Let’s see…what’s the hardest challenge we could throw at a photographer?
Hmmm…how about having a fun reception called “Owls by Moonlight”? We’ll ask the photographer to try and capture shots of owls, silently swooping over the heads of attendees, in the pitch black of night!!!
YUP…challenge accepted.
I had the pleasure of getting to know Amelia when she worked for the US Grains Council. Since then, she has taken on a new role as the Associate Director of Events & Member Engagement at the
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), which she absolutely loves. I was so humbled and honored when Amelia remembered me, and reached out to see if I would fly to Washington D.C. to photograph their Annual Winter Meeting!!!
“At the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, we enhance American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. As a unified voice representing all 50 states and four territories, NASDA is a leader and problem-solver for our nation’s most pressing agricultural issues. NASDA members champion U.S. farmers, ranchers and food producers by bridging the gap between the farm and policy, representing the interests of everyone in the food supply chain and opening doors to new markets.”
This winter conference was held at The Conrad Hotel in downtown Washington D.C. Departments of Agriculture in all fifty states, plus four U.S. territories, make up the membership of NASDA. With these commissioners, secretaries, or directors of each department coming together to representative their state, this was an important meeting. I was particularly impressed with SC Commissioner Hugh Weathers, who opened the Plenary Session with a beautiful rendition of God Bless America. Keynote speakers included U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Representative Angie Craig, and the Honorable GT Thompson. But the most notable guest speaker was Brooke Rollins, who took over as the 33rd US Secretary of Agirculture in February. And of course NASDA CEO Ted McKinney stayed extremely busy throughout the meeting. I closed out my coverage of the event with a wonderful reception at Washingtin Nationals Park Baseball Field, which was pretty cool!!!
This weekend, I had the honor of photographing a wonderful reception at the Palmetto Brewing Company, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the MUSC Cares Clinic!
“The CARES Medical Clinic is committed to providing quality healthcare at no cost to the underserved populations of South Carolina while educating future healthcare professionals through our service to these patients. We aim to: (1) Offer primary care, preventive services, and referral options at no charge to uninsured adults. (2) Expose students, early in their training, to the nuances of providing patient care to a population with diverse and ever-changing healthcare needs. (3) Foster interprofessional cooperation of students, healthcare professionals, and members of the community in addressing healthcare disparities. (4) Understand community healthcare needs through service to the underserved.”
I was photographing this assignment on behalf of my good friend and amazing photographer, Gary Colemen. Gary and I work a lot of events together that are too big for one individual to cover. He was working a different reception for MUSC at the same time. We both shoot with Nikon Z9 cameras, and a diverse host of Nikkor lenses. Which makes working together not only fun, but seamless in terms of mixing equipment and editing files.
Last night I had the pleasure of photographing The Citadel Foundation’s annual Scholarship Donor Dinner at The Gaillard Center. It’s been my honor to photograph this event for several years now. And it’s one evening I always look forward to!
The Citadel Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, was established with the primary purpose of providing financial assistance and support exclusively for The Citadel. Founded in 1961 as The Citadel Development Foundation, the organization was initially tasked with raising money exclusively for educational purposes through the academic endowment fund. Donations to The Citadel Foundation, as it is known today, go to a variety of programs including academic scholarships, faculty support, athletic facilities, individual academic schools, program funds, and vital expenses not covered by tuition or fees. The vision of this program is to build a preeminent foundation at The Citadel for tomorrow’s principled leaders.
Many thanks to Riviere, who does an AMAZING job of organizing this incredible event!!!
It was such a pleasure to be back again this year, photographing the US Grains Council’s annual International Marketing Conference! This year’s event took place in Austin, TX.
Day 3 was was brimming with excitement and energy. President and CEO, Ryan LeGrand, had a big announcement about the future of the USGC. Major awards were handed out in recognition of service to the council. A-Team and Sector leaders presented their recommendations to the board. Other speakers and panels rounded out the day. The meeting concluded with high hopes for a bright future ahead!
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 full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability.
It was such a pleasure to be back again this year, photographing the US Grains Council’s annual International Marketing Conference! This year’s event was held in Austin, TX.
Day 2 was a long 12-hour day of constantly shooting, editing, and uploading. I bounced around from Sector Meetings to Advisory Team Meetings, and from Headshots to networking shots. Plus since all the international staff members were all here, we did a big group shot! Every few hours I would run to my workstation, download a batch of photos, cull, edit, and export a few selects to upload for the team to use in newsletters and social media posts. The day ended in grand fashion with an off-site event at the famous Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden on historic Rainey Street!
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 full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability.
It was such a pleasure to be back again this year, photographing the US Grains Council’s annual International Marketing Conference! This year’s event was held in Austin, TX.
After several “working” breakfast meetings, the conference kicked off with keynote presentations during the general session. The afternoon was filled with Advisory Team meetings. A warm Welcome Reception wrapped up the first day.
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 full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability.
I always enjoy working with the friendly folks at Seamon Whiteside!
From covering their employee’s headshots, to documenting their various projects, to capturing their company Christmas Party…every assignment for them is always well organized and a pleasure to photograph.
This week I had the honor of photographing their spring Oyster Roast! It had originally been planned in the fall. But Hurricane Helene had other plans!!! The new date turned out to be this beautiful spring day. It was absolutely perfect! And everyone had so much fun!!!
Many thanks to Denise for all her hard work organizing everything…twice! 🙂
Capturing a Bar Mitzvah for triplets is a truly unique experience. Photographing this big day for Charlie, Evan, and Ray was no exception!
The day began with an intimate and meaningful service at the Synagogue Emanu-El, where each of the boys took part in the traditional readings. They all did an amazing job. It was clear how proud their parents were. The synagogue also providid a great setting for a number of individual and family portraits!
Afterward, we headed to the Daniel Island Country Club, where the celebration continued in grand style. The space was transformed into a vibrant, high-energy venue, thanks to the amazing work of Sha Sha from Loluma. She truly outdid herself with the details, from the fun photo booth to the kid’s lounge, and the bright, colorful decorations that reflected the boys’ personalities. Throughout the evening, DJ Neezy kept the party rockin’ and kept the energy flowing!
As an event photographer, it’s always a pleasure to capture moments of joy, laughter, and excitement—and there was no shortage of those at the Reeves Family Bar Mitzvah! Whether it was the kids playing games, candid shots of everyone dancing, the triplets being raised up during the Hora, family and friends sharing a laugh with each other, or the beautiful family portraits…this event was full of memories that will last a lifetime. This day was a true celebration of family, tradition, and fun!
Many thanks to Amanda & Josh for trusting me with capturing all the beautiful moments of this special day. Please help me in congratulating Charlie, Evan, and Ray!!!
By promoting the highest standards of Professionalism, Ethics, Education, and Technology, the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors® (CTAR) ensures that the Realtor® members are the primary source for real estate services in the South Carolina Lowcountry. CTAR is dedicated to embracing and enhancing a culture where all Charleston Realtors® feel like they have a seat at the table, a voice in the conversation, and confidence that their voice will be heard. The organization prides itself in having a membership culture where everyone feels safe and respected as both a professional and an individual.
Each year I have the privilege of photographing the CTAR Leadership Celebration. It’s always a fantastic evening, with a festive Christmas atmosphere. Some of the key events throughout the night include the Installation Ceremony of the 2025 CTAR Boards of Directors, the 2024 Realtor of the Year Award, the CTAR Distinguished Service Society Awards, and the official handing of the gavel over to the new incoming president.
Congratulations to all the award winners and inductees. And many thanks to Claire, Autumn, and the entire staff for all their hard work and dedication in making this year’s event another resounding success!!!
The Citadel Foundation knows how to party!!!
This year’s Holiday Gala was held inside the Johnson Hagood Memorial Stadium event hall. Everyone arrived all decked out in their finest Christmas sweaters and festive holiday outfits. Upon entering the double-glass doors, they were greeted with my portrait station. Everyone got into it and had so much fun capturing nice formal portraits in front of the Christmas scene that the staff had set up. After each portrait, we printed out a beautiful 5×7 and placed it in an elegant folder for them to take home as a party favor. Everyone also received digital copies that they could text, email, and share on social media.
Many thanks to Riviere and her team for organizing such an awesome event!!!
It was an absolute pleasure to photograph Christa’s 50th Birthday Bash at The Citadel’s John Holiday Alumni Center last weekend. I first met Christa at The Citadel Foundation event earlier this year. She was so much fun and such a joy to be around. When she reached out to ask if I would photograph her birthday party, I was so excited! It was such a fun evening and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it!!!
