Park Bend at Carolina Park for Grove Property Fund

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing Park Bend and several surrounding properties. This multi-building retail/office/flex project is strategically located across from Costco Wholesale within the Carolina Park Master-Planned community. It was designed by LFK Architects, built by Harbor Contracting, and is managed by the Grove Property Fund.

Grove Property Fund is a diversified private real estate company. Ed Navarro, the fund’s manager, has over 30 years of experience in real estate investment. The Fund’s property portfolio includes retail, mixed use, flex, industrial, office and land. I’ve included shots of the cleared land where the next phase of the Carolina Park expansion will take place.

Many thanks to Jenny at Gritty Gal Marketing for all her help coordinating this assignment!!!

Attorney Headshots for HSB Law

It was a pleasure welcoming Attorney Ashley to the team at HSB Law today! She was on her 3rd day of orientation. And part of the process was getting her official headshot taken for the company website!

I set up a high-key backdrop lit with a single speedlight. I added a 60″ Westcott umbrella with 2 speedlights as my main light. And I balanced that with a 60″ Westcott umbrella with 1 speedlight on the other side of the camera as fill. Last but not least, I added a strip reflector under her chin to lift the shadows and help the eyes pop. I shot with a Nikon Z9 and Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 II.

Ashley was wonderful to work with, and the images came out great!!!

New Construction for Harbor Contracting

This was a fun project!!!

I recently started working with Harbor Contracting. I mean, I’ve known their marketing agent, Jenny at Gritty Gal Marketing for a loooong time. I photographed her beautiful wedding to Nate 13 years ago!!!  It has been so much fun re-connecting with her, and teaming up together on these projects.

This most recent assignment was to cover 3 new commercial buildings they just completed along Slack Tide Drive on Johns Island. I know what you’re thining…Johns Island is getting over developed already. But this little patch is just off Maybank Highway and didn’t have much of an impact on the native flora and fauna, which is nice. Harbor Contracting did an amazing job! Each building is similar, but unique…with courtyards and walkways tying all of them together. The attention to detail and careful aesthetics was top notch!

I photographed the project with a Nikon Z9, Nikkor Z 14-30 f4, Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, and DJI Mavic 3 Pro.  This versatile kit allows me to cover every angle for a variety of different shots!

North Charleston Police Evidence Building

It never ceases to amaze me what cool and interesting places my camera gets me into!

Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of photographing a very non-descript building in a back lot off a remote cul-de-sac in North Charleston. Turns out this will be the new North Charleston Police Evidence Building!!! Yup…try getting into this facility in a few months once it is up and operational. I bet security will be like entering Fort Knox! Things were still very much under construction on the inside. But it was really cool to see all the movable shelving displays they were installing. There were separate secure rooms for things like firearms, drugs, DNA, and fingerprints. Just imagine what stories these four walls will be able to tell in 50 years!

Many thanks to Trident Construction for trusting me with another important assignment. Everything was shot with Nikon Z9, Nikkor Z 14-30 f4, and Nikkor 24-120 f4.

American Gardens for Seamon Whiteside

Have you visited the new American Gardens in the heart of downtown Charleston yet? If you haven’t, I highly recommend it. Check out their website for upcoming events, and plan your visit accordingly: https://americangardenschs.com/

American Gardens was created as a living reflection of Charleston’s role in shaping the American story. Honoring the city’s past and embracing its evolving spirit, the gardens offer an urban retreat where all are welcome. Here, residents and visitors can pause, gather, and connect in a space designed to celebrate shared humanity.

American Gardens is a 1-acre, publicly accessible park, adjacent to the Gibbs Museum, that opened in November 2025. It completely transforming a former asphalt parking lot into a curated green space. Developed by Ben Navarro’s Beemok Hospitality Collection, it is designed as a community gathering space honoring the American Dream, featuring fountains, live oaks, colorful perennials, and beautiful magnolias.

I had the pleasure of photographing the gardens for the engineering team of Seamon Whiteside, using a Nikon Z9, Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, and DJI Mavic 3 Pro.

Southport Mulberry Wastewater Treatment Plant for Harper General Contractors

As a commercial photographer, I get the opportunity to photograph all kinds of fascinating places. But I have to admit, photographing the Southport Mulberry Wastewater Treatment Plant in Shallotte, North Carolina for Harper General Contractors was definitely one of the more… aromatic subjects on my portfolio list. The good news is that from a visual standpoint, it was fantastic. And fortunately, photography is one profession where you can’t smell the final product.

This was actually the third wastewater treatment plant I’ve photographed for Harper General Contractors, and I’ve really enjoyed documenting these impressive facilities. There’s a lot more going on at a treatment plant than most people realize. Massive tanks, miles of piping, interesting industrial textures, and perfectly symmetrical infrastructure all combine to create surprisingly cool compositions. Who knew wastewater could be so photogenic?

For this project I used my trusty Nikon Z9 paired with the Nikkor Z 14–30mm f/4 and the Nikkor Z 24–120mm f/4 lenses. The wide angle lens was perfect for capturing the scale of the tanks and filtration systems, while the 24–120mm helped isolate some of the interesting details throughout the facility. I also launched the DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone to capture aerial views of the entire plant, which really helped showcase the impressive layout and engineering.

Let’s be honest—wastewater treatment isn’t the most glamorous subject in the world. But these facilities play an incredibly important role in keeping communities clean and healthy. And from a photographer’s perspective, they offer some truly unique visuals.

So yes, I spent the day photographing where everything eventually goes. Thankfully, the photos came out much cleaner than the job description might suggest.

Seamon Whiteside Headshots during Winter Storms in Greenville

Last week the eastern United States was hit with a crazy winter storm. But that didn’t stop Seamon Whiteside from soldering on with their scheduled headshots!!!

Seamon Whitesdide is one of my favorite clients. I routinely travel to their remote offices around South Carolina to update headshots for new employees, and photograph new projects they’ve been working on. We normally photograph their headshots outdoors, with natural environmental backdrops around their offices. But when the freezing weather hit, the Greenville office didn’t flinch…they simply pivoted. Their office is in a large commercial complex. So they simply reached out to their neighboring businesses and asked if we could use some of their walls as environmental backgrounds.

Everything worked out great and we were able to successfully capture headshots of their new employees in spite of the winter weather!

Pierce Sloan Kennedy & Early Law Firm for Superlawyers Magazine

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a magazine feature for Super Lawyers Magazine, and it was one of those assignments that reminds me why I love this work. If you’re not familiar with them, Super Lawyers is a nationally recognized publication highlighting outstanding attorneys across the country—definitely worth checking out at www.superlawyers.com.

This particular shoot was a profile piece on the law firm of Pierce Sloan Kennedy & Early LLC, a firm I’ve had the privilege of working with several times over the years. Every time we collaborate, the experience is seamless, professional, and genuinely enjoyable. Their team is welcoming, well-organized, and clearly passionate about what they do, which always translates into stronger, more authentic photographs. You can learn more about them at www.piercesloan.com.

For this assignment, I relied on my trusty Nikon Z9, pairing it with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 II for all of the group shots. That lens is a workhorse—super sharp, versatile, and perfect for capturing clean, polished images with consistent results. For individual headshots, I switched to the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8, which allowed me to create flattering compression and beautiful separation while keeping the subjects relaxed and comfortable.

Lighting was handled with a combination of four Godox V860II speedlights, large Westcott shoot-through umbrellas, and Manfrotto light stands, giving me soft, even light that complemented the firm’s professional aesthetic.

Working with Super Lawyers Magazine and the team at Pierce Sloan Kennedy & Early is always a highlight, and I’m grateful for the continued trust they place in my work. Assignments like this are a great reminder that trusted collaboration makes for strong imagery.

Trident Construction’s Women in Construction

I recently had the absolute pleasure of photographing promotional and marketing images for the incredible team at Trident Construction right here in Charleston, South Carolina. This shoot was especially meaningful because it centered around their “Women in Construction” campaign—a powerful celebration of the talented women who help drive Trident’s success every single day.

We spent the day on an active construction site in downtown Charleston, capturing bold, confident portraits and candid moments that showcased both professionalism and pride. Photographing these women in their element—hard hats on, boots on the ground, surrounded by steel, concrete, and Charleston skyline—was genuinely inspiring. The energy on site was fantastic, and the team’s camaraderie made it easy to create images that feel authentic and empowering rather than staged.

Trident Construction is an outstanding commercial construction company, and it shows not only in their projects, but in their people and company culture. They were fully invested in telling a story that highlights diversity, leadership, and opportunity within the construction industry, and I loved helping bring that vision to life. You can learn more about their work at www.tridentconstruction.com.

From a technical standpoint, I photographed the shoot using my trusty Nikon Zf paired with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 II, along with a Nikon Z9 and Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 for tighter, dynamic perspectives. To top it off, I captured a few aerial images using the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, adding dramatic context and scale to the final collection.

This was one of those shoots that reminds me why I love marketing photography—great people, a great message, and visuals that truly matter.

A Day in the Life of Charleston County Schools

I had the pleasure of photographing a day-in-the-life of the Charleston County School District (CCSD). It was one of the most rewarding projects I’ve worked on this year! As a Charleston-based photographer with over 25 years’ experience, I’m used to capturing moments across industries. But documenting learning, curiosity, and joy in CCSD’s classrooms felt especially meaningful. CCSD — a nationally accredited district serving roughly 50,000 students across 88 schools over 1,300 coastal square miles — offers a remarkable blend of urban, suburban, and rural communities. That unique diversity came through in every frame!

My assignments included candid portraits of students engaged in hands-on science experiments, collaborative small-group work, art lessons, extracurricular activities, and teachers guiding discovery with contagious enthusiasm. I aimed to capture authentic moments that communicate the district’s commitment to equitable, high-quality education and the vibrant programs they offer. Working with the students and staff was effortless; their openness and energy made it easy to create playful, photojournalistic images, perfect for promotional use.

Beyond the technical work, I appreciated the opportunity to support CCSD’s marketing goals by producing visuals that tell their story: energetic classrooms, supportive teachers, and students thriving academically and socially. I’m grateful for the district’s trust and for the chance to shine a light on the people and programs making a real difference in our community. I look forward to sharing the final images and collaborating on future projects that celebrate Charleston’s educators. If you’re with an organization seeking authentic and engagine imagery, I’d love to connect and discuss.

Michael’s 70th Birthday Party at Hotel Bennett

Photographing Michael’s 70th Birthday Celebration at Hotel Bennett was an absolute honor and a night I won’t soon forget. From the moment guests arrived, it was clear this was no ordinary birthday party—it was a beautifully executed, high-society gala filled with warmth, elegance, and genuine celebration. Hotel Bennett provided a stunning backdrop, with its timeless architecture and refined interiors perfectly matching the significance of the occasion.

The evening brought together an impressive group of friends, colleagues, and leaders, all there to celebrate Michael and the impact he has had over the years. One of the highlights was the series of heartfelt and memorable presentations, including remarks from Helen Hill, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Judge Duffy, Tommy McQueeney, and Andrew Hsu, President of the College of Charleston. Each speaker added their own perspective, painting a powerful picture of Michael’s legacy, leadership, and character. Speaking of paintings, a new portrait of Michael was revealed. And his new biography was also announced!

From a technical standpoint, this event was a dream to photograph. I worked with two Nikon Z9 cameras, allowing me to move seamlessly between wide environmental shots and intimate candids without missing a beat. My lens lineup included the Nikkor Z 14–30mm f/4 for dramatic room-setting images, the versatile Nikkor Z 24–70mm f/2.8 II, and the nimble Nikkor Z 70–180mm f/2.8 for discreetly capturing emotional moments from across the room. To ensure consistent, flattering light throughout the evening, I used four remote Godox V860II off-camera flashes, carefully placed to create a dramatic but elegant look.

It was a privilege to document such a meaningful celebration, and I’m grateful to have been part of a night that honored this extraordinary man in such a memorable way.

Marketing Photos for e System Solutions

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing the team at e System Solutions here in beautiful Charleston, South Carolina, and it was an experience I truly enjoyed from start to finish. As a new client of ours, they made an immediate impression—not just with their professionalism, but with the depth of knowledge and experience they bring to their field. With decades of expertise behind them, it’s clear why e System Solutions has built such a strong reputation, and I was excited to help visually tell that story through updated headshots and marketing imagery.

From the moment we started, the team was relaxed, engaged, and open to creative ideas, which always makes for a great photo session. My goal with corporate headshots is to strike the perfect balance between polished and approachable, and this group made that easy. We focused on images that feel authentic and confident—photos that reflect who they are and how they work with their clients.

For the shoot, I relied on my trusty Nikon Z9, paired with the incredibly sharp Nikkor Z 24–70mm f/2.8 II and Nikkor Z 70–200mm f/2.8 lenses. These lenses give me the flexibility to capture everything from clean, modern headshots to wider marketing portraits with beautiful background separation. To add a bit of extra dimension and polish, I occasionally incorporated creative off-camera flash using one or two Godox V860II speedlights.

I’m grateful to the entire e System Solutions team for the opportunity and I’m excited to see how these images support their brand moving forward. If you haven’t already, be sure to check them out at www.esystems.net.