The Citadel – Academy of Engineers Awards Banquet

I had the pleasure of photographing the Academy of Engineers Awards Banquet held at The Citadel, one of Charleston’s most iconic and historic campuses. The event took place at the beautiful Holliday Alumni Center, providing an elegant setting that perfectly matched the prestige of the occasion.

The evening brought together an impressive group of engineers, leaders, and distinguished guests to celebrate outstanding achievements within the field. From the moment guests arrived, there was a strong sense of pride and camaraderie in the room. It’s always rewarding to document events like this, where meaningful recognition and genuine connections are at the forefront.

Throughout the banquet, I focused on capturing a mix of candid interactions, formal group photos, award presentations, and the overall atmosphere of the evening. The formal setting, combined with the energy of the attendees, created a great balance of polished moments and authentic expressions.

For this event, I worked with a dual-camera setup to ensure complete coverage. I used a Nikon Z9 paired with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 II for versatility, while a Nikon Zf with the Nikkor Z 70-200mm f/2.8 II allowed me to capture tighter, more intimate moments from a distance. This combination gave me the flexibility to move seamlessly between wide scene-setting shots and close-up storytelling images.

Lighting was key in bringing the room to life. I used six Godox off-camera flashes strategically placed around the space to create consistent, flattering light on the stage and throughout the venue. These remote flashes were controlled from the Godox V480 flashes on each camera, and helped give the images more depth and dimension than would otherwise be possible with only using on-camera flash.

It was an honor to document such a meaningful evening, and I always enjoy working in a setting as timeless as The Citadel.

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.

Charleston County School District Office

The Charleston County School District had their office at 75 Calhoun Street pressure washed and professionally cleaned this week. It was looking so good that they asked me to come down and photograph some drone shots and detail photos of it for them. Using The Photographers Ephemeris, I calculated the optimal time when the beautiful late afternoon sunlight would hit the building and make it shine. Then I headed down and captured a variety of shots to showcase the building!

(DJI Mavic 3 Pro, Nikon Zf, Nikkor Z 24-120 f4)

Quest 2018

QUEST is Trident Technical College’s annual academic competition. It is open to Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester public school students in grades 6-12. The competition was developed by TTC to promote academic excellence, provide an academic challenge to students, and recognize top students, teachers and schools.

Approximately 1,100 students participated in this year’s Quest. It was an honor and a pleasure photographing this outstanding event for them. I’d like to say a big Thank You to my friend and colleague, Mic Smith, for kindly recommending me!