped at the chance to connect with some folks from my old stomping grounds. 🙂 Many thanks for allowing me to be part of your adventure to Sullivan’s Island, guys…and for allowing me to meet your beautiful daughter, Amelia!

Is Denver not the coolest name for a little southern boy? And is he not the cutest little guy ever?

I had so much fun photographing the second session in his “Welcome to the World” (WTTW) package. We met up at the Old Village Post House in what’s known as “Old Mt. Pleasant” one morning. Wandering around the block we found all kinds of great little gates and gardens, walkways and tree trunks.  It’s such a quaint little vignette of days gone by…I love it!

It was also wonderful to catch up with Lisa & Clay, who are the best parents in the world! Hard to believe it’s been 3 years now since I photographed their beautiful wedding day.  These are two (make it 3 now) very special people!!!

In a bizarre match, during a bizarre year at the tournament, a French woman wins the Wimbledon crown!  I was sad to see nerves and fatigue cripple Sabine Lisicki, winner of the 2009 Family Circle Cup, and one of my favorite players to watch on tour.  But congratulations to Marion Bartoli!  She played a flawless tournament, never dropping a single set the whole two weeks!!!

In another bizarre turn of events, a case of you-take-mine-I’ll-take-yours, Chris Froome of Great Britain won the day’s stage at the Tour de France!  🙂

Jeannie did her homework! When I met with her back in September, she was scouting for a modeling agency and a photographer that would be the perfect match for her beautiful daughter, just starting out on her modeling career. I’m so pleased she picked us, because Gordaisha was absolutely stunning, fun to hang out with, and had a wonderful variety of looks…making it a pleasure to work with her!!!

Words can’t describe how AWESOME it was to be a witness (and an accomplis) to Andrew’s secret proposal to his beautiful girlfriend, Christie, this week!

Andrew had been planning this thing since January. Wednesday morning when Christie woke up in Boston (where they live) and dressed to go to work, he stopped her and said “pack a bag, you’re not going to work today”. They flew to Charleston that morning. Had a nice lunch together. Then he’d arranged for a limo to drop them off at Boone Hall.

Andrew and I had concocted a game plan, complete with a full recon package that included little pins on Google Maps, showing where I’d be hiding, and where the best views would be for him to “do the deed”, pictures of them so I’d know what they looked like, descriptions of clothing they’d be wearing, etc. After they arrived, I secretly followed them around, catching candids as they toured the plaantation. He knew that she loved old, southern plantations, which is why he and I had on Boone Hall as the perfect location.

As they approached the area I was in, I hid from view behind one of the giant live oaks, and focused my 400mm lens on “the spot” we had picked out. Andrew is in the military, so he nailed the location perfectly even though he’s never been here before! And I got great shots of his proposal, with the outstretched branches, draped in Spanish moss, creating a natural cathedral over them.

After Christie had caught her breath, Andrew pointed me out in the distance. We hugged and laughted, and she LOVED that Andrew had planned in advance to capture this special moment for her! Taking advantage of the perma-grin (her words) on Christie’s face, we did a fun mini engagement session before I drove them back to Charleston Place.

I know Andrew had SO MANY excititing surprises waitng for Christie all weekend. I knew they were going to Husk for a delicious meal…and that he had secretly arranged for his 3 best friends, and her 3 best friends to fly down on another flight, and meet them for dinner! After a day or so exploring Charleston, I believe he was flying her to visit her family to show off the new bling. And there were several other amazing pieces to his grand plan…any one of which would have been a great way to propose in themselves!

Doesn’t Andrew sound like an AWESOME guy?!? I’m not surprised he did all that, Christie is just stunning and sweet and loveable and absolutely PERFECT for him! CONGRATULATIONS you guys!!! I’m so happy for you both.

I have the utmost respect and admiration for Citadel Cadets. Every graduate I’ve ever met has been the nicest, kindest, most dedicated, and passionate member of humanity. So it was with Steven!

Tiffany Silverman had invited me to be a guest speaker for the Photography program at The Citadel last year. While doing my presentation on the importance of lighting in our profession, I could tell Steven, his friend Cody, and a couple others in the class were on a more advanced level. They “got it”. A few months later when Steven called to ask if I’d consider photographing their wedding…I knew IMMEDIATELY who he was. What an honor!!!

Their ceremony was held at the beautiful Summerall Chapel on The Citadel campus. And their reception was held at the adjacent Holliday Alumni Center. Both are gorgeous venues I always love shooting in.  Many thanks to my good friend and wonderful photographer, Kate McKinley, for shooting with me!

Samantha is Clemson graduate, earning her BA in Psychology. She will be heading to grad school to earn her counseling degree with an emphasis on military psychology. Do you think she’ll be able to use that training to figure Steven out?!?  She is an absolutely stunning young lady, with a vibrant personality, and a heart of pure gold!

Steve is also a Psychology major, recently commissioned into the Air Force. They are high-school sweethearts, originally from New Jersey (and proud of it!). They are excited to see where the Air Force takes them!

Both Samantha & Steven have a love for, and true appreciation for photography. So I was particularly honored when they invited me to be a part of their special day. They included the military aspect of their lives into the wedding, with Steve wearing his Air Force uniform, and holding the traditional sword arch outside the chapel. But really, they wanted to focus on a simple, rustic, and elegant feel to their day. Family and friends, being together, and celebrating the joy of the occasion were what it was all about.

CONGRATULATIONS Samantha & Steven! May God bless you as you begin your new journey together!!!

Every year, around the 4th of July holiday, the Nester Family vacations together on Seabrook Island. It’s an event I’ve looked forward to every summer since photographing Jeff & Suzanna’s wedding many years ago! It’s always so great to see everyone, catch up on their lives, and meet any “newcomers” to the family!!! 🙂

This year we dodged a few rain storms and had the most beautiful soft sunlight peep through the clouds just long enough for us to have our fun. It rained on me on the ride out. And it was raining by the time I started packing up to head home. I guess the Big Man Upstairs was looking out for us…

WOW!!! What can I say about the party of the century!?! Cami & I love traveling and photographing Destination Weddings. But this one takes the cake!  Last week we were truly honored to be a part of Lauren & Andrew’s wedding at the Mystical Rose Garden in Baldwin, WI. What an AMAZING day!

Lauren is such a beautiful young lady, inside and out. She is full of joy, life, and carries a brilliance about her that is absolutely contagious! Andrew is the tall, rugged, and handsome guy you’d swear you’ve seen in a BMW commercial somewhere!  Together, they are the perfect pair. Long-time sweethearts, they finish each other’s sentences and know each other’s thoughts. It was just marvelous to watch them waltz through their day, not a care in the world, only thoughts of each other!

After a week of torrential storms, high winds, heavy storms, high heat, and humidity…we were blessed on wedding day with cooler temperatures, calm breezes, and NO RAIN!  Friends and family came from far and wide to help Lauren & Andrew celebrate this occasion, a long time in the making.  After they literally “tied the knot”, officiated by Andrew’s Godfather, everyone stayed late into the night…sitting out on the deck to soak in the soft evening light, eating till heart’s content, danced, and partied like rock gods!

CONGRATULATIONS Lauren & Andrew! May God bless your new journey together!!!

Manic Monday at Wimbledon 2013 was a continuation of an already bizarre Wimbledon!!!

Sabine Lisicki, one of my favorite players to watch, out Serena’d Serena this morning!  This is the 4th year in a row that Sabine, still only 23, has created chaos at The All England Club by beating the freshly-crowned reigning French Open Champion.  So now, just like last year, the only American left in the tournament is NOT who we expected.  Sloan Stephens won her quarter-final match, making this the second Grand Slam of 2013 in which she’s continued further in the tournament than Serena Williams!

Other crazy anecdotes from Wimbledon this year include:  most seeds to fall in the first two rounds (beginning with Rafael Nada’s fall in the first round), worst tournament for U.S. men in a century, and the most painful for me…first time my man Roger Federer misses a slam quarterfinal in nine years!

(All photos shot at 2013 Family Circle Cup)

 

It didn’t take much to make Lauren smile on her wedding day…she was the happiest bride I’ve seen in a LONG time!!! 🙂

And she had every reason to be. It was the most perfect day we’ve had in months. Everything ran like clockwork. And she was marrying the man of her dreams!

I’d had the pleasure of photographing Lauren’s sister’s wedding, when Brittany & Michael tied the knot. So in a way this was like a family reunion for me! Everyone in their family is just so sweet, kind, and full of life. And I soon discovered that Stephen and his family are the same. Everyone was just having a grand time all day long! It was so much fun for me to be a part of their amazing celebration!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Lauren & Stephen! May God bless your new journey together.