Jaime & Brian’s Hampton Park Engagement Session

Earlier this summer I got this really sweet email from Jaime:

“Hey Chris! I recently just got engaged and wanted to talk to you. You did my best friends wedding a few years ago and the pictures were so beautiful…”

I’ve had so much fun getting to know Jaime over the past few months. Finally, I got to meet this very special couple over the weekend when they came to Charleston for their engagement session. Jaime is the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful person you could ever meet! Plus, Brian and I hit it off immediately because we share the same quirky sense of humor. We all had a BLAST exploring the picturesque Hampton Park, capturing their excitement and energy along the way.

I’d like to send a HUGE BEAR HUG to Melissa & Kevin, who’s gorgeous wedding I photographed at Middleton Place, for re-connecting Jaime and I after all these years. 🙂  I can’t wait to photograph Jaime & Brian’s amazing celebration in Woodstock, GA next year!!!

Ally & Matt’s Surprise Proposal at Magnolia Plantation

I woke up this morning before the alarm…butterflies in my stomach…excitement in my veins. It wasn’t for me. The anticipation of being a part of Matt’s Surprise Proposal to his beautiful girlfriend, Ally, had my adrenaline pumping before my feet hit the floor. It’s hard to believe that 9 years of dating had finally led these two soulmates to this perfect moment!

Matt and I have been secretly corresponding for weeks…planning out every detail of this AMAZING day! We selected a gorgeous avenue of oaks at the picturesque Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. Arriving early, I got all set up and settled into my hiding spot. A small group of tourists walked by and, hesitant at first, asked me why I was hiding in the bushes. After I explained my situation, the men wandered off slightly bemused, while the ladies burst into smiles and giggles, chattering among themselves as they strolled on: “isn’t that the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard of?!?”

Matt and Ally arrived right on cue! The first shot of them walking towards “the spot” cracks me up. You can see Matt’s brain is on high alert as he scans the brush to get a bead on my location. But more importantly, I LOVE ALLY’S REACTION when Matt dropped to his knee and asked her to be his wife!!! 🙂

After she said “Yes”, the three of us enjoyed a wonderful stroll around the plantation, stopping to photograph authentic Engagement Photos along the way. It was a beautiful morning with perfect fall temperatures and gorgeous southern light.  We had a BLAST!!!

CONGRATULATIONS Ally & Matt! You guys are a very special couple. I am truly honored to be forever linked to this beautiful day in your lives!!!

Summerville Cuties

Last night I had the pleasure of photographing portraits for my good friend, and amazing photographer, Frank!

We created a natureal portrait studio in his back yard with the beautiful woods as the backdrop and an elegant earth-tone chair for posing. I used the Nikon D5 with the Nikkor 70-200 f2.8 on a Manfrotto Carbon Fiber tripod. For lighting, one SB-5000 was fired through a 24″ Lastolite EZY Box on camera left, and a bare SB-5000 with 1/2 CTO gel on it was fired from behind the chair to camera right. Since it was such an overcast day, this gave a little character and warmth to mimic a setting sun. Both were triggered with the new Nikon AWL system using the WR-10 transmitter.

Thanks for a great evening, Frank!

Rebekah at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

It was a real pleasure photographing Rebekah at the picturesque Magnolia Plantation & Gardens yesterday! She’s a beautiful model with a sweet disposition, a generous heart, and an enthusiastic spirit. We had a BLAST exploring the grounds and creating some wonderful images together! Thanks, Rebekah!!!

Hadden Family on Sullivan’s Island

Yesterday was another WONDERFUL family photo shoot with my favorite clients, Lisa & Clay! I met up with them and their adorable daughter on the picturesque Sullivan’s Island for a fun sunset beach portrait session. Emma is almost a year old now. Isn’t she adorable?  It’s hard to believe how time flies!!!

Student Transportation Inc

It was an honor and a pleasure to work with Student Transportation Inc (STI) on their Annual Report again this year!

Lawson’s Senior Portraits

Lawson is an incredibly smart, kind, and beautiful young lady! Her easy-going personality and naturally quiet demeanor has a calming effect on everyone around her. And when that infectious smile bursts out, you can’t help but be happy inside! Lawson plays golf on her high-school team, and is hoping to study law when she goes to college.

Yesterday I had a really fun mentoring session with my friends Geno and Tyler. They were kind enough to teach me how to fly their drones. So I returned the favor by sharing some photography tips. Lawson was kind enough to accept the challenge of being our super model for the afternoon as we worked on our techniques. What a brave girl!!! 😉

We started our fun fashion shoot off at Hampton Park…later progressing to Brittlebank Park for the sunset. It was a gorgeous day, and Lawson was absolutely STUNNING!!! It was an honor and a pleasure to capture some creative Senior Portraits for this amazing young lady!

Megan & Chandler’s Secret Proposal at Middleton Place

What is life without love in your heart?

When Chandler contacted me several weeks ago with his AMAZING ideas for how he wanted to propose to Megan, I knew he truly loved her. It’s always so refreshing to me when I meet REAL men, who are kind, thoughtful, and selfless! I loved his enthusiasm and his sincerity…and I knew I HAD to photograph his Secret Proposal!!!

Chandler and I planned out every detail together over the ensuing weeks. Yesterday at Middleton Place Plantation, on a grassy hill overlooking the Ashley River, surrounded by old oak trees adorned with Spanish moss swaying in the breeze, Chandler asked Megan to be his bride! It was such an honor to capture and preserve this beautiful moment between two young people in love!!!

Afterward Chandler revealed the secret that he’d had the whole affair photographed (I love Megan’s expression…HA!), we photographed their AUTHENTIC engagement photos. It was so much fun to stroll around the beautiful plantation, finding gorgeous backgrounds to shoot in, and getting to know them Chandler & Megan along the way.

We concluded our session near the Middleton Place Restaurant, where Chandler had made reservations for them to have a delightful dinner to celebrate their engagement. CONGRATULATIONS Megan & Chandler!!! We wish you all the best as you begin this new journey together…

Guin Family on Kiawah Island

It’s been overcast, gloomy, and rainy all week. I even drove through a short downpour on the way to the shoot. But by the time the Guin family arrived for our beach portrait session on Kiawah Island last night, the skies opened up, the winds calmed down, the temperature cooled off, and the light was spectacular. We could not have asked for a more BEAUTIFUL evening!

Having become a wonderful blended family only a few years ago, the Guins have been vacationing on Kiawah Island ever since. Now that their oldest son is married and moved away from the family home in Chicago, this is the only time they all get together!

It was an honor to meet everyone and capture some wonderful images for them to commemorate this special occasion.  🙂

Bryson Family at James Island County Park

Last time I photographed the Bryson family, they only had Aubrey, and she was the same age Elsie is now. How perfect that I got to capture both girls at about the same age! 🙂

It was wonderful to have this lovely family back visiting Charleston again. We had a great time exploring the beautiful views of James Island County Park. It was an absolute honor to have them remember us and call to ask me to photograph this next chapter in their family’s life!

Rhone Family on Seabrook Island

One of the BEST parts of my job is meeting new, fun, and interesting people!

I had a serendipitous opportunity to photograph the Rhone family on a beautiful Seabrook Island beach this morning.  I say “serendipitous” because I originally had another assignment booked for today…which got rescheduled at the last minute. Later I get a call from Kim, hoping I might have an opening to squeeze in a family beach shoot this week. Today was my ONLY available opening. But their daughter wasn’t scheduled to fly in until late last night…and the forecast called for 70% chance of rain.

We decided to go for it!  And the stars aligned for us to have a WONDERFUL family photo shoot this morning!!! In spite of very little sleep (Maddie’s flight got delayed), we arrived to clear skies and cooler temperatures as the rain passed through overnight.  We all had a BLAST!!!  It was an honor and a pleasure to capture these fun memories for my new-found friends.  🙂

Allie & Andrew’s Kiawah Proposal

Allie’s family has been vacationing on Kiawah Island for almost 30 years! Last year they invited Allie’s long-time boyfriend, Andrew, to join them. The beauty and serenity of the island struck him. This year, when they invited him again, he privately called Allie’s parents to let them know his intentions to ask for their daughter Allie’s hand in marriage at The Ocean Course.

Allie and Andrew have dated since before they could drive!  🙂  As often happens in life, they went their separate ways a bit during college. But neither of them ever dated anyone else…and soon enough they were back together again. It was just meant to be!!!

Gayla and Scott helped Andrew in coming up with a grand plan, and fill in all the details. They arranged for me to photograph the momentous occasion on the beach in front of the club house, where they would all hide to watch as it unfolded. Afterwards, a private celebration dinner was reserved in the Atlantic Room, overlooking the beach where they got engaged. Several close family members and friends, including Andrew’s parents, flew in to surprise them!

It was such an honor and a pleasure to capture this AMAZING moment for Allie & Andrew! CONGRATULATIONS on a perfect match made in heaven!!! 🙂