Headshots for Weeks & Irvine

Becca moved here to attend the Charleston School of Law. She specialized in real-estate law. And has joined the amazing team at Weeks & Irvine! It was a pleasure photographing her headshots this morning.

Not only has Bacca had a great start to her new career, she’s also getting married in 5 weeks! She and her fiance, along with 140 of their favorite friends and family, are heading to Key West to tie the knot. How fun is that? 🙂

Everyone help me congratulate Becca on her new position…and on her upcoming wedding!!!

Headshots for Joye Law Firm

In a complex personal injury case, two sisters suffered severe and permanent injuries as passengers in a Tesla accident in Charleston. The case was handled by Attorney Mark Joye of the Joye Law Firm. The litigation involved challenging negotiations with the Cincinnati Insurance Company, which initially understated the available insurance coverage. Ultimately, Mark was able to get a $2,417,500 settlement for the sisters. This case highlights the importance of skilled legal representation in personal injury cases.

It was an honor to photograph updated headshots for the Joye Law Firm last week. I set up a portable studio in their atrium, with a white background, and a high-key Rembrandt lighting style. I used the Nikon Z9, Nikkor 70-200 f2.8 Z, Flashpoint speedlights (x5), Manfrotto supports, and Westcott umbrellas. Of course I created serious portraits of each employee. But my favorites are the fun “outtakes” that I frequently throw in to help people get relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera!!! 🙂

Many thanks to Nicole & Rachel for coordinating schedules and helping organize the shoot.

Why Use Flash for Outdoor Portraits?

A nice couple was walking by as I set up my lights for a photo shoot on Daniel Island. Curious, they asked “why are you using flash for outdoor photos?” I thought that was a great question!

Commonwealth Financial is a longtime client. Several times a year, they have me come out to photograph headshots of new advisors that have joined their team. Heather is always so good about organizing everyone’s schedules and coordinating these photo shoots. She had arranged for me to come out for some updates this week.

We always schedule their headshots in the morning, when the side of their building is in open shade. That way, the light is consistent each time I go out, and nobody is squinting in the sunlight. The even shade also gives me a blank canvas to work with. It creates the ambient light that illuminates the side of the building that we always use as the backdrop, plus provides a nice fill light to the faces. Yes, I could just shoot these headshots with natural light. The light would be nice and soft. But it would also be flat, lacking punch and directionality. Plus it would be inconsistent from shoot to shoot…on overcast days it would be extra flat with a cool color tone…on sunny days it would be warmer and more contrasty. For these reasons, I always blend in some lighting from off-camera flash.

For the main light (to the subject’s right), I set up a Manfrotto lightstand, with 3 SB-5000 flashes on a bracket, firing into an Westcott Apollo 50″ softbox. Since this is a very large light source, susceptible to wind, the stand is held in place by 4 10-lb BoaBags. On the opposite side, firing from behind the subject’s left shoulder, I place another Manfrotto lightstand. This one has a single SB-5000 flash, firing into a Westcott Apollo Strip softbox, and is held down by a single 10-lb BoaBag. This light provides a “kicker” that highlights the hair, provides a little fill on the cheek, gives a little edging to the shoulders, and helps separate the subject from the background. I shoot these portraits using my Nikon Z9 with the Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 lens on a Manfrotto tripod.

In the first photo, you can see the results without flash, which I shoot to get a “base” exposure. There’s nothing wrong with it. The light just doesn’t sculpt the face and provide the punch I like in a headshots! The subsequent shots show the final results with the off-camera flashes. I hope this helps answer the question of why I use flash for outdoor portraits!

Pierce Sloan Kennedy & Early for Super Lawyers Magazine

I have enjoyed being one of the designated photographers for Super Lawyers Magazine for many years.

Super Lawyers Magazine, which is a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters, recognizes the top attorneys nationwide, across a variety of practice areas and firm sizes, using a patented process of independent research and peer input. The lawyers selected include not only represent the seasone veterans with years of experience, but also the Rising Stars of the profession. This well-respected publications is a great resource, designed to aid those needing an attorney they can trust. It has grown over three decades with an unparalleled reach in print magazines and online content.

This week I had the pleasure of photographing the attorneys from Pierce Sloan Kennedy & Early for an upcoming article in Super Lawyers Magazine!

Seamon Whiteside Headshots

I always enjoy working with Seamon Whiteside! Their company has such a healthy culture to it. Every employee I’ve ever met there is always happy, friendly, and eager to help out!!! That statement certainly applies to my photo shoot with them this week. It was an honor photographing some updated headshots and marketing photos for a few of their newest team members.

Headshots for McCabe Trotter & Beverly

Over the years, I’ve developed some wonderful relationships within the photography industy. Charleston…and South Carolina as a whole…has a wonderfully supportive cummunity of photographers. If a client contacts me and I’m not available, I find out what they are looking for and recommend several photographers who I know personally, and trust to do a great job for them. Frequently, that good karma comes back to me!

Last week, my friend and amazingly talented photographer, Clark Berry, passed along one of his clients for me. Clark is from Columbia, and photographs headshots for McCabe, Trotter & Beverly, P.C. But when they opened a new branch in Charleston, Clark’s schedule was too tight to drive all the way down here for one headshot. So he recommended me! He also sent me samples of how he photographed the ones in Columbia, what lights he used, and even a behind-the-scenes photo of his setup.

From that information, I was able to meet up with attorney Jim Lady at the new office, and capture a variety of headshots that mirrored the style Clark had used on the original photos!

Professional Portraits for Frank & Theresa

I first met Theresa and Frank when they hired me to photograph their big Birthday Bash! Theresa was turning 70, and frank was turning 80. It was such a beautiful celebration with family and friends gathering from all over the country!!!

Frank has had an amazing entreprenuerial career, and has written several books about it. As he approaches completion of his latest book, he needed a professional portrait to go on the back…as authors often do. Lucky for me, they asked me to photograph it for them! Arriving at their home, I set up my wireless studio in their home, with the low-key look they wanted. Then we went outside for some environmental portraits during the golden-hour light. When we were done, they invited me to sit with them for a chat…hanging out and soaking up all their business-knowledge and life-wisdom was truly special!

It was such an honor and a pleasure working with Frank & Theresa once again!

Headshots at Trident Construction

Today was a fun day, meeting lots of happy people. I had a great time photographing all the updated headshots for the team at Trident Construction!!!
(Nikon Z9, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8, Flashpoint strobes, Manfrotto stands, Westcott umbrellas, Lexar XQD cards)

Premier Physical Therapy

Jill and her team at Premier Physical Therapy are AMAZING!!! Not only are they wonderful clients and fantastic friends, but they are also our personal PTs when our aging bodies need help. 🙂

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of photographing headshots for a few new team members, as well as a new group photo for their annual Christmas Card. This year’s theme is “Getting Pumped for 2024”!!!

Marketing Shots for Seamon Whiteside

The rains cleared up just in time! Which left us with a perfect fall day to photograph new headshots and marketing photos for Seamon Whiteside. Many thanks to Lia for organizing everything, and keeping us all on track!!!

Headshots for Bridge Commercial

It was a dreary day outside…steady rain for hours. But I had a fun time inside with some very cheerful clients!

Setting up a white high-key backdrop, a Nikon Z9, and several speedlights, I had a great time photographing several new members to the Bridge Commercial Real Estate team! Photos were transmitted instantly to my laptop, where they got to pick out their favorites.

Many thanks to Kennedy for always being so organized, and for getting everyone’s schedules lined up!

Fulcrum Staffing at Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park

Fulcrum staffing helps the accounting industry by finding qualified staff who can fill much needed positions at different firms, especially during the hectic tax season!

I’ve had the pleasure of being their photographer for a couple years now. Yesterday I met up with them at the Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park to photograph a couple new team members, and some updated group photos. They are SUCH a nice group of kind and friendly individuals! We had a BLAST!!!