Charleston Photographers Lunch Group

The Charleston Photographers Lunch Group is a fun, friendly, casual group of fellow photographers who share a common passion and enjoy getting together to exchange ideas, talk about the latest toys and techniques, build community, and develop friendships with others of like mind and spirit.

We meet for lunch once a month, on different days of the week, at different restaurants all over town. Throughout the year, different members take turns volunteering to organize and host each month’s lunch.

This is not a formal “organization”. There are no crazy fees or silly rules. It’s just a bunch of friends getting together who happen to LOVE photography. We check our egos at the door and come prepared to share openly, encourage graciously, and connect positively with one another. The range of folks that attend are everywhere from Pulitzer Prize nominated photojournalists to part-timers and hobbyists.

Like most things in life, what you get out of the group is directly proportional to what you put into it. I hope you enjoy this video and find many lasting friendships within the group!

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MUSIC:
Half Day by Bad Snacks
Licensed under YouTube Audio Library

AnnMarie & Mark’s Mountain Top Wedding

Earlier this year, Mark proposed to AnnMarie at the bottom of the ocean on a scuba diving expedition. How fitting it was that they decided to tie the knot at the top of a mountain during a snow-boarding expedition!!!

AnnMarie & Mark are close friends of Molly & Justin, who’s beautiful destination wedding we photographed several years ago in Charleston. We can’t thank them enough for the kind referral!

To make things even more interesting, AnnMarie & Mark planned their wedding for New Year’s Eve. So on the last day of the year, Cami and I met up with everyone at their rented cabin on the tip top of Beech Mountain, NC. Bringing just a core group of their closest family and friends, we could tell everyone was having a BLAST!!! The boys had already been out snowboarding that morning. The girls had been shopping and primping. Spirits were high, and excitement was in the air!

With a glowing fire in the fireplace, the intimate wedding took place under a beautifully decorated arbor in the great room. AnnMarie was absolutely STUNNING in her wedding gown. You could see the depths of the love between these two as Mark’s emotions poured out during the service, which AnnMarie’s sister conducted beautifully.

Following the ceremony, this crazy, adventurous couple, braved the bitter winds and heavy fog for some epic photo ops. At 5500 feet, their cabin was perched above Avery, the highest town east of the Rockies! The rugged landscape, biting winds, and dramatic fog made it feel like we were on the set of Game of Thrones!!!

It was an experience Cami and I will never forget! To see the rest of the photos, visit: https://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/annmarieandmark.

CONGRATULATIONS AnnMarie & Mark! You two are so perfect for each other. We wish you all the best as you begin this new amazing adventure together!!!

Audrey & WD at The Island House

Audrey is one of the fabulous members of the Education Team at the Center for Birds of Prey. I’ve had the privilege of working with her many times at various events over the years. She’s super smart, crazy fun, loves the outdoors, has a big heart, and plays soccer. I love her to pieces and was absolutely honored when she asked me to be her wedding photographer!

I met William (or “WD” as his friends call him) for the first time at the wedding rehearsal. It was like bumping into an old friend. He is so laid back, easy going, accepts you for who you are, and loves to laugh. WD shares so many things in common with Audrey…he’s passionate about fishing, being outdoors (especially if it’s on the water), and oh yeah…he plays soccer! These two are a perfect match made in heaven!!!

Their beautiful wedding and reception were held at The Island House, a picturesque venue overlooking the Stono River. Everything was delightfully decorated with a bohemian fall theme. Even the weather cooperated with temperatures dropping pleasantly into the high 60s, down from the oppressive heat of the high 80s it had been in weeks prior.

Audrey was just stunning in her gorgeous gown with its intricate lace backing.  WD was quite dashing in his gray suite and bow tie. One thing I absolutely LOVED (and that you’ll notice in the progression of photos) is how the low lying layer of clouds lifted RIGHT AT THE END of the ceremony as these two beautiful souls exchanged their vows! It was truly magical how the sun popped out, shining on their smiling faces, right at that moment. Like I said, these two are a match made in heaven!!! 🙂

To see the rest of their wedding photos, visit https://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/audreyandwd.

I also loved how they incorporated Audrey’s Scottish heritage into their celebration. From the bagpipe processional, to special family members flying over all the way from Scotland to be here for their special day, it was really neat to have that international touch.

I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped make Audrey & WD’s wedding so special!

Lynn at The Island House
www.islandhouseevents.com

Jayme at Brand Bars & Events Wedding Planner
www.brandbars.com

Keith at Café Catering
www.cafetogochs.com

Sierra at BevSafe
www.bevsafe.com

Mary & Kit at Lotus Flowers
www.lotusflowercharleston.com

Nick at Lowcountry Entertainment
www.lowcountryentertaimentsc.com

Ashley at ABCD Cakes
www.abcdcakes.com

Eden at Snyder Rentals
www.snydereventrentals.com

Shauna at Moxie Salon
www.facebook.com/Moxiesalonmtp

Lowcountry Valet
www.lowcountryvalet.com

Jim Saint John
Family friend and Officiant

CONGRATULATIONS Audrey & WD! We wish you all the best as you begin your amazing new journey together!!!

“A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage kerchief,
May you be healthy all your days.
May you be blessed with long life and peace,
May you grow old with goodness, and with riches.”

~ Gaelic Wedding Blessing

Jamie & Brian’s Fendley Farmstead Wedding

One day, about 8 years ago, Jamie was at work processing client invoices when the phone rang. A nice man on the other end of the line had called to pay his bill. But by the end of the phone call, they’d had such a nice conversation that Brian, the man on the other end of the line, told Jamie she sounded so nice on the phone that he’d love to get her number and call again! She agreed. And the rest, as they say, is history.  🙂

About 7 years ago, Jamie was the Maid of Honor in Melissa & Kevin’s beautiful wedding, which I was honored to photograph at Middleton Place Plantation. Jamie & Meilissa have been best friends since forever! As the girls continued to hang out, Brian and Kevin soon developed a lasting friendship as well. Thus I thought it was so fitting that Brian eventually asked Kevin to be his Best Man!

Jamie & Brian’s beautiful fall wedding was held at Fendley Farmstead in the foothills of Canton, GA. The cool fall weather made for such a cozy experience, as family and friends gathered to celebrate the lives of these two AMAZING people, and the love they shared. It was such a joy for Cami and I to be there to capture all the exciting moments of this wonderful day!

CONGRATULATIONS Jamie & Brian! We wish you all the best as you begin this new journey together!!!

Lindsey & Brian’s Wedding at The Historic Rice Mill

Last weekend was one of the highlights of my year!

I’ve known Brian’s family for many years, photographing their family portraits when they vacationed in Charleston. Well, he’s all grown up now. Just imagine my elation when he and Lindsey asked me to photograph their wedding celebration!!! It was such an honor and a pleasure to be there for these two beautiful people.

The Big Day started off with the girls getting ready at the picturesque Governor’s House Inn, while the guys hung out at The Hotel Indigo. Somehow, everyone made their way to the ceremony location without Brian & Lindsey peeking at each other…even with a little secret hand-holding from around the wall. 😉

The ceremony was held in front of The Historic Rice Mill on the banks of the Ashley River. It was such a perfect day for a delightful outdoor wedding such as this! There was an electric buzz in the air as everyone took to their seats and enjoyed the main event! With true love in their eyes, Lindsey & Brian exchanged their beautifully written vows.

Following the ceremony, we had a fun time capturing some amazing images of Lindsey & Brian with their families and their wedding party. Perfect timing allowed for a grand-finale with portraits of the two of them in the setting sun before we headed indoors for the party-of-the century!!!

Many thanks to Brian’s mom, Nicole, for all her hard work in coordinating everything. Kudos to my good friend, and amazing photographer, Robbin, for assisting me on such a special occasion. And a big shout out to Jessica at Lowcountry Weddings by Jessica for keeping everything running smoothly all day. There are so many other amazing vendors, each providing their wonderful talent to make this whole day come together. Thank you to each and every one of them:

CONGRATULATIONS Lindsey & Brian!!! We wish you all the best as you take this next step in your beautiful new journey as husband and wife!

Breanna & Logan’s Surprise Proposal on Middle Atlantic Wharf

For over two months now, Logan and I have been secretly planning his surprise proposal to his sweetheart, Breanna!

These two beautiful souls started dating when they were just 15 years old. And when you find your soulmate, you hold onto them, right?!? That’s why Logan decided it was time to ask Breanna to spend the rest of her life with him!

After fretting about the weather all week with Hurricane Michael bearing down on us, the big day finally arrived. And WOW, did we end up with a gorgeous day after all!!! I arrived at our planned location early and hid myself out of sight. Right on cue, Logan expertly guided Breanna to the exact spot, dropped to bended knee, and asked for her hand in marriage. In my dark hiding place, I had to fight back the tears so that I could stay focused on capturing the big event!

In life, we are each given a handful of rare moments that take our breath away and fill our hearts with pure joy. This was one of those moments for me.

CONGRATULATIONS Breanna & Logan! We wish you all the best as you begin your new journey together!!!

Lindsey & Brian’s Rehearsal Dinner

This weekend has been filled with exuberant laughter, heartfelt tears of joy, and love beyond measure!

Lindsey & Brian’s Wedding Rehearsal at the Historic Rice Mill was so much fun. Everyone was in high spirits in anticipation for the day to come. And the ensuing Rehearsal Dinner Party at High Cotton was the perfect cap to a beautiful day together. There was a palpable buzz of excitement in the air, as everyone celebrated this truly amazing couple!

With dreams of the big day ahead, here are a few favorite images from Lindsey & Brian’s Rehearsal Dinner. I can’t wait to share their amazing wedding photos soon!!!   🙂

Stephanie & Eric at Deep Water Vineyard

Last night I had the best time ever!

Stephanie & Eric met up with me at Deep Water Vineyard, which is where the Firefly Distillery is located on Wadmalaw Island. They had called ahead to get permission to have their engagement session on this beautiful property. What a unique and interesting location for a photo shoot!

I had SUCH A BLAST getting to know these two…hearing about Eric’s INCREDIBLE proposal in Iceland…learning about all the wonderful countries Stephanie has traveled to…and talking about all the big plans for their wedding! Along the way, we captured some beautiful images in the gorgeous late afternoon light.

It was an absolutely perfect evening. I am so excited about photographing Stephanie & Eric’s wedding celebration!!!

Pat & Adrienne’s Surprise Proposal at Magnolia Plantation

Sometimes I feel like I get MORE nervous than my clients when they are about to pop the big surprise marriage proposal!!!

This morning, Pat was as cool as a cucumber as he escorted his beautiful girlfriend, Adrienne, onto the famous White Bridge at Magnolia Plantation! He and I had been working out the details for me to capture this very special moment for the two of them. He had carefully picked out the PERFECT spot, with a gorgeous southern background, that would take her breath away. My heart pounded in my chest as they reached the top of the bridge. But Pat calmly dropped to his knee and surprised her with a GORGEOUS diamond!!!

Afterwards, we enjoyed a fun walk-about together. While exploring the plantation, I captured some AUTHENTIC engagement photos for them to remember this amazing day and this special time in their lives!

CONGRATULATIONS Adrienne & Pat! We wish you all the best as you begin this new journey together!!!

Lauren & Dan’s Wedding at Tanglewood Plantation

Dan & Lauren’s wedding was extra special to me because of the shared African Connection!

I was born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Cami and I have also traveled to Tanzania a couple of times. So when Lauren contacted us about photographing her wedding to Dan, a wonderful man she met and fell in love with while working in Kenya, I was absolutely THRILLED!!!

“That’s awesome that you were born in the Congo and have been back to visit Africa!! It’s a beautiful continent. I work with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, specifically with programs that empower women and girls from marginalized communities. I also teach some theology classes at the Presbyterian University in Nairobi to folks who are preparing to enter pastoral ministry. I love it!! I lived in Kenya for the first time the year I graduated from college, and I have loved it ever since. Dan is Kenyan – we met back in 2009 when I was serving as a student minister in Nairobi during my last year of seminary. We spent a lot of time in (really) long distance while I served a church in New Jersey, and he worked in Nairobi. Then I moved back to Kenya last year – and now we’re getting married in June! We couldn’t be more excited!!!”

Dan & Lauren were married at the picturesque Tanglewood Plantation. Their celebration was a bland of African culture and American tradition. It was so cool to not only capture the joining of these two beautiful people in love, but also witness the coming together of two families from different continents.

Many thanks to my good friend and amazing photographer Steve Roos for the kind referral, to Bailey Stone of By Invitations Only for keeping everything running smoothly, Southern Way Catering for the delicious food, Emerald Empire Band for the awesome music, Brian Urbish at Tanglewood Plantation, and all the other wonderful people who had a hand in making this magical day come true.

To see the complete collection of Lauren & Dan’s photos, head over to: http://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/laurenanddan2.

CONGRATULATIONS Lauren & Dan! An African wedding blessing we used to say is “Where there is love there is no darkness.” May your hearts always be full of light as you begin your new journey together!

Jenna & Christopher at SC Society Hall

Christopher & Jenna are two very special people.

With big hearts, loving smiles, gentle souls, and kind spirits…you’d be hard-pressed to find two nicer humans on the planet. But most importantly, together Christopher and Jenna are absolute soul-mates!!! So it was with great honor and extreme pleasure that I got to photograph their beautiful wedding last week. 🙂

Christopher and Jenna picked South Carolina Society Hall as the picturesque backdrop for their intimate wedding. The alter was so carefully decorated with gorgeous floral bouquets. And the great hall was filled with soulful guitar music from Chris’ talented group of musicians.

Through heart-felt tears, and joyful laughter, Christopher & Jenna exchanged their wedding vows. Afterwards the three of us had lovely walk-about through the surrounding historic streets and quaint alleys for a fun couple’s shoot.

We returned to find our venue completely transformed into a reception hall, complete with excitement, energy, and dance music! With an emotional first-dance, amazing toasts, and joyful cake-cutting, we launched into a celebration of family, friendship, and undying love!!!

For more of their photos, check out:  http://chrisandcami.zenfolio.com/jennaandchristopher2.  And to hire an INCREDIBLE guitarist for your wedding or event, head over to:  www.tevesguitar.com

CONGRATULATIONS Jenna & Christopher! We wish you all the happiness in the world as you begin your new journey together!!!

Holly & Huston’s Charleston Wedding Proposal

Last month I got a lovely call from a VERY proud mother, asking me to photograph her son’s Surprise Proposal to his beautiful girlfriend!!!

Originally from Kentucky, Huston and Holly are currently in the Rally/Durham area attending dental school together. After whisking through their last patients of the day, they headed down to Charleston for what Holly thought was just a relaxing weekend get-away.

Their first stop in town was the beautiful Magnolia Plantation. Unable to hold the secret any longer, Huston proposed to Holly on the famous white bridge, surrounded by tall cypress trees with Spanish moss blowing in the breeze. She said YES!!! 🙂

Later that evening, we met at Washington Square Park for their authentic engagement shoot on the very same day they became betrothed. It was fun re-creating Huston’s brave gesture of undying love on bended knee. Both relieved and excited at the same time, we then enjoyed a lovely walk around the old historic downtown district, capturing beautiful images of the two lovebirds along the way!

CONGGRATULATIONS Holly & Huston!!! You are true soulmates! We wish you both the greatest of happiness as you begin your new journey together.