Action News Magazine Cover

A few months ago at the big annual Professional Photographers of America (PPA) ImagingUSA Conference, I had the honor of having one of my images displayed on a huge banner at the entry to the convention center.  (Check it out at  https://chrisandcami.com/blog/2010/01/09/welcome-to-nashville-2/.)  At the end of the convention, they even gave me the poster!  Here it is on display in our garage…the ONLY place in our house it would even fit!  🙂

Well, a few days ago (on my birthday in fact), the new issue of SEP’s Action News Magazine arrived…featuring that same image on the COVER!!!  J  They also wrote up a really nice article about Chris & Cami Photography with some of my other images from the many professional sporting events we cover throughout the year.  We’re very excited!!!

The Banners are Up!

Driving across Daniel Island on my way to my tennis match in Mt. Pleasant today, I saw that the new Family Circle Cup Banners were finally up!  As the Official Photographer of this awesome tennis tournament, I always get a kick out of seeing my images draping the 4-story tall center stadium.  J  Besides last year’s Champion, Sabine Lisicki, there’s the 2008 Champion, Serena Williams, and the 2007 Champion, Jelena Jankovic.  Plus dozens of street banners are hanging from the lamp posts, depicting champions from all along the history of this long-running WTA Tour event.  This one is of Justine Henin, one of my favorite players…I’m thrilled to see her back out of retirement!

NEW Family Circle Cup Banner Announced

Only two more months until the Family Circle Cup!  As most of you know, I’ve been one of the Official Photographers of this amazing Professional Women’s Tennis event for many years now.  Each year, the best photo of the returning champion is selected for display on a 47-foot x 40-foot banner that hangs from the top of the stadium.  It’s been an honor to have had one of my images selected for the last few years in a row.  And this year…drum roll please…WE DID IT AGAIN!!!!  🙂   Mike Saia, the Communications Director at the FCC just emailed me a few minutes ago with the news and the final image they’ll be using.  I’m SO EXCITED!!!

On top of all the great women’s tennis action, this is also the Ten Year Anniversary of the FCC being located here in Charleston.  One of the longest running tournaments in WTA history, its former home was on Hilton Head Island.  To celebrate the milestone year, there will be guest apprearances from the likes of John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, and Anna Kournikova, plus many other special events and attractions.  So come on out…and make sure you say “Hi” to me while you’re there…04 Sabine Lisicki (Final)A

Welcome to Nashville!

Cami & I, along with our good friend and fellow photographer, Kate McKinley, finally arrived at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville. We’re attending “Imaging USA”, the PPA’s big national photography convention we go to every year for ideas and inspiration.

After we got settled, I went down to get the lay of the land so I know where we’re going for our seminars in the morning. I get down there and staring me in the face is this HUGE, larger-than-life display with one of my images on it! 🙂 It’s a photo of Rugby USA’s Team Captain breaking through the masses that I shot last year. A few months ago I got a call saying they’d like to use a couple of my images for some “displays” at the conference this year…I had NO IDEA it was going to be something like this! I’m SUPER STOKED!!! I’ll get Cami or Kate to take one of me standing next to it tomorrow…hehehe!

Welcome to Nashville!

Posted via email from Chris & Cami Photography

Anna Kournikova, John McEnroe, and Jim Courier

I’ve known the news for a couple weeks now, but the big announcement was just made official today:

“The Family Circle Cup announces Game, Set, Rock! Tennis. Amplified., an evening of music and tennis entertainment featuring John McEnroe, Jim Courier, Anna Kournikova and a fourth player, to be announced, participating in singles and mixed doubles action, as a new ticketed session beginning at 7:00pm on Saturday, April 17, 2010. This exhibition is designed as the keystone of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier Event’s week-long celebration of its 10th year in Charleston, and will supplement a strong player field highlighted by former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova and 18-year-old American standout Melanie Oudin. Marking the tournament’s 38th consecutive year, the Family Circle Cup is scheduled April 10-18, 2010 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in historic Charleston, South Carolina.”

Here’s a shot of Anna Kournikova I photographed in 2003…on FILM!!! I’ve been covering the Family Circle Cup waaaay too long. 🙂

ESPN Charleston Classic

“The second annual Charleston Classic is in the books, and Miami has bragging rights. Led by James Dews (22 points) and Dwayne Collins (17), the Hurricanes outlasted South Carolina 85-70 in the championship game. Collins, who also grabbed 15 rebounds, was named MVP of the tournament. Miami outscored the Gamecocks 11-5 in the final 2:25 to clinch the Charleston Classic crown, won by Clemson in the first year.”

Here are a few of my shots from the finals as I documented the event for ESPN…

PGA TOUR Nationwide Championships at Daniel Island

Matt Every, the former University of Florida All-American, posted a 5-under 67 Sunday to outlast Michael Sim (teeing off on the 17th), who has had the most dominating year in the 20-year history of the Nationwide Tour! This win at the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship at the Daniel Island, was his first since joining the tour last year.

“I’ve always felt I’m talented enough to win,” Matt said. “I couldn’t have waited any longer to do it though, I’ll tell you that. I’m going to enjoy it.”

Matt and Michael join 23 others to make “THE 25”, the top players on the money list at year’s end. Chad Collins finishes the year No. 2 on the money list. And Blake Adams (chipping out of the sand trap on the 12th hole) finishes the season No. 3 on the money list with a Nationwide Tour record for the most money won in a single season without a victory.

I had a great time photographing the action this year. Many thanks to Kathleen Cartland and the Charleston Sports Council for sponsoring me and helping bring the Nationwide Tour back to Charleston! And thanks to Mike Saia and the entire team at the Family Circle Cup for the help in organizing the event!

US Women’s National Soccer

Soccer was “my sport” growing up. I think there was a period in high-school when I slept with my soccer ball! 😉 I played at Kalamazoo College and Spring Arbor University before injuries sidelined me and the Tennis bug hit me. But I’ll never loose my love for “The Beautiful Game”! So it was with pleasure that I got to photograph the US Women’s National Soccer Team in their 1-0 win over Canada at Blackbaud Stadium, their last home game before heading over seas this summer.

USA Eagles Rugby World Cup Qualifying

The USA Eagles rang in America’s birthday with a clutch 12-6 victory over Canada in the first match of a home-and-away Rugby World Cup Qualifier series at Blackbaud Stadium on July 4th. It was a privilege being one of the photographers again. I got a taste for the raw violence that is synonymous with this sport last year when I photographed the USA Eagles’ defeat by the French. I wouldn’t want to play the sport, but it’s a lot of fun to photograph! 🙂 For more on the USA National Rugby Team, visit www.usarugby.org.

Charleston Sports

Though we’re mostly known for our creative wedding imagery, I thoroughly enjoy photographing a number of professional sporting events every year. This is the latest newsletter from the Charleston Metro Sports Council. Check out their brand new website at www.sportscouncil.org !

I just wanted to thank Kathleen Cartland for the AMAZING job she does in bringing these high caliber sports to Charleston. Without her, I wouldn’t have these amazing opportunities to photograph world class athletes, Olympic champions, and sports phenoms! I also want to thank her for the kind write-up in the newsletter!

“An award winning team, Chris & Cami offer a deep assortment of products and cover a wide variety of subjects. Notable sports assignments include; Family Circle Cup Tennis, Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika, World Cup Soccer USA Women vs Mexico, The Miracle Match (Pete Sampras vs Jim Courier), AVP Charleston Open, Bausch & Lomb Championships, SoCon Basketball and Baseball Tournaments, Charleston Battery Soccer, Sr. PGA Championships, and many more.”