Mayci & Josh – Surprise Proposal in Hampton Park

Photographing surprise proposals never gets old for me. Joshā€™s unforgettable proposal to his high school sweetheart, Mayci, was another reminder of why I love what I do so much. From the very beginning, this one felt extra specialā€”not only because of the thought Josh put into it, but also because of a wonderful connection to past clients.
Josh is the nephew of Jenny Yokoyama, one of my all-time favorite brides, whose beautiful wedding to Nate I had the privilege of photographing years ago. Jenny, now the owner of Gritty Gal Marketing, and I have continued to collaborate over the years. So being part of her nephewā€™s proposal made this experience even more meaningful.
Josh, Jenny, and I spent months planning every detail to ensure everything went off without a hitch. He chose the stunning avenue of crape myrtle trees draped in Spanish moss at Hampton Park specifically because Mayci loves trees and nature. This magical location perfectly set the tone for this very specail and romantic moment. I stayed tucked away, capturing everything as it naturally unfolded. When Josh dropped to one knee, Mayci was completely surprisedā€”and overjoyed. Of course, she said yes!
Afterward, we explored the park together, creating relaxed, authentic engagement portraits. Towards the end, we zipped over to the nearby Brittlebank Park for a few final shots with the sun setting across the Ashley River.
It was such a joy getting to know these two soulmates…Josh, a hardworking roofer, and Mayci, a dedicated nurse. Josh absolutely nailed his mark, when he turned and dropped to his knee. Before Mayci knew what hit her, waves of disbelief and emotion took over! She was absolutely stunning in her bimini blue summer dress. These two are building an amazing life together in Greenville, SC.
Moments like these are exactly why I love what I do.
(Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 II, Nikkor Z 400 f4.5, Godox V860II off-camera flash, Manfrotto supports)

Samantha, Tiffany, and Chanlee at Hampton Park

Thereā€™s something really special about reconnecting with old friends through photography, and this session at Hampton Park in downtown Charleston was one of those moments Iā€™ll always appreciate. I first met Samantha years ago on a mission trip to Tanzania, and weā€™ve stayed close ever since. Over the years, Iā€™ve had the privilege of photographing some meaningful milestones for her, including her beautiful destination wedding in Arkansas.

Now a full-time veterinarian living in Maine with her husband, Samantha made a trip back to Charleston this week to reunite with two of her closest friends. Tiffany and Shanlee were both bridesmaids in Samanthaā€™s wedding, so there was plenty of history and laughter to go around. The two sisters flew in from Arkansas, and the three of them created what felt like a reverse bachelorette partyā€”just a relaxed, joy-filled time to reconnect and celebrate their friendship while exploring historic Charleston.

Iā€™m grateful she asked me to commemorate this occasion for them with a fun photo shoot. I photographed the session using dual Nikon Z9 bodies, paired with the Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 II and 70-200mm f/2.8 II lenses. A Godox AD200 in a medium octabox helped shape the natural light beautifully. It was a perfect afternoon, making memories with an incredible group of friends!

Gracie’s Senior Portraits at Hampton Park

When my friend Melissa reached out to ask if I would photograph her cousin’s Senior Portraits, I said ABSOLUTELY!!! We’ve known Melissa since the early days when we first moved back to Charleston. She and Cami used to work together at Picture This One Hour Photo and Dennis Munn Photography! Who remembers where THAT was?!? Fast forward and here we are, still connected after all these years. šŸ™‚

I met up with Melissa, Gracie, and her sister at Hampton Park on a beautiful summer evening. Gracie was an absolute joy to work with! It was fun to tap into her energy, excitement, and sense of adventure. Plus it didn’t hurt that she was absolutely gorgeous!!! We moved quickly, and managed to explore the whole park, while still switching into three different outfits. What a pleasure it was to catch up with Melissa, and photograph these beautiful memories of this special time in Gracie’s life!

Everyone say CONGRATULATIONS to Gracie!!! We wish her all the best as she embarks on this next big adventure in life…

Eva’s Bat Mitzvah Portraits

In a few short months, I’ll have the honor of photographing Eva’s bat mitzvah!!!

Bat mitzvah is Hebrew for ā€œdaughter of commandment.ā€ When a Jewish girl turns 12, she has all the rights and obligations of a Jewish adult, including the commandments of the Torah. From that date forward, she takes her place in the Jewish community. This milestone in her life, called a bat mitzvah, is often celebrated with creative projects, meaningful gatherings, a special ceremony and of course a joyous celebration afterwards!

To help commemorate this special chapter in Eva’s life, her beautiful family joined her for a fun photo session at Hampton Park. She’ll be able to use these photos in her announcement cards for her celebration later this year. But more importantly, the whole family will have these wonderful memories preserved for all eternity, as Eva grows from this amazing girl she is today into the even more incredible woman she will become!!!

Brandy & Dan’s Hampton Park Engagement Photos

WOW!!! What an amazing sight greeted me at Hampton Park when I arrived for Brandy & Dan’s engagement session. The rains had just passed through Charleston, the sun was out, and a gorgeaous rainbow stretched across the sky!

Brandy & Dan arrived shortly thereafter. And we had an AMAZING time exploring the park, getting to know each other, and creating beautiful images together. As we returned to our cars, we realized there was a great chance for a brilliant sunset. So we zipped over to Brittlebank Park to capture a few dramatic silhouettes against that colorful sky!

CONTRATULATIONS Brandy & Dan! I can’t wait to be there for you guys on your wedding day!!!

Debi & Scott’s Vow Renewal Photo Shoot

As Debi and Scott began planning their destination vow renewal in Charleston, the most important part was to have all their children together for the weekend! They are a blended family, with adult kids who have sprouted roots all over the country. So to find a date that worked with everyone’s schedules was tough…but they did it!!!

To comemorate this rare occurance, they asked me to spend a couple hours with them and their family, exploring different parts of Charleston, and capturing a wide variety of photographs of everyone together!

Debi & Scott are such an amazing couple! And it was an absolute pleasure to spend time with them and their growing family. šŸ™‚

Kate & Matthew’s Engagement Photos

I had so much fun photographing Kate & Matthew’s Engagement Photos at Hampton Park last week!

Matthew works at Westbrook Brewing. Kate works in the insurance industry at Park Circle. The two of them met online at the tail end of the Covid pandemic. Their first date was at Mellow Mushroom, just as restaurants were opening back up. They made an instant connection. And the rest is history!!! šŸ™‚

CONGRATULATIONS Kate & Matthew! I can’t wait to be there for you two on your wedding day…

The Kunitzer Family at Hampton Park

Several years ago I had the great honor of photographing Mary & Ryan’s amazing wedding: https://chrisandcami.com/mary-ryan-at-st-andrews-church-at-the-citadel-beach-house/. Yesterday I caught up with them at Hampton Park, where I got to meet their adorable 5-year old daughter. We had so much fun, exploring the beautiful grounds and capturing some fun family portraits of this amazing family!

Sanja for State Farm

I’d like you to meet Sanja! She is originally from Bosnia and Herzegovena, that beautiful country in the Balkans, along the Adriatic Sea.

Sanja’s family moved to the US when she was still young. And she has taken the world by storm ever since! She’s won all kinds of fitness and body-building competitions…meeting her handsome husband at the gym along the way. 🙂 And she’s been very successful in her business ventures. Her most recent move is opening a new State Farm insurance agency off Orleans Rd!
It was a pleasure meeting Sanja today, photographing some new headshots and marketing photos. I look forward to following her story as she builds her new business in West Ashley. Let’s show her some encouragement and well-wishes!!!

Mylo’s Puppy Portriats

Meet Mylo! He’s a super sweet 16-year old Pomeranian. He may be mostly deaf and nearly blind, but for being as old as he is Mylo is still active and in great health. I had so much fun hanging out with Mylo and his “parents”, Jocelyn and Lawrence, at Hampton Park last evening! He truly is a special pup who found a beautiful home and has had a wonderful life!!!

Morgan & Ryan’s Engagement Session at Hampton Park

I met Morgan’s parents at a fun event I was photographing for the Aucoin Family. When they asked me to photograph their daughter’s wedding, I was absolutely DELIGHTED!!!

With an unseasonably gorgeous 70-degree day yesterday, we headed out for a fun engagement shoot at Hampton Park. But not just your average engagement shoot, I was so excited when they brought their new baby boy, Wyatt to join us! The light was amazing. Wyatt was adorable. And we all had an amazing time exploring the park and capturing a wide variety of images to preserve this special time in their lives!

CONGRATULATIONS Morgan & Ryan! I can’t wait to be there for you guys at your wedding in just a few short months. šŸ™‚

Stith Family at Hampton Park

What a beautiful fall evening for a family portrait session!!!

A while back, I had photographed headshots for the law firm where Melanie works. So I was particularly delighted when she contacted me about also photographing some updated family portraits. She and Anthony hadn’t had a “real” family portrait done since the kids were little. So it was about time! They have such a beautiful family, with three amazing kids. We all had a blast, catching up and creating some memorable images for them just before the holiday season “rush” begins!

We settled on Hampton Park, with its beautiful trees and natural surroundings, as the backdrop for our photo session. I love exploring this old historic park with wonderful clients like the Stiths. It was their first time here…but I don’t think it’ll be their last! šŸ™‚