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

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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.

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Kelsey and Alex are Engaged!!!

I’ve had so much fun over the last few weeks getting to know Alex via emails and phone calls.

We were working out the final plans for his surprise proposal at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island to his beautiful girlfriend, Kelsey. I loved how every detail was so important to him. He truly wanted this to be a special moment for Kelsey.

The funny thing is, that truly magical and spontaneous moment hit him when he and Kelsey were putting up Christmas decorations in their new house. With holiday music in the background, fond childhood memories flowing through their heads, a that feeling of being “in the moment” surrounding them…he knew the timing was right! So just a few days before their trip to Kiawah, Alex asked Kelsey to be his bride…and she said “YES”!!! 🙂

The best part was, they still wanted to have their engagement photos with me on the beautiful sandy beach in front of The Ocean Course, just like Alex had originally planned. So it worked out PERFECTLY! We had so much fun together, and came away with some beautiful memories of this special time in their lives.  They are such an amazing couple!!!

Help me in saying CONGRATULATIONS to Alex & Kelsey…

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Alex’ Secret Proposal to Bumi at The Ocean Course

I have a confession to make! Alex and I have been secretly going behind his girlfriend’s back to plan his surprise proposal at The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island. 🙂

Alex loves tennis. And he’s really good at it! He plays in some amazing USTA open tournaments around the country. When he found out he’d be playing in one on Kiawah Island this weekend, he asked his girlfriend to come with him and make a fun vacation out of it. In fact, he thought it would be the perfect place to ask Bumi to marry him!!!

I was absolutely delighted that he called me to ask if I would do the honors of photographing this special occasion for them. It was an absolutely GORGEOUS fall day. Alex and Bumi couldn’t have been more amazing to work with. And getting to know them during our time together, I can tell they are absolutely PERFECT for each other!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Alex & Bumi! We wish you all the happiness in the world as you begin your new journey together…

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Creative Architectural Design and Superior Construction

Elizabeth and Greg Allen are not only partners in life, they have created one of the most incredible partnerships in home building that the lowcountry has ever seen!  Check them out at https://charlestonarchitects.com/.

An award-winning architect, Elizabeth’s creative concepts and problem-solving skills have made her one of the most highly sought-after designers of custom homes and renovations in Charleston. At the same time, her husband Greg has risen through the ranks by repeatedly going above and beyond his client’s expectations, placing him on the top tier of home builders in town. By working together, they are able to provide custom options nobody else is offering in the market.  Their attention to detail and level of quality is simply stellar!  Plus their incredibly efficient system, and the amazing team they’ve assembled around them, are able to deliver projects in record-breaking time.

It was an absolute honor to be able to photograph a few of their amazing projects last week!

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The Seabrook Island Club

We’ve had a string of unbelievably beautiful days this last week. The weather was absolutely perfect for my shoot at the Seabrook Island Club yesterday!

I was there to photograph the newly renovated facility for Trident Construction. Founded right here in Charleston back in 1981, Trident Construction provides construction services in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Their incredible team has repeatedly earned the trust of their clients, subcontractors and design professionals by working collaboratively and diligently on every project they tackle! Check them out at www.tridentconstruction.com.

Many thanks to Elizabeth & Bo for all their hard work scheduling and coordinating this shoot!

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Center Pointe Apartments for Novus Architects

I’ve been enjoying some challenging yet rewarding assignments from Novus Architects recently.

The latest request was for some updated photos of Center Pointe Apartments that showcase the grand scope of the project. Normally a great way to do that is from the air. So I would typically recommend incorporating drone shots. However, this apartment complex is sandwiched between Tanger Outlets and the Boeing plant…directly in the approach-path of incoming aircraft for runway 33 at the Charleston International Airport!

Being an FAA certified drone pilot, I knew the drone was out. However, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to help me gain elevation and create shots that look like I’m hovering several feet off the ground. With my “angel cam” in tow (also dubbed the world’s longest selfie-stick), I was able to take my Nikon D850 with the 14-24 f2.8 Nikkor lens attached and raise it several stories into the air to get exactly the perspective I needed!

It was a beautiful day and the shots came out great. 🙂

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Hanna & Kenny’s Wedding – The Lake House at Bulow

I had the pleasure of photographing Kenny’s brother’s wedding when Kevin and Melissa were married. Hard to believe it’s been 10 years ago now! So you can imagine my excitement when Hanna & Kenny asked me to be a part of their special day too!!!

With the current climate surrounding this pandemic, they weren’t able to have the larger event they had initially planned. But Hanna & Kenny stayed flexible, and stayed focused on the true meaning behind a wedding…their families, their commitment, and their love for one another! Re-focusing their energy into a more intimate event, this amazing couple came up with an absolutely delightful celebration! And the best part is, they are still planning to host all their friends and family for a big reception next year at a special “vow renewal”!!!

Everything was held at The Lake House at Bulow, formerly known as Bulow Plantation. It’s a wonderfully rustic venue on a quiet lake, surrounded by woods and wildlife, with an enchanting island in the middle all covered in tall pine trees. The ceremony was held on the deck, with fun family photos to follow. Then Hanna & Kenny took off with me for a fun little photo shoot around the property while cocktails were served. A relaxing dinner on the spacious lawn rounded out the evening.

Hanna was absolutely stunning in her gorgeous gown. She always has a radiant smile and a bubbly southern charm. I love how she always says “please and thank you” to everyone she meets. 🙂 Kenny was quite dashing in his tux. He’s the strong silent type, but with a dry sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. These two are absolutely perfect for each other…true soul mates indeed!

Today is our anniversary…Cami and I were married just 25 years ago today! And so I want to share with you both a very special wish…that your lives are as filled with love, laughter, and happiness as mine has been since marrying my best friend all those years ago. CONGRATULATIONS Hanna & Kenny!!!

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Aerial Photos for Trident Construction

I love my job!!! Sometimes I get to do the coolest assignments.

Yesterday I got to photograph aerial photos for one of my favorite clients, Trident Construction. I’ve done a lot of aerial photos for them with my drone. But we needed a few shots from a higher perspective than the drone legally allows. So we went flying in a helicopter!

Many thanks to Robert at Fly in Helicopters for setting us up, to our pilot Randy for an exceptional flight, and to Elizabeth for helping coordinate and direct the shoot!

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Evans Family on Kiawah Island

Last year was the first year we had missed our annual “Evans Family Sunrise Shoot” on Kiawah Island for half a decade. It’s been so much fun watching their kids grow into young adults over the years! Having that gap last year made me realize how quickly they grow. I could hardly believe how big Quinn had gotten!!!

In the wee predawn hours, a pocket of rain rolled up the coast. But luckily the storm moved on just in time for us to enjoy a really peaceful morning! Temperatures were mild, having been cooled off by the rain. And there was a quiet calmness on the beach I hadn’t experienced in a while…almost no wind at all!

As usual, Geraldine had everyone dressed in coordinating outfits, all lined up and ready to go on schedule! From blue-hour till breakfast, we had so much fun clowning around and capturing fun images of their amazing family.  It was wonderful to experience another sunrise together!

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Shem Creek Infrare & Aerial Photography

By commission of a client of mine looking for artwork to go in her new home, I went out to photograph some images of Shem Creek a few weeks ago.

The original request was for some of my fineart infrared photos. For those I use a special camera. It’s a Nikon Coolpix A, which is a compact rangefinder camera with a large DSLR sensor in it! The camera has been converted to see IR light by a company called Kolari Vision. It was a beautiful day and I got some great Infrared shots, which the client ended up hanging as 40×50 Acrylic prints in her home.

If you have an old digital camera you don’t use much and would like to convert it to Infrared, here’s the link:  https://kolarivision.com/?ref=74.  For a $10 OFF discount, use Coupon Code “chrissmith” at checkout.

While I was there, it was just too perfect a day not to fly the drone. I just couldn’t resist!!! 🙂

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Sunrise on Bulls Island

Sunrise at the boneyard beach on Bulls Island turned out to be meh. But Jamie Clark and I salvaged it with a fun impromptu modeling shoot for her beautiful daughter, Katie! Many thanks to my friends and amazing photogrpahers Kim McManus, Mary Wessner, and Cary McDonald for making it a fun morning. And a HUGE shout out to #coastalexpeditions for this incredible opportunity. This is the second-to-last sunrise expedition the company will be offering to Bulls Island. I feel lucky to have been able to experience this protected barrier island’s wild majesty one last time!

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