Leadership Luncheon at Hotel Bennett

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors over the years! They are such a great group of people…always professional, kind, and fun to work with!!!

Once again, I had the pleasure of photographing their annual Leadership Luncheon. This year was held at a new location…the beautiful Hotel Bennett in downtown Charleston! I’ve photographed other events at this new hotel at the corner of Marion Square. So I knew what a picturesque venue it was. But I was blown away by the gorgeous Christmas decorations!!!

The Leadership Luncheon went perfectly. With great food, a wonderful keynote speaker, and all kind of honors and accolades bestowed on various members, it was a truly a memorable event!

Birds & Brunch

I absolutely LOVE the open-jawed expressions of wide-eyed-wonder when people witness the amazing raptors from the Center for Birds of Prey swooping over their heads for the very first time!

Last week I had the honor of again photographing the annual fundraiser gala for the Avian Conservation Center. This year’s theme of “Birds & Brunch” was a little different than in the past. In stead of an evening banquet, the event was configured as a fun Sunday brunch. It was hosted by the new Bennett Hotel in downtown Charleston, which is a gorgeous venue on the corner of Marion Square. The program was a huge success, raising operating funds to help keep the center improving and doing great things for these amazing birds in it’s care.

Many thanks to Jim, Kara, Daniel, Stephen, Audrey, Natalie, Jessie, Lance, and the rest of the AMAZING team at Center for Birds of Prey for all that they do to help our planet and save the beautiful creatures we share it with!!!

I’d also like to thank my friend and amazing photographer, Ferris, for capturing the images of me in action.  🙂

American Board of Criminal Lawyers

Last evening couldn’t have been more beautiful! Fall has finally arrived in Charleston. We had a gorgeous sunny day, and a comfortably cool evening for the annual American Board of Criminal Lawyers event.

It’s always been a pleasure to photograph this event. And this year was no different! Everything was absolutely perfect…from the amazing band to the delicious food, from the creative decor to the friendly staff.

Many thanks to Andy & Cheryl’s Savage for their generosity in opening up their lovely home for this event, and for inviting me to be a part of it!!!

Cocktails for Community

Every fall, the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors hosts “Cocktails for Cummunity”, a fabulous fund raiser to help support the Realtors Housing Opportunities Fund.

The RHOF is an endowed fund created by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors supporting non-profit organizations to make a positive difference in the local community. RHOF’s giving mission is three-pronged: the repair or rehabilitation of low-to-moderate income housing, creation of new affordable housing, and education to encourage responsible homeownership. To date, RHOF has provided OVER $1 million in funding to Lowcountry nonprofits!

It was my pleasure to photograph this wonderful event again this year!

Lobster Fest for Iron Gate Realty

For their client-appreciation dinner this year, Renee & Paul at Iron Gate Realty organized a phenomenal Lobster Fest!!!

It was held at the Pierce Park Pavilion on Daniel Island.  After photographing portraits of Renee and her brother (and partner in crime), Paul, I set up and did couple’s portraits in front of the step-and-repeat, as well as with the beautiful park greenery in the background. We also did a big group photo of everyone that attended. And of course I got tons of candids of everyone having fun digging into their fresh “lobstah”! 🙂

It was a really fun event! I’d like to say a HUGE “Thank You” to Renee & Paul for allowing me to be a part of it.

Private Event on the USS Yorktown

Last night I had the privilege of photographing a private high-profile event on the U.S.S. Yorktown. For privacy reasons, I’m unable to show any people pictures. But here are some shots of the beautiful setup, orchestrated by Lee and the amazingly talented team at Absolutely Charleston…

CTAR Leadership Conference at Founder’s Hall

The Charleston Trident Association of Realtors has served as the “Voice of Real Estate” in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina for more than 100 years, issuing statistical analysis of market conditions, offering legislative support to its members, and serving as the premier resource for all things real estate. This slideshow is a vignette into the story of the CTAR Leadership Conference, held at Founder’s Hall, located in Charles Towne Landing

Trident Healthcare Holiday Party

It’s been our pleasure to photograph the Trident Healthcare Christmas Party for the last several years. They are such a great group. And the couples really seem to appreciate having a nice portrait of themselves, all dressed up in their festive attire!

Aside from setup shots of the banquet hall, and candids of the party, for most of the guests the highlight is our print-on-site Portrait Station! I’ve included a few behind-the-scenes shots of my setup. But basically, I create a mini-portrait studio, using wireless Nikon SB-800 flashes, Manfrotto light-stands, and Westcott umbrellas. I photograph each couple with a Nikon D5 and a Nikkor 24-70, while it’s tethered to my Lenovo Yoga laptop via Adobe Lightroom. After shooting a few test shots before guests arrive, I create a custom preset in Lightroom (including parameters such as white balance, exposure, and contrast) so that every shot comes out perfect and consistent. After capturing two or three quick shots of each couple, I bring them over to the laptop, where they get to immediately see the images and pick out their favorite. I then print out a beautiful 5×7 portrait of that image using the high-speed DNP DS-40 Dye Sublimation Printer, slip it into an elegant black folio, and hand it to them. Couples LOVE the instant gratification of being able to walk away with their portrait in hand!!!

We always enjoy working with the amazing team at Trident. I can’t wait to do it again next year!!!

CTAR Market Forecast Conference

Last week I was honored to be invited back to photograph the annual conference for the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors. Their Market Forecast Report was held at the beautifully renovated Charleston Marriott.  With an excellent panel of speakers, delightful live music, and lots of networking opportunities, the evening was a huge success.  Many thanks to Claire and her team for including me in another amazing CTAR corporate event!!!

Center for Birds of Prey Annual Gala

Last week I was thrilled to photograph a fundraising gala for an important cause! Aloft at the Cedar Room was this year’s annual celebration of the Center for Birds of Prey, the amazing team that works there, and the incredible work they do for our planet and the wonderful creatures we share it with!

Kara Bale from the Center for Birds of Prey writes: “What a wonderful night! Aloft at the Cedar Room was a fantastic event. The Cedar Room is a beautiful space which allowed guests to enjoy and celebrate the beauty, mystery, and wonder of wild birds while contributing to their conservation and our own future. The energy in the room was amazing! Here’s a quick snapshot of our evening for those of you who could not attend. We would like to extend another special thanks to our top sponsors including Coastal Expeditions, Benefitfirst, and The Boeing Company and to the many others that made this event possible. More photos to come from the very fabulous Chris Smith!!!”

It was an honor and a pleasure to be a part of this great evening again. I can’t wait for next year!!!

US Grains Council at the Denver Zoo

Last week I had the pleasure of photographing the 58th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting for the US Grains Council in Denver. To celebrate a successful and productive meeting, we had a wonderful and entertaining gala at the Denver Zoo!!!

DHG Leadership Conference – Dinner at the Aquarium

I always enjoy photographing the Dixon Hughes Goodman Leadership Conference. They are such a great organization, and truly care about their people!

At the conclusion of the second day’s meetings and presentations, everyone was treated to an AMAZING dinner party at the South Carolina Aquarium!