Cami & I go to church with Brian & Tonya. We love them to death and think they’re an AWESOME couple with two ADORABLE kids. So when they asked me to shoot their family portrait session this year I was very happy! 🙂 We picked a Historic Charleston theme and I absolutely LOVE all the textures of the old brick walls, cobblestone streets, narrow alleys, and winding ivy contrasting with their soft all-white outfits and bare feet!!!
Being involved in Tennis in Charleston, I meet a lot of really neat people. Russ & Maggie Lacoste are such a couple. Both are very involved in tennis (I play in the same League as Russ), and in their children’s lives. So when their daughter Kate got engaged and they asked if I’d photograph the wedding, I was SUPER EXCITED!
Kate & Dustin are the sweetest couple you could meet. Athletic? Good looking? For sure! But it’s that kindness, gentleness, and beauty on the inside that I love about these two. We met at the I’On Creek Club for their “First Glance” and photos with the wedding party. Their wedding was held at Christ Our King Catholic Church…I always love working there! And the reception was back at the Creek Club, complete with a GORGEOUS sunset that made for a picture-perfect backdrop for some beautiful images of these two. To see all their photos, visit http://www.chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/.
CONGRATULATIONS Kate & Dustin! It was SUCH a pleasure being a part of your special day…
I’ve been doing a lot of exploring this week. There’s a secret pond I’ve found within walking distance of our home where TONS of Ibis, Egrets, Herons, and Buzzards come to roost. I found this immature Glossy Ibis one day with this amazing shaft of light from the setting sun boring a hole through the trees and spotlighting it’s face. Cool Light + Neat Subject = Happy Photographer! 🙂
It’s been a GREAT week covering the Family Circle Cup again this year! It’s always the most exhausting week in my calendar as I’m constantly pushing full-speed ahead, 9-days strait, often 9am through midnight, no breaks, in multiple locations all over the city.
As the Official Photographer, I’m not only required to cover the action…but also the fans, activities around campus, images for sponsors, behind the scenes appearances by players, and VIP events all week…resulting in somewhere around 20,000 images! It’s a HUGE task. But I enjoy the opportunity to test myself, stretch my versatility, and come up with creative images under pressure.
I have to say this year has been one of my favorites as I like to think I found a rising star. When I photographed a portrait of Sabine after her second round match, I felt like this could be her year to break through. After her defeat of Venus, I knew she had the game. And by the time she beat Marion, I realized she had the maturity to go all the way. Here’s my portrait of the NEW Family Circle Cup Champion. Take a good look at that smile…I believe you’ll be seeing a LOT more of it as Sabine continues her rise to the top!
For more photos, visit the galleries at the Family Circle Cup and the Sony Ericson WTA Tour website. I’m thrilled to say my images made the front page of the WTA Tour every day this week…a first for me!
Nadia Petrova & Bethanie Matteck-Sands came from 3 match points down to win the doubles!
Their third time playing together, Patty Schnyder & Liga Dekmeijere had a good time during their doubles final even though they came up short of the trophy.
Caroline Wozniacki fought hard but couldn’t find an answer, letting her coach know her frustration.
A fitting end to Sabine’s tournament run, in the arms of her Dad and coach, whom she thanked during the trophy presentation for all his love and support over the years, through the good times and the bad. 
Sabine Lisicki simply over powered the more experienced Marion Bartoli. 
Marion Bartoli lost her quarterfinal to the young German who beat Venus earlier this week.
Caroline Wozniacki gets last-minute instructions in the tunnel from Tour Supervisor, Pam Whytcross, while Elena Dementieva stretches in the background.
Caroline Wozniacki’s tumble during her quarterfinal against Elena Dementieva didn’t slow her down a bit.
Elena Dementieva just couldn’t find a rythme against the 18-year old Caroline Wozniacki.Between sets us photographers have to entertain ourselves. Here’s a fun one of me with Leslie Billman, shooting for Wire Image, and Alice Keeney, shooting for the Associated Press. Leslie is a pretty good player herself. She and I paired up to win the annual Family Circle Cup Media Tournament two years ago, a friendly competition between all the writers, photographers, TV crews, and other media personnel. Alice must have been having a bad hair day…trying to hide behind that hood and her cell phone. 😉
Elena Dementieva is looking un-stoppable this year.
Virginie Razzano played well but couldn’t handle the power of Caroline Wozniacki.
Caroline Wozniacki in front of the scoreboard…I love how the background compliments her outfit.
Sabine Lisicki..now how can you not root for someone with such an adorable smile?
For about ten minutes this AMAZING two-inch wide shaft of light from the setting sun streamed through a crevice in the stadium bleachers and gave Marion Bartolli this beautiful golden glow.
Sabine Lisicki jumps for joy after one of the biggest wins of her young career.
Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish enjoys the action on Stadium Court.
Venus lunges for a volley but the effort wasn’t enough to defeat the 19 year old Sabine Lisicki.
Marion Bartoli watching the Sabine Lasicki upset Venus Williams.
Dominika Cibulkova hustles during her 3-set win over Anastasia Rodionova.
Dr. J, the legendary NBA basketball star, was in town to watch his daughter, Alexandra Stevenson. He got in a little golf the morning before her match and I was invited to tag along for a few shots. Born out of wedlock to freelance writer Samantha Stevenson in 1980, Alexandra only recently re-connected with her father.
Alona Bondarenko in a rare play for the net.
Anastasia Rodionova reflected in her coach’s sunglasses during a change over. On-court coaching was only recently introduced to the tour.
Patty Schnyder goes airborn during her powerful serves as she’s outlined by the long shadows of her late afternoon and tough three-set match.
Pure luck gets me a glimpse of Patty’s eye through the throat of her racket.
Elena Vesnina sprints for a drop-shot.
Fans relax on the Grand Lawn of the Family Circle Cup campus.
