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!!!

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.

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.

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.

International African American Museum for Seamon Whiteside

Being that I was born and raised in the Congo, where the majority of slaves sent to North America came from, and that I now live in Charleston, where the majority of slaves were sold, I am acutely aware of the damages caused by the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. So it was a great honor to be selected to photograph the International African American Museum for Seamon Whiteside!

The IAAM is a museum of African-American history in Charleston, South Carolina, located at a former shipping wharf where approximately 40% of the nation’s enslaved persons disembarked. The museum opened June 27, 2023, after 20 years of planning. The concept of the museum was initiated by former Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. The construction budget of the museum is $75 million. Riley raised much of the money for the project as a private citizen. The museum sits on the Cooper River, with a view facing Fort Sumter and out into the Atlantic Ocean, across which the slaves made their arduous journey.

Many thanks to Lia at Seamon Whiteside for coordinating all the details of the shoot!

Credit One Stadium – The Oaks Deck and Front Plaza Landscaping

Phase 2 of the Credit One Stadium is now complete!

As the official photographer of the Credit One Charleston Open, it was an honor to be asked to photograph a few shots of these new features for Seamon Whiteside, the engineering firm behind their design. The Front Plaza landscaping has really filled in nicely. And The Oaks Deck is beautifully situated in the grove of live oaks just outside the stadium. This raised outdoor deck event space is used throughout the tournament. Accomodating up to 100 people, it can also be booked for private events throughout the year. It features outdoor lounge furniture, power for a DJ or band, on-site parking, and much more: https://creditonestadium.com/venue-rentals/the-oaks/.

Many thanks to Lia at Seamon Whiteside for coordinating this photo shoot!

Mixson Community for Seamon Whiteside

I had no idea this new neighborhood had gone up in the North Charleston area near Park Circle. When my clients at Seamon Whiteside hired me to photograph it for them, it was like I was discovering a new corner of our city for the first time!

“Live. Play. Dine. These three simple words are what defines Mixson, the new single family neighborhood and gem of Park Circle. Mixson boasts unparalleled amenities. Living here means you’ll also enjoy Mixson Club, your own swim and social oasis, which includes a yoga studio and exercise facility featuring new indoor and outdoor fitness equipment, swimming lessons for the kids, and cabana rentals with drink service at your fingertips. Mixson’s extensive park system is perfect for a walk with your dog to the spacious onsite dog park. Park Circle’s entertainment district is just a few minutes away and features locally-owned shops, restaurants, and three nationally recognized breweries. Perfectly convenient, stop by Mixson Market for a cup of coffee on your way to work or head over to Mixson’s onsite restaurant, LOCALS, where award-winning sushi and musical entertainment is served up throughout the week. At Mixson, you really can have it all.”

Captured with:
Nikon D850 + Nikkor 24-70 f2.8
Nikon D5 + Nikkor 70-200 f2.8
DJI Mavic Pro

Charleston Aerial Photographer, Charleston Architecture Photographer, Charleston Business Photographer, Charleston Construction Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Drone Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D5, D850, DJI, Mavic Pro, Mixson, Mt. Pleasant Aerial Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Architecture Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Business Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Construction Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Corporate Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Drone Photographer, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, Park Circle, Seamon Whiteside

Brickyard Plantation for Seamon Whiteside

I learned a lot while photographing Brickyard Plantation for Seamon Whiteside this week. I had no idea there was so much history in this Mt. Pleasant neighborhood!

“Brickyard Plantation is a portion of the vast Boone Hall Plantation. The soils that cover much of the tract contain dense red clay and sand making it suitable for brick production. In 1817, a plantation with a Brick Yard established thereon called Boon Hall was purchased by John and Henry Horlbeck. The brothers were partners in the construction industry having built several notable structures in Charleston such as the St John’s Lutheran Church and St. Stephen’s Chapel. The Horlbecks developed the brick yard into a major enterprise. From 1850 to 1860, twenty five million bricks were produced at a profit of $170,000. The brick yard operated throughout the nineteenth century and was later known as the Horlbeck Brick and Tile Company. The facility consisted of several kilns, workshops, drying areas, a brick lined cistern, a commissary, and a steam boiler.”

Only one of the boiler’s brick chimneys is left standing today. It’s the only one of its kind in the area, and is beautifully preserved in the back of the neighborhood.

DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Nikon D850 + Nikkor 24-70 f2.8
Nikon D5 + Nikkor 70-200 f2.8

Charleston Aerial Photographer, Charleston Architecture Photographer, Charleston Business Photographer, Charleston Construction Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Drone Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D5, D850, DJI, Hamlin Plantation, Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic Pro, Mt. Pleasant Aerial Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Architecture Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Business Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Construction Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Corporate Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Drone Photographer, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, Park Circle, Seamon Whiteside

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.

Charleston Aerial Photographer, Charleston Architecture Photographer, Charleston Business Photographer, Charleston Construction Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Drone Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D5, D850, DJI, Hamlin Plantation, Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic Pro, Mt. Pleasant Aerial Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Architecture Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Business Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Construction Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Corporate Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Drone Photographer, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, Park Circle, Seamon Whiteside

Trident Medical Center for Novus Architects

I had a photo shoot today…AND ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL!!! No, seriously…the shoot was IN a hospital! 🙂 
Seriously, it was a pleasure photographing the newly renovated section of the Trident Medical Center for Novus Architects. They do an AMAZING job and are always such a pleasure to work with!

Charleston Architecture Photographer, Charleston Commercial Photographer, Charleston Construction Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Healthcare Photographer, Charleston Hospital Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D850, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA, Novus Architects, SametCorp, Summerville Architecture Photographer, Summerville Commercial Photographer, Summerville Construction Photographer, Summerville Corporate Photographer, Summerville Healthcare Photographer, Summerville Hospital Photographer, Trident Medical Center

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!

Charleston Aerial Photographer, Charleston Architecture Photographer, Charleston Business Photographer, Charleston Construction Photographer, Charleston Corporate Photographer, Charleston Drone Photographer, Charleston Interior Design Photographer, Charleston Interior Photographer, Charleston Real Estate Photographer, Chris & Cami Photography, D850, DJI, Elizabeth Allen Design, Greg Allen Builder, Mavic Pro, Mt. Pleasant Aerial Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Architecture Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Business Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Construction Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Corporate Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Interior Design Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Interior Photographer, Mt. Pleasant Real Estate Photographer, Nikkor, Nikon, Nikon Pro, Nikon USA