International African American Museum for Seamon Whiteside

Being that I was born and raised in the Congo, where the majority of slaves sent to North America came from, and that I now live in Charleston, where the majority of slaves were sold, I am acutely aware of the damages caused by the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. So it was a great honor to be selected to photograph the International African American Museum for Seamon Whiteside!

The IAAM is a museum of African-American history in Charleston, South Carolina, located at a former shipping wharf where approximately 40% of the nation’s enslaved persons disembarked. The museum opened June 27, 2023, after 20 years of planning. The concept of the museum was initiated by former Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. The construction budget of the museum is $75 million. Riley raised much of the money for the project as a private citizen. The museum sits on the Cooper River, with a view facing Fort Sumter and out into the Atlantic Ocean, across which the slaves made their arduous journey.

Many thanks to Lia at Seamon Whiteside for coordinating all the details of the shoot!

Credit One Stadium – The Oaks Deck and Front Plaza Landscaping

Phase 2 of the Credit One Stadium is now complete!

As the official photographer of the Credit One Charleston Open, it was an honor to be asked to photograph a few shots of these new features for Seamon Whiteside, the engineering firm behind their design. The Front Plaza landscaping has really filled in nicely. And The Oaks Deck is beautifully situated in the grove of live oaks just outside the stadium. This raised outdoor deck event space is used throughout the tournament. Accomodating up to 100 people, it can also be booked for private events throughout the year. It features outdoor lounge furniture, power for a DJ or band, on-site parking, and much more: https://creditonestadium.com/venue-rentals/the-oaks/.

Many thanks to Lia at Seamon Whiteside for coordinating this photo shoot!

Riverside Apartments for Seamon Whiteside

I picked up another project to photograph for Seamon Whiteside in Greenville this week…which was great since it was still overcast and “gloomy” in Charleston!

Riverside is an 8.3-acre site in the Water Tower District of Greenville, SC, along the Swamp Rabbit Trail. The development includes 200 multifamily units. Operated by Woodfield Development, the first tenants took occupancy in the 3rd quarter of 2021. What I love the most is all the amenities Seamon Whiteside put into the plans…dog park, pickleball court, fire pit, pool, frizbee golf, workout room, yoga studio, bocce ball, bicycle garage, and so much more!

Many thanks to Jennifer for helping organize everything for this assignment!

Greenville County Square for Seamon Whiteside

I hadn’t seen blue skies and puffy white clouds in DAYS!!! So I was super happy to be photographing in Greenville this week! I was there to photograph the new Greenville County Square, with its stately Veterans Memorial Plaza out front, and gorgeous landscaping out back.

A city ordinance that was passed in February 2020 approved the conceptual plans for a new Greenville County administrative building, which would be located at the northwest corner of University Ridge and South Church Street. The administrative building and adjoining parking deck have been completed. But there’s still a lot to go! Ultimately, the 40-acre site will be redeveloped into an urban environment designed to complement downtown with a mix of commercial, residential, public/institutional and service/industrial uses. It will also feature two central plazas and three dog parks and include multi-use trail connectivity on the east, north and west boundaries to better integrate the development with the surrounding areas and provide convenient access for residents in nearby neighborhoods.

Many thanks to Jennifer for helping me coordinate this photo shoot…and getting me out in the sunshine for a few hours! 🙂

Swamp Rabbit Trail for Seamon Whiteside

With all the doom and gloom that descended upon Charleston during Hurricane Debby’s visit, I was very glad to have a photo shoot in Greenville this week. I hadn’t seen blue skies and puffy white clouds in DAYS!!!

I was there to photograph promotional photos of the new Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail extension for Seamon Whiteside, the engineering group that did the site surveys and project developement. It extends the original Swamp Rabbit Trail even further north of Greenville, from Unity Park all the way up to Trevelers Rest. Since opening in 2009, this 28 mile (and growing) network of paved trails offers fun, fitness and community transportation throughout Greenville County. To read more about this awesome hike/bike/run/rollerblade trail, and plan your visit, check out: https://greenvillerec.com/swamprabbit/.

Many thanks to Jennifer for helping me coordinate this photo shoot…and getting me out in the sunshine for a few hours! 🙂

US Grains Council Salt Lake City Board of Directors Meeting – Reception at Hogle Zoo

It’s been a real pleasure photographing the USGC’s annual Board of Directors Meeting each summer. This is their 64th annual meeting!!!

The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With a full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in over 50 countries, as well as the European Union. The Council’s work is vital to global economic development, and to the profitability and sustainability of American farmers.

This year’s conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. Cami and I flew out a few days early to explore Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. But we also enjoyed the sights and sounds of Salt Lake City, including the Utah State Capitol, Temple Square, the Tabernacle at The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, the Conference Center, and Hogle Zoo.

But the main event was of course the USGC conference! With a welcome address by Mike Mower from the Utah Governor’s office, a motivational speech by Matt Booth, a CEO outlook by USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand and keynote presentations by the likes of Carlos Suarez (USGC Director of Global Sustainability), Lloyd Day (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture), and Keneth Smith Ramos (ARGON), the schedule was absolutely packed! In addition to the conference speakers, there were a variety of panel discussions, tons of Advisory Team meetings, Sector meetings, and of course the Board of Delegates Meeting. Needless to say, I was kept quite busy capturing all the action!

Many thanks to the team at the US Grains Council for inviting me back and trusting me to capture all the key moments of this important conference!!!

US Grains Council Salt Lake City Board of Directors Meeting – Day 3

It’s been a real pleasure photographing the USGC’s annual Board of Directors Meeting each summer. This is their 64th annual meeting!!!

The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With a full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in over 50 countries, as well as the European Union. The Council’s work is vital to global economic development, and to the profitability and sustainability of American farmers.

This year’s conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. Cami and I flew out a few days early to explore Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. But we also enjoyed the sights and sounds of Salt Lake City, including the Utah State Capitol, Temple Square, the Tabernacle at The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, the Conference Center, and Hogle Zoo.

But the main event was of course the USGC conference! With a welcome address by Mike Mower from the Utah Governor’s office, a motivational speech by Matt Booth, a CEO outlook by USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand and keynote presentations by the likes of Carlos Suarez (USGC Director of Global Sustainability), Lloyd Day (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture), and Keneth Smith Ramos (ARGON), the schedule was absolutely packed! In addition to the conference speakers, there were a variety of panel discussions, tons of Advisory Team meetings, Sector meetings, and of course the Board of Delegates Meeting. Needless to say, I was kept quite busy capturing all the action!

Many thanks to the team at the US Grains Council for inviting me back and trusting me to capture all the key moments of this important conference!!!

US Grains Council Salt Lake City Board of Directors Meeting – Day 2

It’s been a real pleasure photographing the USGC’s annual Board of Directors Meeting each summer. This is their 64th annual meeting!!!

The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With a full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in over 50 countries, as well as the European Union. The Council’s work is vital to global economic development, and to the profitability and sustainability of American farmers.

This year’s conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. Cami and I flew out a few days early to explore Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. But we also enjoyed the sights and sounds of Salt Lake City, including the Utah State Capitol, Temple Square, the Tabernacle at The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, the Conference Center, and Hogle Zoo.

But the main event was of course the USGC conference! With a welcome address by Mike Mower from the Utah Governor’s office, a motivational speech by Matt Booth, a CEO outlook by USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand and keynote presentations by the likes of Carlos Suarez (USGC Director of Global Sustainability), Lloyd Day (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture), and Keneth Smith Ramos (ARGON), the schedule was absolutely packed! In addition to the conference speakers, there were a variety of panel discussions, tons of Advisory Team meetings, Sector meetings, and of course the Board of Delegates Meeting. Needless to say, I was kept quite busy capturing all the action!

Many thanks to the team at the US Grains Council for inviting me back and trusting me to capture all the key moments of this important conference!!!

US Grains Council Salt Lake City Board of Directors Meeting – Day 1

It’s been a real pleasure photographing the USGC’s annual Board of Directors Meeting each summer. This is their 64th annual meeting!!!

The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With a full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in over 50 countries, as well as the European Union. The Council’s work is vital to global economic development, and to the profitability and sustainability of American farmers.

This year’s conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. Cami and I flew out a few days early to explore Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. But we also enjoyed the sights and sounds of Salt Lake City, including the Utah State Capitol, Temple Square, the Tabernacle at The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, the Conference Center, and Hogle Zoo.

But the main event was of course the USGC conference! With a welcome address by Mike Mower from the Utah Governor’s office, a motivational speech by Matt Booth, a CEO outlook by USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand and keynote presentations by the likes of Carlos Suarez (USGC Director of Global Sustainability), Lloyd Day (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture), and Keneth Smith Ramos (ARGON), the schedule was absolutely packed! In addition to the conference speakers, there were a variety of panel discussions, tons of Advisory Team meetings, Sector meetings, and of course the Board of Delegates Meeting. Needless to say, I was kept quite busy capturing all the action!

Many thanks to the team at the US Grains Council for inviting me back and trusting me to capture all the key moments of this important conference!!!

The Ames for Seamon Whiteside

It was an absolute pleasure to photograph this new apartment comples in the Nexton community for Seamon Whiteside!

The Ames strive to create an atmosphere that makes you want to kick up your feet and stay awhile. It has a ton of amenity spaces where neighbors, families, and pets can live, work, play, and bond together. It includes a pool, yoga studio, workout room, clubhouse, pickleball courts, dog park, and more. Plus it’s in a perfect location in downtown Nexton, steps away from local shops, restaurants, or neighborhood events.

Many thanks to Lia for coordinating all the details for this shoot!

Kelsey & Evan’s Wedding at Alhambra Hall

Last weekend, I had the incredible pleasure of photographing Kelsey and Evan’s stunning wedding at Alhambra Hall in picturesque Mt. Pleasant, SC. It was a day filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments against the backdrop of Charleston’s cityscape across the harbor.

Kelsey was absolutely gorgeous in her exquisite gown. If you haven’t already, check out the beautiful portraits from her Bridal Shoot here: https://chrisandcami.com/kelseys-bridal-portraits-at-waterfront-park/. After her mom and maid of honor helped get her ready, Kelsey had a private First Look with her dad, and her step-dad…followed by a fun “reveal” to the rest of her bridesmaids. Evan looked quite dashing in his suit classic navy suit as well.

Their love and excitement were palpable throughout the day, from the tender moments during the ceremony to the lively celebration with family and friends during the reception.  As a wedding photographer, my goal is always to not only document the events of the day but to also capture the emotions and atmosphere that make each wedding unique. Kelsey and Evan’s wedding was a photographer’s dream, with plenty of candid moments and genuine expressions that truly reflected their love story.

One of the highlights was photographing the couple during sunset. Hidden behind low-hanging clouds for much of the afternoon, the fiery sun revealed itself for a brief moment through a sliver in the sky just as it hit the horizon near the famous Arthur Ravenel Bridge. This creating a dramatic backdrop for their final portraits before the party kicked into top gear.

The reception was an absolute BLAST!!!  From their grand entrance to the heartfelt toasts, from the anniversary dance to the bouquet toss, from the cake cutting to the final sparkler exit…it was an absolute joy to witness Kelsey & Evan’s excitement as they danced and celebrated this milestone surrounded by their loved ones.

I’m grateful to have been a part of Kelsey and Evan’s special day. It’s weddings like theirs that remind me why I love what I do—capturing true love, eternal joy, and new beginnings.

Congratulations Kelsey & Evan! We wish you all the happiness in the world as you begin your new journey together as husband and wife!!!

Muro Family 50th Anniversary Celebration on Isle of Palms

I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Muro Family over the last decade or so. They truly are the nicest and kindest people on the planet!  I was together with them when they celebrated their 40th Anniversary. So it was super cool to join them for another fun family reunion in celebration of their 50th this week!!!