Key Risk Insurance Presidents Club

I had the pleasure of photographing the Presidents Club Awards Banquet for Key Risk Insurance, held at the beautiful Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. Set along the coast, the resort provided a relaxed yet upscale atmosphere that was perfect for celebrating the company’s top performers.

The evening brought together an outstanding group of professionals for a well-deserved celebration of excellence and achievement. From the moment guests arrived, there was a sense of excitement and appreciation in the air. Events like this are always a joy to photograph, as they strike a great balance between polished presentations and genuine, candid moments shared among colleagues.

Throughout the night, I focused on documenting a variety of moments. During cocktail hour, I set up a Portrait Station where each couple could get beautiful portraits in their elegant gowns and snappy suits! From there, we all moved into the ballroom, which looked fabulous! From candids during dinner, to the award presentations and speeches, to the in-between interactions that truly tell the story of the event…I had such a great time! Capturing those authentic connections is always one of my favorite parts of photographing corporate gatherings like this.

A big part of what made the evening run so smoothly was the incredible planning by Experience Holy City. Lee and her team are always fantastic to work with, and their attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the event came together seamlessly.

It’s always an honor to be trusted to document such meaningful celebrations, and I truly enjoyed working with the Key Risk Insurance team. The Presidents Club banquet was a wonderful evening from start to finish, and I look forward to the opportunity to work together again in the future.

Shot with Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8 II, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 II, Godox V480 (x2), Godox AD200 (x2), Godox V860II (4), Manfrotto stands and supports.

Seamon Whiteside – Summerville Office 10 Year Anniversary Celebration

“At SW+ we view ourselves as a partner in site design; working by our Clients’ side, with their goals in mind. This means we strive to fully understand their vision, approach their project with passion, continuously collaborate, produce quality plans, and engage in the construction process to help see the vision through.”

It was an absolute pleasure to photograph last night’s celebration, commemorating the 10-year milestond of the Summerville office! The reception was held at the beautiful pavilion in Ashley River Park. This was a project that SW+ worked hard on. So it was fitting that this reception was held under the gorgeous architectural designs of one of their projects.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Summerville office, and to the entire Seamon Whiteside team! SW+ celebrated their 40th Anniversary as a company last year!!!

To cover the event, I used a Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8, Nikkor Z 70-180 f2.8, DJI Mavic 3 Pro. This setup allows me to work quickly, producing an incredible variety of extemely high quality images from such intimate events.

The Citadel – Academy of Engineers Awards Banquet

I had the pleasure of photographing the Academy of Engineers Awards Banquet held at The Citadel, one of Charleston’s most iconic and historic campuses. The event took place at the beautiful Holliday Alumni Center, providing an elegant setting that perfectly matched the prestige of the occasion.

The evening brought together an impressive group of engineers, leaders, and distinguished guests to celebrate outstanding achievements within the field. From the moment guests arrived, there was a strong sense of pride and camaraderie in the room. It’s always rewarding to document events like this, where meaningful recognition and genuine connections are at the forefront.

Throughout the banquet, I focused on capturing a mix of candid interactions, formal group photos, award presentations, and the overall atmosphere of the evening. The formal setting, combined with the energy of the attendees, created a great balance of polished moments and authentic expressions.

For this event, I worked with a dual-camera setup to ensure complete coverage. I used a Nikon Z9 paired with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 II for versatility, while a Nikon Zf with the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 II allowed me to capture tighter, more intimate moments from a distance. This combination gave me the flexibility to move seamlessly between wide scene-setting shots and close-up storytelling images.

Lighting was key in bringing the room to life. I used six Godox off-camera flashes strategically placed around the space to create consistent, flattering light on the stage and throughout the venue. These remote flashes were controlled from the Godox V480 flashes on each camera, and helped give the images more depth and dimension than would otherwise be possible with only using on-camera flash.

It was an honor to document such a meaningful evening, and I always enjoy working in a setting as timeless as The Citadel.

Awards Banquet for US Foods Lexington

I had the absolute pleasure of photographing the Annual Awards Gala for US Foods of Lexington! This year’s event was held inside the Sweetgrass Inn at Wild Dunes Resort, and once again, it was an unforgettable evening. This high-society banquet brought together an incredible group of professionals to celebrate excellence, leadership, and achievement within the organization. The atmosphere was elegant, energetic, and full of well-deserved recognition.

One of the highlights of the evening was the special awards presentations led by the new president of US Foods Lexington, Steve Boggan. His remarks set a thoughtful and inspiring tone for the night, making the celebrations feel both meaningful and forward-looking. From heartfelt speeches to candid moments of celebration, the event offered no shortage of powerful storytelling opportunities through my photography.

To document the gala, I worked with a dual-camera setup to ensure I could capture every moment in rapid succession. I used a Nikon Zf paired with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 II for versatility and beautiful low-light performance, alongside a Nikon Z9 with the Nikkor Z 70-180mm f/2.8 for tighter compositions during presentations. For dramatic, super-wide room shots that showcased the scale and elegance of the venue, I occasionally swapped in the Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4. Lighting was key for this event. I strategically placed six Godox V860II remote flashes around the room to create consistent, flattering light, while a Godox V480 on each camera provided flexibility for on-the-move moments.

Plus my good friend, Gary, set up a fantastic Portrait Station, where guests could get their couple’s photos taken.  He used an elegant silver sequin backdrop, beautifully lit by two Godox AD200 flashes in soft boxes.  He shot tethered with a Nikon Z9 and Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8 lens.  The workhourse DNP printers pumped out 5x7s, which were then mounted in black folios, and placed on tables for guests to take home as their party favors at the end of the evening!

This marked my third year photographing the Annual Awards Gala for US Foods Lexington, and it is always an absolute pleasure working with their team. I’m grateful for their continued trust, and am already looking forward to next year’s celebration!!!

MUSC Cares Clinic 20th Anniversary Reception at Palmetto Brewing Company

This weekend, I had the honor of photographing a wonderful reception at the Palmetto Brewing Company, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the MUSC Cares Clinic!

“The CARES Medical Clinic is committed to providing quality healthcare at no cost to the underserved populations of South Carolina while educating future healthcare professionals through our service to these patients. We aim to: (1) Offer primary care, preventive services, and referral options at no charge to uninsured adults. (2) Expose students, early in their training, to the nuances of providing patient care to a population with diverse and ever-changing healthcare needs. (3) Foster interprofessional cooperation of students, healthcare professionals, and members of the community in addressing healthcare disparities. (4) Understand community healthcare needs through service to the underserved.”

I was photographing this assignment on behalf of my good friend and amazing photographer, Gary Colemen. Gary and I work a lot of events together that are too big for one individual to cover. He was working a different reception for MUSC at the same time. We both shoot with Nikon Z9 cameras, and a diverse host of Nikkor lenses. Which makes working together not only fun, but seamless in terms of mixing equipment and editing files.

The Citadel Foundation Scholarship Donor Dinner

Last night I had the pleasure of photographing The Citadel Foundation’s annual Scholarship Donor Dinner at The Gaillard Center. It’s been my honor to photograph this event for several years now. And it’s one evening I always look forward to!

The Citadel Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, was established with the primary purpose of providing financial assistance and support exclusively for The Citadel. Founded in 1961 as The Citadel Development Foundation, the organization was initially tasked with raising money exclusively for educational purposes through the academic endowment fund. Donations to The Citadel Foundation, as it is known today, go to a variety of programs including academic scholarships, faculty support, athletic facilities, individual academic schools, program funds, and vital expenses not covered by tuition or fees. The vision of this program is to build a preeminent foundation at The Citadel for tomorrow’s principled leaders.

Many thanks to Riviere, who does an AMAZING job of organizing this incredible event!!!

CTAR Leadership Celebration at The Harbour Club

By promoting the highest standards of Professionalism, Ethics, Education, and Technology, the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors® (CTAR) ensures that the Realtor® members are the primary source for real estate services in the South Carolina Lowcountry. CTAR is dedicated to embracing and enhancing a culture where all Charleston Realtors® feel like they have a seat at the table, a voice in the conversation, and confidence that their voice will be heard. The organization prides itself in having a membership culture where everyone feels safe and respected as both a professional and an individual.

Each year I have the privilege of photographing the CTAR Leadership Celebration. It’s always a fantastic evening, with a festive Christmas atmosphere. Some of the key events throughout the night include the Installation Ceremony of the 2025 CTAR Boards of Directors, the 2024 Realtor of the Year Award, the CTAR Distinguished Service Society Awards, and the official handing of the gavel over to the new incoming president.

Congratulations to all the award winners and inductees. And many thanks to Claire, Autumn, and the entire staff for all their hard work and dedication in making this year’s event another resounding success!!!

Windwood Family Services Annual Fundraiser

It was an absolute pleasure to photograph the Annual Fundraising Gala for Windwood Family Services this week! Not only was it a great event…it was for a fantastic cause!!!

Windwood Family Services provides help, hope, and healing to children and families affected by abuse, neglect, or trauma through residential programs and community services. Windwood Farm serves boys ages 6-16 who have either experienced prior abuse or neglect and are in the custody of SC Department of Social Services…or are experiencing behavioral issues without abuse or neglect in their background and are in their parents custody.

The event was held at beautiful Hotel Emeline in downtown Charleston. Guests were greeted with a fun cocktail hour in the open courtyard, where Silent Auction items were available for browsing and bidding. Everyone was then invited into the gorgeous ballroom for a lovely dinner. Then the program kicked into high gear with guest speakers and a lively Live Auction. It was so heartwarming to see the amount of money that was raised to help fund this wonderful organization.

Many thanks to Mia for trusting me to cover this important event for Windwood Family Services!

MUSC Doctor of Surgery Graduation Gala

It was an absolute pleasure photographing the annual Graduation Gala for the esteemed Medical Universary of South Carolina newest surgeons! This was my second year covering this amazing event.  And I’m so glad I got to be a part of it!

Many thanks to Diana for hiring me, and for sharing these kind words with me after she received the photos:
“Thank you so much!! You were great and everyone raved about you from the event. I couldn’t be more pleased with your services and the beautiful photos.”

Amerisure Champions Circle

As a full time professional photographer in Charleston, it’s good to have a great network of trusted colleagues in the industry. Often we get multiple requests for assignments on the same day, or requests for assignments that are so big that they require multiple photographers all shooting at once.

My friend Gary at Coleman Photography is one of those trusted shooters that I can always count on when needed. Earlier this week, I had the honor of returning the favor when he asked me to cover an awards banquet for Amerisure while he was on another assignment.

The Amerisure Champions Circle was an awards gala in honor of their top performers. It was held at the beautiful old historic William Aiken House. And it was planned and orchestrated by the amazing team at Destination South. CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners!!!

Incentive Event in Hawaii

Last week I had the opportunity to join an all-star team of amazing photographers to document all the action and adventures of a really neat corporate incentive trip on the island of Maui. While there, we took the opportunity to spend a few extra days driving the famed Road to Hana, hiking in Haleakala National Park, relaxing with Hawaiian green sea turtles on Ho-okipa Beach, and photographing the amazing sunset from the dormant volcano’s picturesque summit.

100th Anniversary of the Edward C Levy Co

Last weekend I had the pleasure of photograhing a milestone celebration. The Edward C Levy Co is 100 years old!!!

“Inspiration and commitment were the driving forces that gave Levy its start in 1918. It’s the technology that we discover, explore, and apply that has earned Levy the reputation as a true innovator in industries around the globe.”

Many thanks to Judi and her team at The Anniversary Company for organizing this fun company picnic to commemorate the occasion.